Subject: US Civics and Grade: 12 Teacher: Mr.

Serafino Building: High School A

Participation in Bueti
Government

Lesson Element: Explore Supreme Court cases, utilize research databases

1. New York State Learning Standards Addressed:
A) 12.G2b​ -- The Constitution aims to protect, among other freedoms, individual and group
rights to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition,
and freedom of religion. The extent to which these ideals exist in practice and how these
protections should be applied in a changing world continues to be an issue of ongoing civic
debate.
B) 12.G2c ​-- ​An independent judicial system is an integral part of the process that interprets and
defends citizens’ freedoms and rights. Issues pertaining to the flexibility of judicial
interpretation and the impartiality of justices in practice are continued sources of public
debate.
C) ISTE Standard 1: Empowered Learner – ​Students leverage technology to take an active role in
choosing, achieving and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning
sciences.
D) ISTE Standard 3: Knowledge Constructor​ – Students critically curate a variety of resources using
digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning
experiences for themselves and others.
2. Lesson Objectives:​ Students will:
A) Utilize the Internet to find information on key Supreme Court cases and understand the Constitution as a living
document that has differing interpretations.
B) Organize their thoughts based on sources and express in clear written language why certain sources will be
helpful to their research
C) Pose effective research terms and evaluate credible sources from Internet databases to formulate Constitutional
arguments.
3. Introduce Learning Activity:
A) The instructor will pose the following question at the start of class: “How is it beneficial to be informed of your
Constitutional rights and to be aware of differing interpretations of the Constitution?” This will get students to
think critically about the content that is about to be introduced.
B) The instructor will post the directions and agenda for the class period on the board. Students will then be
directed to the “Resources” page of the instructor’s website.
Directions: Log onto a computer and go to ​http://student.plattsburgh.edu/sbuet001/myresources​. To complete the first part
of the assignment, click the “Supreme Court Cases WebQuest” link.
Agenda: Note: Only the numbered points will be written on the board.
1) Supreme Court Cases WebQuest
a) Students will follow the prompts and complete the WebQuest assignment on Supreme Court cases that is
linked to on the Resources page. They will then choose which case they would like to use for their library
assignment.
2) Library Assignment
a) Students will complete the Library Assignment on the Google Drive document that is linked to Resources
using links to research databases and effective search terms. Remind the students to use the advanced
search function on the research databases and that effective research questions have specific parameters.
 For example, “Brown v. Board of Education” is not an effective search term on its own, but “Brown v.
Board of Education” and “school desegregation” will bring you more precise search results.
4. Provide Information:
All parts of the assignment will be linked to in the Resources section of the instructor’s website. Specifically:
1. The Supreme Court Cases WebQuest link leads directly to the first assignment. The students will follow the links
in the WebQuest in order to complete the assignment.
2. The Library Assignment link will lead students to a Google Drive document where they can post the answers to
the prompts. Directions for the Library Assignment will be posted on the assignment sheet in Drive. For the
Library Assignment, students will choose one Supreme Court case that they would like to research. Because the
Google Drive document is being shared by the entire class, students should choose a font color that they will make
their contributions in.
3. For the Library Assignment, students will also access databases such as Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
ProQuest, Newspaper Source Plus, and an additional database chosen at the discretion of the student. Students will
cite the article in APA format (a link to an APA format guide will be included in the Resources section) and then
will describe the content and evaluate its usefulness using the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority,
Accuracy, Purpose). Additionally, the student will perform an internet search and find a website, describe its
content, and evaluate its usefulness using the CRAAP test. A link to a resource explaining the CRAAP test for
students who need additional guidance is also available on the Resources section. In order to narrow their search
results, students will be directed to use multiple specific search terms.
5. Provide Practice
Part 1:
Students will go to the Resources section of the instructor’s website
(​http://student.plattsburgh.edu/sbuet001/myresources.html​) and select the link for the Supreme Court Cases WebQuest.
They will follow the prompts through the WebQuest and choose a Supreme Court case that they would like to study. The
instructor will provide a worksheet in Google Drive for the students to edit and hand in (which they will do by saving the
document). They will follow the links in the WebQuest to learn more information about the Supreme Court cases they are
studying.
Part 2:
On the Resources website, students will select the link to the Library Assignment Drive document. Students will then go
back to the Resources page and open the following links: Feinberg Library Alphabetical Listing of Databases
(​https://web.plattsburgh.edu/library/essalpha.php​). Each database will have directions attached to it in each prompt on the
Library Assignment. In addition to being listed in the Resources section, the APA citation guide and CRAAP test guide
will be linked to in the Drive document. Students will use the advanced search function when it is available and use search
terms and specific parameters to narrow their search results.
6. Provide Knowledge of results: Feedback
The instructor will circulate around the room for both activities and assess how students are doing, provide positive
reinforcement, and clarify any issues that may have arisen. The instructor will ask students about their findings and any
questions they may have thus far. The students will be given a check grade for the WebQuest if they thoroughly answer
questions and touch on all of the directions. For the Library Assignment, points will be deducted if the student fails to
address all aspects of the CRAAP test or has incorrect citations.
7. Review Activity: How will you wrap up your lesson?
Students will turn in the Library Assignment and WebQuest by saving them to Drive. Students will then
verbally summarize their case, the search term that they used to find articles on a specific aspect of the case, and
what they found in the various databases.
8. Methods of Assessment Criteria for Success: How will you and your students know if they have successfully
met the outcomes? What specific criteria will be met in a successful product/process? What does success on
this lesson’s outcomes look like?
The WebQuest will be given full credit (20/20) if the questions are answered thoroughly and completely, defining and
explaining answers in complete sentences. Emphasis will be placed on identifying the complaint in each Supreme Court
case, and lasting impact of the Supreme Court case.
The Library Assignment will be graded using the following criteria.
*Note: Points may be deducted if some but not all criteria in a given area are met.
Component* Excellent - 17-20 Good - 15-16 Fair - 13-14 Poor - 0-12

