The Themes That Bind Us: Simplifying U.S. Supreme Court Cases for the Social Studies Classroom

Teaching U.S. Supreme Court cases can be a daunting task for any social studies teacher, but this book can ease that process. Carefully aligned with the NCSS’ Ten Themes, this teacher’s guide provides thirty-two high-interest U.S. Supreme Court cases edited to a more reader-friendly format while retaining the original verbiage. Features of each chapter include pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading questions, as well as teaching extensions to help students better understand the stories behind the cases, the intricacies of the laws involved, and the effects of the Court’s decisions on American life. This book provides any teacher with viable, useable case law to fit any historical timeframe or unit of study.

Gretchen Oltman has spent the past decade building and leading new academic programs. She is a tenured associate professor and program director of a graduate program at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. A lifelong educator, she also holds a Ph.D. in educational studies, a law degree, and a master’s degree in teaching.