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.