The Judicial Branch has had an enormous impact on the history and development of America. Many major legal rulings made by the Supreme Court have shaped American society, and are used as references even decades after their decisions.
In this activity, have students research major events that have occurred throughout the history of the Supreme Court. Students will create a timeline that reflects the foundations of the judicial branch, along with major events that have transpired within the judiciary.
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options and adjust the instructions accordingly.
Extended Activity
To extend this activity, students will create a similar timeline that represents major events from the highest court of the state in which they live. Or, teachers may assign different states to students for a comparative activity.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline detailing the major events & rulings in the history of the Supreme Court.
Engage your students by selecting a landmark Supreme Court case for a lively classroom debate. Debates help students analyze arguments and understand judicial reasoning.
Assign students specific roles such as Supreme Court justices, attorneys for each side, and relevant witnesses. This structure ensures everyone participates and deepens their understanding of the judicial process.
Distribute concise summaries of the case, relevant facts, and constitutional issues. This helps all students start with a clear, shared foundation.
Encourage attorneys to develop opening statements and key arguments, while justices prepare questions for both sides. Preparation builds confidence and supports critical thinking skills.
Moderate the debate by allowing each side to present, respond, and answer questions from the justices. After presentations, have the justices deliberate and issue a decision, explaining their reasoning to the class.
Key events in the history of the Supreme Court include its creation in 1787, landmark decisions like Fletcher vs. Peck (1810), Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896), the establishment of the Supreme Court Building (1935), Gideon vs. Wainwright (1963), the appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor (1981), and Texas vs. Johnson (1989). These milestones have significantly shaped American law and society.
Students can create a Supreme Court timeline by researching major events and notable rulings, adding them to a timeline template, and including summaries and illustrations for each event. This activity helps visualize the evolution of the judicial branch in an engaging way.
To make an engaging timeline poster, use clear headings for each event, add brief but informative descriptions, and incorporate visuals like images or drawings. Consider using color coding, templates, and creative layouts to make the information stand out and easy to follow.
Examples of major Supreme Court decisions for a student timeline include Fletcher vs. Peck, Plessy vs. Ferguson, Gideon vs. Wainwright, and Texas vs. Johnson. Each of these cases had a significant impact on U.S. law and civil rights.
Teachers can adapt the timeline activity by providing simpler templates or fewer events for younger students, or by including comparative state court timelines and in-depth analysis for older students. Adjust instructions and expectations to match the students' grade and skill levels.