Landmark Supreme Court Cases, 6-12

http://www.landmarkcases.org/
This site features activities related to key Supreme Court cases and concepts that are mandated by social studies standards. Students will find background summaries and excerpts of opinions on such cases as Marbury vs. Madison, Dred Scott vs. Sandford, and Brown vs. Board of Education. Online activities and lessons and link to the full text of the Supreme Court decisions. The materials are available in three reading levels, one of which is geared to the vocabulary of ELL students. Teachers will want to use the section of instructions for general teaching strategies such as case study, moot court, role play, continuum, community resources, evaluating web sites, political cartoon analysis, and scored discussion. All of the materials can be downloaded in pdf format.

Connections to 9-12 Iowa Core Essential Concepts and/or Skills:
• Understand the rights and responsibilities of each citizen and demonstrate the value of lifelong civic action.
• Understand how the government established by the Constitution embodies the enduring values and principles of democracy and republicanism.
• Understand the purpose and function of each of the three branches of government established by the Constitution.
• Understand the differences among the complex levels of local, state and national government and their inherent, expressed, and implied powers.
• Understand strategies for effective political action that impacts local, state, and national governance.