1. Before beginning this lesson, ask students what they already know about this Supreme Court case. Listen for misunderstandings or inaccuracies or misconceptions about the case.
2. Explain that everyone in the class will have two duties: (1) study one side of the argument and (2) develop a response to each point of that side’s argument, something that the team of attorneys might use.
3. Divide the students into two groups, one the team of lawyers for the Board of Education and the other Brown’s lawyers.
4. The Board’s group will study Brown’s case and respond to it point by point; Brown’s group will study the Board’s case and respond to it point by point.
5. Each group will create a poster to present their findings.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
- Other sites as researched by students
This lesson was developed by Bette Brooks, Kent State University.