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Citizenship A Curriculum

Unit 11: American Government: Judicial Branch

Lesson 1: The Judicial Branch

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  read and answer questions about the Judicial Branch / ●  CPtT: 161-163
●  Judicial Branch & Supreme Court Questions
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
37. What does the judicial branch do?
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Judicial Branch (CPtT: 161-163): Key words – laws, Judicial Branch, Supreme Court, highest, justices, Chief Justice. Go over these pages as a class, checking for comprehension and reviewing key words. Provide multiple ways for vocab practice (i.e., have students write their own definitions and then exchange papers; students should then choose the correct vocabulary word).
-  Additional practice and review (CN: 101) and Judicial & Supreme Court questions


Citizenship A Curriculum

Unit 11: American Government: Judicial Branch

Lesson 2: Famous Supreme Court cases

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  review the Judicial Branch and Supreme Court
●  read and answer questions about Brown vs. Board of Education / ●  CN: 98
●  Landmark Supreme Court Cases: www.uscourts.gov/EducationalResources/
ConstitutionResources/LegalLandmarks/
LandmarkSupremeCourtCases.aspx
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
16. Who makes federal laws?
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
34. Who vetoes bills?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Review the Judicial Branch and Supreme Court.
●  Brown vs Board of Education case (CN: 98, bottom of page only): key words (use the words as a preview activity) – segregation, public schools, illegal, civil rights movement. After students have learned and had a chance to work with the words, have them read the bottom of pg. 98.
-  Checking comprehension: Write a short list of questions for students to answer individually or in pairs; OR just ask the questions orally.
-  Extension Activity: Read about another “Landmark Supreme Court Case”. NOTE: Visit the website first and choose which one you think is appropriate. You might need to simplify the language for your students. Texas vs. Johnson (1989) about flag burning would be interesting and level-appropriate.


Citizenship A Curriculum

Unit 11: American Government: Judicial Branch

Lesson 3: Making a law

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  read about how a bill becomes a law / ●  CPtT: 158-160
●  How a Bill Becomes a Law: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
12. What is the “rule of law”?
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
50. Name one right only for United States citizens.
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  CPtT: 158-160: Key words – bill, veto, explains. Read these pages as a group or in small groups. Discuss.
-  Extension ideas: Have students write their own bills. Afterward have the whole class vote on them to see which ones should become laws.
Additional Activity
-  Watch part of the School of Rock video on How a Bill Becomes a Law.
Notes for Teachers
●  How a Bill Becomes a Law: Showing this entire video would not be appropriate for this level, but parts of it would be. You could stop it along the way and discuss the content/English. You also could make this into a listening for the gist activity.


Citizenship A Curriculum

Unit 11: American Government: Judicial Branch

Lesson 4: Obeying the Law

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  read and answer questions about laws and obeying them in the US
●  ask/answer interview questions / ●  CPtT: 153-157
●  Law Comprehension questions
●  Unit 11 Assessments
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Review from previous lessons
●  Unit 11 Assessment: Matching government numbers
●  CPtT: 153-157: Key words to cover beforehand – promise, obey, taxes, Select Service law, passport, responsibility. Preview ideas: Ask students if they know what the words mean. Then ask students to try to match definitions to the words, and then discuss the correct answers.
-  Give out comprehension questions when students are ready.
-  Extension: Have students write at least two laws that citizens must follow in their countries. Make things interesting and ask students what happens when laws are broken.
Notes for Teachers
●  CPtT: 153-157: These pages cover a lot, so you could consider splitting up the information between half of the class and do a jigsaw activity; you could also white-out the bold words and do a listening for specific info activity

Minnesota Literacy Council

Citizenship-A Curriculum. CASAS 180-210

March 2012