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Argue real Supreme Court cases, and put your lawyering skills to the test.
Navigate our court system and guide citizens to the right place.
Does your state court system feel oddly similar to our federal one? Chances are it does, but there may still be some differences. In this lesson, students learn how our…
Opinions, opinions, opinions! Learn about the types of Supreme Court opinions and the influence of legal precedent. In the accompanying news literacy-related activity, students are…
Students learn the purpose of appellate-level courts and how those courts operate differently from the trial courts most people are familiar with from watching television. By…
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court’s decision that affirmed the Court’s power of judicial review. Students learn how Congress tried to add to the Supreme…
Need to teach the judicial branch in a hurry? In this lesson, students learn the basics of our judicial system, including the functions of the trial court, the Court of Appeals,…
This lesson plan teaches the fundamentals of Supreme Court Justice nominations and helps students understand the politics behind the nominations. It challenges students to cut…
In this lesson, students compare Ben Brewer’s fictional case in “Supreme Decision” with a real-life case involving a student. Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions…
What does a Supreme Court justice really do? How do they make their decisions? What better way to find out than by trying it yourself! Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF…
If Marbury was right, then why didn't he get the writ? Find out how the Supreme Court got the power to decide what is constitutional, and what the Court can do with that power.
Students learn that you can't take constitutional language at face value. Those phrases we read in the Bill of Rights, such as "cruel and unusual punishment" or being a "witness"…
What does the phrase “freedom of speech” really mean? This lesson outlines the types of speech the First Amendment does and does not protect. Students also examine the Supreme…
Learn about the judicial philosophies of activism and restraint. In the second half of the lesson, students learn about opinion journalsim and explore criteria through which they…
Transform your students’ gameplay into meaningful and memorable learning. You can now download and assign extension pack materials directly from the Argument Wars game page. The…
Guide your students through the fictional case of Ben Brewer, a high school student who was suspended for violating the school dress code. Students will assume the roles of…
Guide your students through the fictional case of Jamie Johnson, a high school student who was suspended after a student protest got out of hand. Students will assume the roles of…
What does it mean to interpret the Constitution? Why is interpretation necessary? Who gets to do it? In this WebQuest, students explore the answers to these questions and more.…
From how judges are selected to their job security, the Constitution put in place interesting protections to ensure that our third branch of government could rule impartially. In this WebQuest, students explore what it means to have an independent judiciary.
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