Are the prompts Descriptions are Descriptions are Descriptions are Descriptions are in
answered directly and answered in complete answered in complete answered in mostly incomplete sentences,
completely? (/5) sentences with no sentences with few complete sentences, are riddled with
grammatical or grammatical errors with some grammatical or
factual errors and and no factual errors grammatical or factual errors, or do
address the prompt and address the factual errors, or falls not address the
thoughtfully and prompt thoughtfully short of completely question directly (3)
thoroughly. (5) and thoroughly (4) answering the
question. (3.5)

Do the answers Answers demonstrate Answers demonstrate Answers demonstrate Answers demonstrate
demonstrate a clear an excellent a good understanding a borderline marginal to no
understanding of the understanding of of source arguments understanding of understanding of
sources? (/5) source arguments and and points of view (4) source arguments and source arguments and
points of view (5) points of view (3.5) points of view (3)

Do the answers Student makes Student makes good Student makes use of Student makes poor
demonstrate effective use of the use of the CRAAP the CRAAP test but use or no use
information literacy? CRAAP test in test with some vague is missing details whatsoever of the
Does the student evaluating and points in need of from their analysis CRAAP test (3)
make effective use of understanding clarification in (3.5)
the CRAAP test? (/5) sources (5) understanding
sources (4)

Are the citations Student uses APA Student uses APA Student uses a Student uses a style
correct? (/5) citations which citations which citation style other other than APA and
contain no errors in contain few errors in than APA or their has in excess of 5
formatting or formatting and/or citations contain errors in formatting
attribution (5) attribution (4) more than 3 errors in and/or attribution (3)
formatting and/or OR
attribution (3.5) There are no citations
(0)

9. Resources/Materials:
- A classroom equipped with computers
- WebQuest and accompanying worksheet in Google Drive
- Library Assignment worksheet in Google Drive
- Access to subscription databases from school computers
- Links to all of these materials from the Resources page of the instructor’s website:
http://student.plattsburgh.edu/sbuet001/myresources.html