The Amendments through Case Studies

Grade Level: 11-12 Subject: Constitutional Law Prepared by: Aaron Dore Overview and Purpose: Students will explore the application of various Constitutional Amendments to everyday life by analyzing Supreme Court cases, and reporting on their findings. This lesson will be completed after a thorough discussion of some Constitutional Amendments. Educational Standards (These are the Michigan High School Content Expectations for Civics) C5.3.6 - Describe the rights protected by the First Amendment, and using case studies and examples, explore the limit and scope of First Amendment rights. C5.3.7 - Using the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments, describe the rights of the accused; and using case studies and examples, explore the limit and scope of these rights. C5.3.8 - Explain and give examples, using case studies, of the role of the Fourteenth Amendment in extending the protection of individual rights against state action. Objectives: Specify skills/information that will be learned

TLW summarize a Supreme Court case based on specific amendments to the United States Constitution TLW organize information to be used in a presentation regarding how a specific case refers to one of the United States Constitutional amendments. TLW collaborate with other members in the class to review a case, organize information, and create a presentation for the entire class. TLW produce, with other classmates, a voice thread presentation to disseminate information regarding the case to the class.

Materials Needed: iPads, iTouch, iPhone, or other smartphone Computers with Internet access Other Resources: (websites, videos, books, etc.) The following apps for iPad, iPhone, iTouch or most smartphones: Pocket Justice, Voice Thread, and MindJet The website voice thread located at http://voicethread.com Information: Give and/or demonstration necessary information

1. Students will be broken up into groups, and given a Supreme Court case to review
and analyze, utilizing the following amendments: 1st, 4th-8th and the 14th.

2. Groups will utilize the mobile app pocket justice to search for and review their given
case.

3. While reviewing the selected case, groups will use the mobile app MindJet to organize
their thoughts in a logical format. MindJet is an app that allows students to organize and share brainstorms with other group members. 4. Groups will then use voice thread to present their cases and findings. 5. Voice thread presentations will be shared with the entire class. Verification: Steps to check for student understanding

1. Answer questions to consider when reviewing cases. 2. Submit MindJet information to the teacher. 3. Students will share their voicethreads with the entire class.
Activity: Describe activity that will reinforce the lesson After teacher led discussion regarding the listed amendments, students will use court cases to see how those amendments have been applied in various situations. Teacher will need to introduce the technology to be used, and provide handouts with basic information and instructions for students on how to use the technology. Once placed into groups, students will need to locate their case using the mobile app pocket justice which will give students an overview of the case, actual arguments, and how each justice voted with brief biographies on each. While reviewing the case students will be given the following questions to consider: 1. What is the name of the case, the year it occurred? 2. What are the facts of the case - Why was it brought before the court? 3. What is the Constitutional Issue that was raised? 4. How did the court answer the Constitutional Issue? 5. What was the courts rationale? 6. What, if any, justices concurred and why? 7. What justices were in the dissent and why? 8. How did this case impact our lives today? Students will take the information and put it into a MindJet mind map to organize thoughts to prepare for a group presentation. Once students have gathered information they will begin to put that information into a presentation using voice thread to collaborate with all group members. This will allow for outside work on the project. After the presentations are complete they will be shared with the entire class.