Social Studies Lesson Plans
Date: 8-24-03
Topic/Title
Special Courts ( Legislative)
Period: 1, 3, 8
#:
Big Question
Why were Special courts created? What purpose do they serve?
Objectives:
SWBAT:
1. Identify the function of Special Courts in the Judiciary system.
2. Compare and contrast special courts and Constitutional courts.
3. Analyze the various special courts and summarize their function for the rest
of the class.
Standards of Learning: essential questions, knowledge and skills
GOVT.10 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the operation of the federal
judiciary by
a) explaining the jurisdiction of the federal courts;
Essential Knowledge: The United States has a separate court system whose jurisdiction is
derived from the Constitution of the United States of America and federal laws.
Essential Questions: Where do the regular federal courts derive their jurisdiction? What
is the jurisdiction of each of the federal courts?
Essential Skills: Create and interpret maps, diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, and
spreadsheet. (GOVT.1b)
NCSS themes
Power, Authority, and Governance
Methods and Activity
Materials
Time
Anticipatory set- Just Do It (lesson opening)
ENGAGE:
Just Do It: What are special courts? What purpose do they serve?
Over
head
5 min
Social Studies Lesson Plans
Content /Methods / Procedures
EXPLORE, EXPLAIN, ELABORATE
Direction- transition- methods- processes
Over
head-
10
min
Over
head
20
min
Briefly discuss the role of the special courts:
Created by Congress to hear only certain cases that involves only a
few of the expressed powers of Congress. These courts do not
exercise judicial power like most federal courts. They have a very
narrow jurisdiction.
U.S. Federal Claims Court
Territorial Courts
The Courts if the District of Columbia
The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
The Court of Veterans Appeals
The United States Tax Court
Review Notes on the other courts within the National Judiciary.
Activity: Graphic Organizer with notes.
Student will develop a graphic organizer that includes the
Supreme/Inferior/Special Courts. Use page 463 for help. Students
must elaborate on the function and jurisdiction of the each court.
Conclusion/ in class consolidation
Share graphic organizers with the rest of the class, this will help us to
see how others might visually organize the National Judiciary.
Explain why you organized it that way
Logical?
Memorable?
Assessment of student learning -When and where do you check
for understanding/learning?
Assess Graphic Organizers
Participation in Closure
5-10
min
Social Studies Lesson Plans
ATTACH MATERIALS:
MATERIAL A:
Social Studies Lesson Plans
Teacher reflection/ self-assessment.
How will I improve this lesson?
•
•
•
Be prepared to plan follow up activities in case you run short.
Do you have backup activities
Do you materials to support varying levels of access skills
SOCIAL STUDIES AS INQUIRY
ENGAGE
EXPLORE
EXPLAIN
ELABORATE
EVALUATE
Access prior knowledge, stimulate thinking, and capture attention
through discrepant event, demonstration, free write, and open-ended
question.
Student see the lesson as a way to explore (individually or
collaboratively a question(s)
Students begin to gather material, in order to begin to clarify ideas
and understandings through dialogue, explanation, and or reading of
sources.
Student begin to extend their understanding by analyzing material,
applying evidence as they investigate the question(s)/issue(s)
This should occur during entire instructional process but seek to
have students provide evidence- written / verbal that they been able
to understand key facts, concepts, and generalizations.
Social Studies Lesson Plans
Group Activity: Special Courts Description
Directions:
Pretend for a moment you are law students at a prestigious
university. Your professor has asked you to review cases
involving the special courts. You are to become the expert on
the type of special court and corresponding case assigned to
you.
ƒ The group must decide on roles. All members are responsible
for contributing research to complete the assignment.
Appoint a recorder and a presenter.
ƒ Use the resources within your packet and your book to gather
information to share with the class. The questions below will
help you conduct your research assignment.
Social Studies Lesson Plans
U.S. Federal Claims Court
Describe the purpose of this court: (size, # of judges, key terms)
What is the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal Claims Court?
Social Studies Lesson Plans
Tax Court
http://www.ustaxcourt.gov/
Describe the purpose of this court: (size, # of judges, key terms)
What is the jurisdiction of the U.S. Tax Court?
What kinds of cases are brought to this court? Describe one (short summary)
Social Studies Lesson Plans
Territorial Courts
Use the website the below to answer the following questions
http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/territorial?OpenDocument&Click
http://www.vid.uscourts.gov/
Describe the purpose of this court: (size, # of judges, key terms)
What is the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal Claims Court?
What kinds of cases are brought to this court? Describe one (short summary)
Social Studies Lesson Plans
Social Studies Lesson Plans
The Court of Veteran Appeals
Use the website the below to answer the following questions
http://www.vetapp.gov/
Describe the purpose of this court: (size, # of judges, key terms)
What is the jurisdiction of this court?
What kinds of cases are brought to this court? Describe one (short summary)
Social Studies Lesson Plans
The Courts of the District of Columbia
Describe the purpose of this court: (size, # of judges, key terms)
What is the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal Claims Court?
Social Studies Lesson Plans
U.S. Court of International Trade
Use the website the below to answer the following questions
http://www.cit.uscourts.gov/
Describe the purpose of this court: (size, # of judges, key terms)
What is the jurisdiction of this court?
What kinds of cases are brought to this court? Describe one (short summary)