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Supreme Court:
Lesson Plans & Activities
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Thinkfinity:  Internet Content For the Classroom  is a comprehensive educational site from Verizon dedicated to providing the highest quality Internet content and professional development to teachers and students.  http://www.thinkfinity.org/
  • Seven content Web sites (soon to be eight)  with lesson plans, student interactive content, downloadable worksheets, links to panel-reviewed Web sites and additional resources created by the nation’s leading education organizations.

The sites specifically related to the study of United States History include:

  • EconEdLink
     National Council on Economic Education   Developed by the National Council on Economic Education, EconEdLink provides teachers and students with lessons and classroom learning activities based on economics topics in the news and real-time economics data. EconEdLink content is designed to help integrate economic concepts across the curriculum as outlined in the Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics.

  • EDSITEment
     National Endowment for the Humanities  Presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities, EDSITEment features lesson plans and additional classroom resources in art and culture, literature and language arts, foreign language, and history and social studies. It also serves as a gateway to the best humanities sites on the Web, and it features a monthly theme-based teaching resource calendar.

  • Xpeditions
     National Geographic Society   Developed by the National Geographic Society, Xpeditions brings rich, standards-based geography content to teachers and students. This site includes materials for K-12 teachers and students and their families, including an interactive atlas with over 1,600 printable maps and Xpedition Hall, a virtual learning museum with exhibits aligned to the U.S. National Geography Standards.

  • Smithsonian
    National Museum of American History   The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Documenting the American experience from Colonial times to the present, the museum looks at growth and change in the United States. This Partner site is currently under development.

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    ThinkfinityNY

    http://www.nyiteez.org/MarcoPoloNY/

    ThinkfinityNY, a Web-based resource that offers 2,500-plus lessons for teachers, each lesson aligned with the New York State Standards. This program, available to all N.Y. State educators at no cost, was developed jointly with the New York State Education Department (NYSED), New York State Teacher Centers, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Thinkfinity and MCI. ~

    The lessons are organized and can be accessed according to the state’s Learning Standards, key ideas, performance indicators, grade levels and content areas. A simple click of the mouse navigates the user through the lessons.

    You may  visit the program at http://www.nyiteez.org/MarcoPoloNY/ or at Virtual Learning System http://eservices.nysed.gov/vls .

     

    Landmark Supreme Court Cases
    An exceptional site created by Street Law and the Supreme Court Historical Society for teachers to use in their classrooms.  Fifteen major cases (1803-1989) and nine major constitution concepts are featured.  The standard resources include background summaries and questions at three reading levels, diagrams of how the case moved through the court system, excerpts from the majority and when appropriate dissenting opinions, links to the full text decisions and numerous case specific activities. Class activities include in depth analysis, moot court, political cartoon analysis and continuum exercises.
     http://www.landmarkcases.org/index.html
     
    The New Deal Network
    Lesson Plans related to FDR's relationship with the Supreme Court.   A variety of lessons including:  Analyzing Letters, a sample DBQ and FDR and the Reorganization or the Judiciary.
              http://newdeal.feri.org/court/lesson.htm
     
    Dred Scott and the Geography of Sectionalism
    http://www.africana.com/blackboard/bb_his_000124.htm#actt
     
    PBS Teachers Source:  Justice
    Ten activities on Justice (January 2003) related to PBS in the Classroom.
    http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/thismonth/index1.shtm

     

    ProTeacher Home Page for all US History Lessons
    Links to hundreds of lesson plans related to United States History from a variety of sources. Search functions allow for internal and external links to topical lesson plans.
    http://www.proteacher.com/090019.shtml

    Sample:                                                                                                   

    Pro Teacher Lesson Plans on American Government

     
    National Constitution Center
    Numerous lesson plans, by grade level, related to the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and specific amendments.
      http://www.constitutioncenter.org/education/ForEducators/LessonPlans/index.shtml
     
    National History Education Clearinghouse
    Welcome to the National History Education Clearinghouse, the central online location for accessing high-quality resources in K-12 U.S. history education. This site began in 2008 and is rapidly becoming one of the best sources for United State History Educators including access to History Content, Teaching Materials, Best Practices, Issues and Research, Professional Development, and TAH Grants.
    http://teachinghistory.org/

    SELECTED LESSON PLANS

    These lesson plans have been reviewed and designated as exceptional by educators participating in our Teach American History Program.

    Historical Time Period:     Varied

    Title of the Lesson Plan:  Landmark Supreme Court Cases and the Constitution  

    Grade Level:                        High School (Grade 11-12)

    General Description:         This site provides links each month to activities dealing with select “Landmark Supreme Court Cases.”  The activities include questions and answer keys.

    URL:                                      www.billofrightsinstitute.org/article.php?sid=475

    Historical Time Period:     Constitution

    Title of the Lesson Plan:  The Fourth Amendment and Judicial Review

    Grade Level:                        Grade 11 or 12

    General Description:         This brief lesson examines three Supreme Court cases (included) and discusses the meaning of the Fourth Amendment and violations thereof.  It also addresses the power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of a law through judicial review.

    URL:www.eduref.org/cgibin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/US_Government/GOV0205.html

    Historical Time Period:     The Supreme Court

    Title of the Lesson Plan:  Supreme Court Decisions on Freedom of Religion

    Grade Level:                        Grade 11 or 12

    General Description:         This lesson provides 17 examples of Supreme Court cases dealing with Freedom of Religion.  The main activity is debate and discussion, but the individual teacher could add more structure and background information if he/she would prefer a more controlled environment.

    URwww.eduref.org/cgibin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/US_Government/GOV0040.html

     

     

     

     
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