Oyez, Oyez, Let’s Learn about the Supreme Court!
Updated:2/2013
                   Used to call the Supreme Court to order, the word  OYEZ meaning    “Hear Ye”,  originates from the Latin word “audire” which  means “to hear”. The Supreme Court hears a number of cases each year in which questions to the Constitution are raised. Use this cyberhunt to learn about  the highest court of our land...the Supreme Court!

1.Meeting in 1790, who did President George Washington select as   the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? ____________ What was done at this first session?______________________
Find the answers at: US Gov

2.
Part of the Judicial Branch of government, what is the Supreme Court¹s most important responsibility ?_________________ What is the only way to reverse a court decision?_____________
Find the answers at:Ben's Guide

3. The Supreme Court Building was built in 1932, the court’s 146th year!In which city did the Supreme Court first meet?__________What is engraved above the entrance to the Supreme Court?_________  
Find the answers at: Ben's Guide

4.
In addition to traditions such as white quills placed on each of the justices’ desks each and entering the court from behind a burgundy curtain, why do the justices shake hands with one another before sitting on the Bench? ________________________
Find the answers at: US Gov

5.
Justices are seated on the Bench  in order of seniority . Who sits in the center chair?________________  Who seats to his left and right and what is worn by the justices when court is in session?____________________
Find the answers at:Supreme Court.gov

6.
President Bush has already made one appointment to the Supreme Court.It is likely he will make more before his term in office ends. George Washington holds the record at making 11 appointments. Who was the first African American justice appointed to the Court____________and the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court______________?
Find the answers at:InfoPlease.com
http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/supreme_court/supcthist.html

7.
All federal courts are appointed by the Congress but the Supreme Court is required by what document?______________ Appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by Senate, the term of the justice lasts for what period of time?___________
Find the answers at: http://www.informationheadquarters.com/US_Supreme_Court.shtml

8.
The Chief Justice is the head of this branch of government _________  and often(not always) is elevated to the position from justices on the bench.  For what event does the Chief Justice officiate every four years?__________________
Find the answers at :http://www.informationheadquarters.com/US_Supreme_Court/Chief_Justice_US.shtml

9.
The Supreme Court is known by the acronym, SCOTUS. What is an acronym?___________________From which language does the word acronym originate?___________________
Find the answers at: http://www.informationheadquarters.com/US_Supreme_Court/Acronym.shtml

Other websites of interest:
Library Think Quest( legal terms explained)
CongressKids
Baseball.oyez.org/ Game to learn about supreme court justices  



Activities:
1.Brainpop.com
Learn about a famous decision of the Supeme Court,
Brown vs. the Board of Ed  of Topeka 1954.  Another famous decision was the  1989 Texas v. Johnson where the court decided if a person could burn the American Flag. http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/379/  
Have students pretend they are Supreme Court Justices and have them discuss  these issues and vote on the following upcoming issues to the Supreme Court.  Can the government take people¹s land away or limit its use?  Can file sharing services on the internet be held responsible when people illegally swap songs or movies online?

2.
Have students make a chart on the Supreme court Justices including which President appointed them to the Bench, in which year, and which state were they born.

3. Draw a picture of the Supreme Court and write 5 facts that you have learned about the Supreme Court from the cyberhunt that you have found interesting to share with others.

Books for children:
1. The Story of the Supreme Court by Kenneth Richards, Children’s Press ,1970
2. Powers of the Supreme Court by R. Conrad Stein , Children’s Press, 1995