Our Supreme Court A History with 14 Activities

This lively and comprehensive activity book teaches young readers everything they need to know about the nation's highest court. Organized around keystones of the Constitutionincluding free speech, freedom of religion, civil rights, criminal justice, and property rightsthe book juxtaposes historical cases with similar current cases. Presented with opinions from both sides of the court cases, readers can make up their own minds on where they stand on the important issues that have evolved in the Court over the past 200 years. Interviews with prominent politicians, high-court lawyers, and those involved with landmark decisionsincluding Ralph Nader, Rudolph Guiliani, Mario Cuomo, and Arlen Spectershow the personal impact and far-reaching consequences of the decisions. Fourteen engaging classroom-oriented activities involving violations of civil rights, exercises of free speech, and selecting a classroom Supreme Court bring the issues and cases to life. The first 15 amendments to the Constitution and a glossary of legal terms are also included.

Richard Panchyk is the author of American Folk Art for Kids, Archaeology for Kids, Galileo for Kids, and World War II for Kids and the coauthor of Engineering the City. He lives in Long Island, New York. Senator John Kerry lives in Boston. James Baker III is a former Secretary of State. He lives in Houston.