Procedures

• SET UP

  This lesson offers several options for you to use with your students whether you are teaching in class, using a hybrid model, or engaging through distance learning. It can be completed in steps as a class or students can move at their own pace and complete the activities independently.

  You can post links to the videos in the lesson along with the related handout and engage in discussion to share responses on a discussion board or learning management system.

  You can also save and share the following Google resources for students to use with this lesson. In Google, choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. You can make any needed adjustments in the instructions such as which activities students need to complete, when it is due, etc. and then make it available to them via Google.

  • Handout: Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court - 2022 Questions (Google Doc).
  • Handout: Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court - Exploration (Google Doc).
  • Resource: March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey Results (PDF).
  • Resource: August 2018 C-SPAN/PSB Supreme Court Survey Results (PDF).
  • Resource: March 2017 C-SPAN/PSB Supreme Court Survey Results (PDF).
  • Resource: July 2015 C-SPAN/PSB Supreme Court Survey Results (PDF).
  • Resource: C-SPAN Supreme Court Survey Website Homepage (Website).

• WARM UP

  Begin class by having students answer five of the questions that were used on the 2022 survey (see Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court - 2022 Questions Google Doc). Give students time to answer the questions and discuss their responses and their reasons for choosing each question.

• INTRODUCTION

  After discussing the students' responses, have the students view the following clip summarizing the 2022 C-SPAN Supreme Court Survey. Students will answer the following guiding questions. Discuss the students' answers with the class to ensure the understanding of certain vocabulary words and processes.

  VIDEO CLIP: Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court (1:31)

  • What was the purpose of the 2022 C-SPAN Supreme Court Survey?
  • Summarize the "key findings" of the 2022 C-SPAN Supreme Court Survey, as Greta Brawner describes.
  • According to Brawner, what Supreme Court change has C-SPAN been "very involved in?"

• EXPLORATION

  Have the students use the Survey Analysis handout (see Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court - Exploration Google Doc) to research and compare the results of the survey questions listed above from the 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont, and the 2018, 2017 and 2015 C-SPAN/PSB Supreme Court Surveys. Students should complete the handout using the full survey results from each year and summarize the findings for the questions. Students can complete the handout for all survey questions individually, or it can be adapted as a jigsaw activity. Note: The survey question numbers, content, and order are not the same for each survey.

• APPLICATION

  Either have the students choose one of the survey questions or assign one to each student. Students should provide a written summary of the trends relating to that survey question. Students should provide an explanation of why they believe these trends exist. They should also compare the results of the class's survey results and the C-SPAN/Pierrepoint and C-SPAN/PSB survey results. The students will share their findings and explanations with the class.

• CLOSURE

  As an exit slip, have the students answer one or more of the following questions:

  • As an institution, how do people view the Supreme Court?
  • In your opinion, do the trends found in this survey represent your family and community?
  • Based on the survey results, do you think citizens should be more informed about the Supreme Court?
  • In your opinion and based on the survey results, do you think the Supreme Court will ever allow cameras in the court during oral arguments?

• OPTIONAL EXTENSION #1

  Conduct a Demographic Analysis. Using the March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey Results (see March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey Results (PDF)), choose one of the demographic categories listed below and analyze the differences in responses for one of the questions. Provide a summary of how these groups perceive the Supreme Court.

  • Gender
  • Age Group
  • Political Affiliation

• OPTIONAL EXTENSION #2

  Conduct Your Own Supreme Court Survey. Using questions from the March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey (see Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court - 2022 Questions Google Doc) create a survey of people's perceptions of the Supreme Court. Survey people around your school and community. After completing your survey, analyze your findings and compare them to the results from the March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey (see March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey Results (PDF)).

• OPTIONAL EXTENSION #3

  Create Survey Infographics. Have students select two of the most interesting or important elements of the survey data from the March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey Results (see March 2022 C-SPAN/Pierrepont Supreme Court Survey Results (PDF)). Then, have them create an infographic for each data element (similar to the infographics listed on the C-SPAN Supreme Court Survey website homepage (Website)) and share with the class.