Exploros | The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court

Students are introduced to the Supreme Court by looking at a section of Article III of the U.S. Constitution. Then they learn about various aspects of the Supreme Court and define judicial review. Next, they learn how Supreme Court justices get appointed and explain it in their own words. Finally, they research one of the current Supreme Court justices and write a brief biography.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students are introduced to the Supreme Court by looking at a section of Article III of the U.S. Constitution. Then they learn about various aspects of the Supreme Court and define judicial review. Next, they learn how Supreme Court justices get appointed and explain it in their own words. Finally, they research one of the current Supreme Court justices and write a brief biography.

Other experiences that address the Supreme Court include The Federal Court System, Supreme Court Procedures, and Landmark Supreme Court Decisions.

Objectives:

Describe the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
Define judicial review.
Explain how Supreme Court justices are appointed.

Do you ever use or hear the word supreme to describe something? Maybe you order a supreme pizza or you read a fantasy novel about a supreme wizard. The word generally refers to something that is high in achievement or authority. In this experience, you will learn about the “supreme” court in the United States.

Objectives:

Describe the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
Define judicial review.
Explain how Supreme Court justices are appointed.

Interior, U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, D.C.

Read the following text:

"The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."

What do you think this sentence means? Try to write it in your own words.

Discuss student responses. If necessary, define or clarify the words judicial, vested, and inferior. Be sure students understand that this text establishes one court—a supreme court—as the highest court in the land. This court has the final ruling on federal law cases brought before it. It also means that Congress can create and organize other lower courts to deal with matters of federal law.

These words are part of Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which was written and adopted in 1787.

What is the significance of the fact that this same Article of the Constitution still stands today, more than 200 years later?

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