Lesson Plan

Judgement Day

Homeschoolers role play as Supreme Court Justices
Grade Level:
High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
State Standards:
Government:
Benchmark A - Grade Level Indicator: 12.1

Government Benchmark B - Grade Level Indicator: 11.9

Essential Question

How do you approach making a difficult decision?

Objective

- To develop an understanding of the workings of the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Help students make informed and sound decisions based upon the evidence presented to them.
- To apply the 4th Amendment to the search of an automobile and goods seized from it.

Background

In the early 1920's the Volstead Act caused many citizens, like George Carroll, to break the law to sell liquor. Chief Justice William Howard Taft and the United States Supreme Court would pass down judgement based upon their interpretations of the U.S. Constitution's protection from "unreasonable search and seizures" as outlined in the fourth Amendment.

Preparation

  1. 9 Black robes
  2. Copies of the Constitution ( small books).
  3. Name tags representing the other justices on the bench in 1920.

Procedure

  1. Assign roles to students and set up room in the following manner. Students not assigned a specific role will serve as the gallery. Make sure each justice has paper and a pencil/pen.
  2. U.S. Attorney General reads his script to the justices.
  3. Appellants' attorney reads his script to the justices.
  4. Attorneys and appellants move to the gallery while justices debate the merits of each side.
  5. Justices reveal the position and reasoning, one at a time. Record vote on the board to see which side wins.
  6. Allow entire class to discuss the results.
    • Key question:
      Do you agree with the decision of the court? Why? Why not?
  7. Reveal actual result  of Taft court and ask for responses.           

Vocabulary

Felony - a crime more serious than a misdemeanor.
Misdemeanor - a crime less serious than a felony.
Warrant - a document signed by a judge granting police the authority to make an arrest, a seizure, or conduct a search.
Bootleg - to produce, sell or transport illegally.
Smuggle - to import or export contrary to the law.
Speakeasy - a place where alcoholic beverages are sold illegally.

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Tags: president supreme court of the united states taft william howard taft president of the united states judge constitution

Last updated: December 9, 2019