Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

 

WebQuest

Judy Rock

Walton High School

 

Rockmil@earthlink.net

 

 

Introduction:

 

          A new elementary school has opened just a few short blocks from Linda’s home.  The new school has an excellent reputation and is filled with supplies and books.  Linda cannot go to the new school because she is black.

 

          Linda lives with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Brown in Topeka, Kansas.  The Topeka School Board passed a policy providing for segregated schools.  Linda’s parents went to Federal Court to complain.  They felt that the new school was a much better choice for Linda and they wanted the court to force the school for whites to allow Linda to attend.  The  Federal Court ruled against the Browns and they appealed to the Supreme Court.

 

 

Task:

 

        Your task will be to use CompuLEGAL , the TIPS website and other designated websites to complete a study and analysis of the Supreme Court’s decision on Brown v. Board of Education and Plessy v. Ferguson.

 

          You will explore whether the segregation of public schools deprives students of the equal protection of the laws.  You will explain the arguments supporting and opposing segregation in public schools.  You will complete the questions in Brown vs. Board of Education using the Project Legal method of analysis to analyze legal decisions.  You will take on the role of reporter and, using the computer (Microsoft Word),  you will compose a draft for a newspaper article to be submitted to a Topeka, Kansas daily newspaper announcing the Supreme Court Decision on Brown v. Board of Education.

 

 

Process:

               

·        First complete an analysis of Brown v. Board of Education from the Project Legal case library

·        Using the compuLegal method, complete an analysis of Plessy v. Ferguson

·        Review the 14th Amendment by going to http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxiv.html

·        Provide a written summary of the facts of the case Brown v. Board of Education

·        Using Microsoft Word, write a newspaper article on the Supreme Court Decision for Brown v. Board of Education for submission to a Topeka, Kansas daily newspaper.  Use your written summary and all the websites listed for your research

 

 

Resources:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/glossary.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/brownfacts.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/brownvis.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/brownprec.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/brownargu.html

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxiv.html

 

 

Evaluation:

 

Students will be evaluated using the following rubric:

 

Grade of A

 

·        Shows thorough understanding of the topic

·        Addresses all aspects of the tasks

·        Shows ability to analyze, evaluate, compare/contrast issues

·        Supports topic with relevant facts, examples and details

·        Submits a strong and well organized article

 

Grade of B

 

·        Shows a good understanding of the topic

·        Addresses all aspects of all the tasks

·        Shows ability to analyze, evaluate issues

·        Includes relevant facts, examples, and details, but not support all aspects of the “case”

·        Submits an organized article

 

       Grade of C

 

·        Presents satisfactory understanding of the topic

·       Addresses most aspects of the tasks

·       Able to analyze issues and events, but not in depth

·       Uses some relevant facts, examples and details

·       Submits article, but not very organized

                                     

Grade of D

 

·        Shows little understanding of topic

·        Attempts to address topic, but uses vague and/or inaccurate information

·        Uses little facts, examples, or details

·        Cannot present an acceptable article

 

 

           Standards Addressed

            ELA- 1, 2a, 3b, 3c, 4

            Social Studies – 4

 

 

           Conclusion:

               

                By completing this WebQuest you have engaged the most up to date technology to aid you with your research.  You have learned the facts of two landmark cases of great historic significance that were argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C.  You have used your technological skills to create and submit a newspaper article.

 

                   Continue your research and discover other cases that have made history