Lesson 3: Establishment clause and Engel v. Vitale
Duration of Days: 2
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to analyze the Supreme Court case Engel v. Vitale (1962), explain how it applies the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and evaluate its impact on the relationship between religion and public schools.
How did the Supreme Court’s ruling in Engel v. Vitale limit government involvement in religious activities in public schools, and why is this decision important for understanding the Establishment Clause today?
CG.Civ.5.a. Evaluate the relationship between law-making, enforcement, and interpretation in balancing
the rights of the individual with the well being of society (e.g., Bill of Rights, Supreme Court
cases).
Students must analyze court reasoning and connect it to constitutional principles.
They evaluate the impact of the decision on schools and government policy.
This goes beyond simple recall (Level 1) or comprehension (Level 2) because it requires interpretation, explanation, and application of a landmark case to modern contexts.
n/a
comprehension questions and discussion.
https://store.streetlaw.org/resource/engel-v-vitale-1962/