Links for Activity Files
This activity is available for download in Street Law's Resource Library using the link below. You will be prompted to sign in or create a Street Law store web account. You must "check out" in order to download the files, but you will not be required to pay or enter payment information for these free materials.
Resources for Teaching this Activity
Read Aloud App: Provide students with an electronic version of the activity and use a read aloud application to voice the text. Below are just a few of the many options available:
- Microsoft Narrator (Windows 10): Narrator is a screen-reading app that is built into Windows 10, so there’s nothing you need to download or install.
- ReadAloud (Microsoft)
- Read Aloud (Google Play)
- Natural Reader
- Technokids: Read Aloud for PDFs
Take a Stand: After students have completed the Unmarked Opinions activity in groups or individual, using Taking a Stand protocol, have students move to different ends of the spectrum to stand under the excerpt from the majority OR dissenting opinion they agree with the most. Students may choose to stand along the spectrum (but not at the ends) if they partially agree with the opinions. The closer they stand to the end, the more they show agreement with the opinion. Give the students a few minutes to discuss their position with the students closest to them, and then ask for them to report out as to why they agree with their particular excerpt.
Think-Pair-Share: Pause after students read each opinion and use the Think-Pair-Share strategy. Pose questions related to the two opinions such as:
- Summarize each opinion in your own words w/your partner.
- Which arguments from the case summary are mentioned in these two opinions?
- What precedents were mentioned in the opinion?
- What questions do you still have about the opinions?
Vocabulary Preparation: Teach vocabulary terms used in this activity prior to the lesson. Consider using a graphic organizer such as the Frayer Model.
Padlet: After completing the Unmarked Opinions activity, use Padlet to collect students’ predictions about which opinion was the majority opinion. Prior to the lesson, the instructor should do the following:
- Create an account in Padlet.
- Choose “Make a Padlet.” From the options select “Wall.”
- In the lower right-hand corner, click the Plus sign.
- In the section for title, write the following question: Which was the Supreme Court’s Majority Opinion (A or B)? What rationale did the Court provide for its decision?
- In the upper right-hand corner, go to settings and make adjustments to the background, font and other features, including content filtering (which is recommended). Save your changes.
- In the upper right-hand corner, choose share. Select a method to share, perhaps via Google Classroom, via email, or via embedded URL. Follow procedures for sharing.
Socrative: After completing the Unmarked Opinions activity, use Socrative tocollect students’ predictions about the decision in the case. Prior to the lesson, the instructor should do the following:
- Set up an account on Socrative.
- Under “Quick Question,” choose “Short Answer.” In the space for “Optional Question” write this: Which was the Supreme Court’s Majority Opinion (A or B)? What rationale did the Court provide for its decision?
- Choose the desired settings (including “allow unlimited answers” and “require student names.” Note that if you require student names, you will still be able to share responses with the class without including student names.
- After students have read the case summary, login to Socrative and share your room name with students. Ask them to login and enter your room name.
- As the responses are entered, “hide” the responses until everyone is finished. Quickly scan the responses, identify four or five of the best among them and post them, one at a time. After each one, ask students to evaluate. Discuss as a group.
Online Teaching/At-Home Learning: For suggestions for using this strategy in online/at-home teaching, see Street Law’s Materials for At-Home Learning webpage.
Excerpts from the Supreme Court Opinions: After students have completed the Unmarked Opinions activity, they can read excerpts from the Supreme Court opinions and answer the questions that follow on the case page at Landmark Cases. These excerpts can be found in the “Decision” section.
Judicial Opinion Writing Activity: After students have completed the Unmarked Opinions activity, they can compose their own unique opinion using the Judicial Opinion Writing strategy handouts.