Overview
What if the government could take your house, not to build a road or school, but to hand it to a private developer? What if a promise of “public benefit” left whole neighborhoods bulldozed and empty? This video revisits the famous Little Pink House (Kelo) case and shows how eminent domain, meant for true public use, has been stretched to justify projects that often fail. Students will see how expanded government power can threaten property rights and raise tough questions about fairness, justice, and trust.

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Lesson Insights

Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Government
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify examples of eminent domain presented in the video;
• explain how the use of eminent domain in the Little Pink House case differed from traditional public use projects;
• analyze the consequences of government taking property for private development on individuals and communities; and
• evaluate whether the government’s use of eminent domain in these cases upholds or violates principles of justice and fairness.

Key concepts and terms covered
Eminent Domain, Property Rights, Public Use, and Supreme Court.

Sample discussion questions
• What does “eminent domain” mean?
• What were the promises made to the people of New London about the new development?
• What did Justice Sandra Day O’Connor mean with her Motel 6 and Ritz Carlton example?
• Do you think it is possible for government to decide “fair value” for someone’s home? Why or why not?
• Should governments ever have the power to take private property for private projects? Defend your position.

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 16-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, classroom activities, and the full video transcript.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.