What is the role of the Supreme Court in American History? How do past Supreme Court rulings affect our lives today? Whether or not you could answer these questions in part or in whole, it is our job as educators to inform students of the judicial process and how it has evolved over time since the signing of the Constitution in 1787.
From the first days of the United States, the Supreme Court has been fundamental in interpreting our Constitution and shaping our government as we know it today. The unit that I have devised looks at the role of the Supreme Court as it relates to child labor. My main focus is to examine the onset and progression of child labor leading up to the Supreme Court case of
Hammer v. Dagenhart
, 247 U.S. 251. Students will gain an insight into the responsibilities and precedents the Supreme Court sets for the entire United States.
This unit is recommended for students in seventh grade with and without special needs. The lessons integrate assorted methodologies of learning such as auditory, visual and kinesthetic. The lessons will be clear and concise for a greater understanding of the historical facts.
(Developed for Social Studies, grade 7; recommended for Social Studies, Middle School grade 7)
