Free Supreme Court Lesson Plans for K-12
Americans have looked to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) as the moral conscience of the nation since it was established by the founding fathers in Article III of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. Since then, it has interpreted thousands of cases and released opinions on nearly a thousand cases in the last 10 years alone. Whether you’re looking to introduce elementary students to SCOTUS, or discussing the impact of civil rights cases such as Brown v Board of Education with middle andhigh school students, Share My Lesson has tailored resources to ensure your students leave your classroom equipped with a knowledge of civics and government to critically think about what happens in government.
Supreme Court Lesson Plans: Digging Deeper
Did you know?Quill pens have remained part of the Courtroom scene. White quills are placed on counsel tables each day that the Court sits, as was done at the earliest sessions of the Court. The "Judicial Handshake" has been a tradition since the days of Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller in the late 19th century. When the Justices assemble to go on the Bench each day and at the beginning of the private Conferences at which they discuss decisions, each Justice shakes hands with each of the other eight. Chief Justice Fuller instituted the practice as a reminder that differences of opinion on the Court did not preclude overall harmony of purpose. Read more about SCOTUS traditions and history here.
