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World History Resources News to Use in Social Studies Newspapers Around the Globe Political Cartoons PowerPoint Presentations Presidential Inauguration Presidents' Day Primary Source Documents Professional Development PSAE Practice for HS Social Studies Rockford's Sister Cities Rubrics for Social Studies Social Studies Scope and Sequence Spanish Influenza of 1918 Special Projects Study Skills Teaching American History Grant Thanksgiving Three Cups of Tea Veterans Day Vocabulary - English Vocabulary - Spanish War & Conflict Website of the Week Women's History Wondrous Women Main   >   Curriculum   >   Social Studies Constitution Day, September 17 This page will give ideas for lesson plans and activities for students as they learn about the history and workings of the Constitution of the United States. President George W. Bush signed public law 108-447 in December 2004 requiring all educational institutions that receive federal funds to teach the United States Constitution on September 17 (or the closest school day if it falls on a weekend). This year schools will observe Constitution Day on Thursday, September 17, 2009. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” These famous words established our government and the core principles on which this nation was founded. Three branches – the Legislative, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives; the Executive, with a president; and the Judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court, were created, each having its own role in how laws are made and used. The Constitution of the United States was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17. 1787. On this date, the core principles on which this nation was founded were laid out in the Constitution. This important document was ratified months later in 1788 by the necessary nine states (out of thirteen) to officially establish our nation’s new system of government. Today all educational institutions that receive federal funds are required to teach the United States Constitution on September 17 (or the closest school day if it falls on a weekend). In 2009 we will celebrate Constitution Day on Thursday, September 17. There are many excellent resources available to facilitate the teaching of the U.S. Constitution and to help educators to guide their students to gain a greater understanding of the importance of this historical document. Included below are websites and ideas for lesson plans. The Constitution for Kids From U.S. Constitution Online The Constitution for Kids site is an excellent source for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade, 4th through 7th Grade, and 8th through 12th Grade. It contains the “basics” for each of these three levels. Constitution Facts http://www.constitutionfacts.com Information on the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Founding Fathers can be found on this site. Constitution Day http://www.constitutionday.com/ This site provides a great deal of background information, as well as educational materials for study. Lesson Plans on Constitution Day and More! http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-day/ This site contains links to numerous sources of information, activities, simulations, and lessons concerning the Constitution. This page can also be linked to a Spanish translation. It's at the bottom of the web page. Junior Achievement’s site http://www.ja.org/programs/programs_supplements_constitution.shtml This site comes highly recommended. It contains lesson plans for K-2, 3-4, 5-8, and 9-12, each designed to take only a class period. “That’s My Property” is designed for elementary grades K-2. Students will learn how the Constitution of the United States and its amendments provide certain rights pertaining to personal property. Using a scenario about classroom rules, students demonstrate the importance of having individual rights. “No Time for Tea” has been created for elementary grades 3-5. Students will learn how the U.S. Constitution provided the framework for our country’s democratic form of government and the representation within our government. “It’s My Right” is directed to the middle grades 6-8. Students work in representative groups and analyze the Bill of Rights, ranking each amendment based on its significance to the group. “Business and the Bill of Rights” is for high school grades 9-13. Students will better understand the U.S Constitution by exploring the Bill of Rights. Through the eyes of business owners, student groups review and discuss the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Ben's Guide From the U,S.Government Printing Office The U.S. Government Printing Office has an excellent site for levels K-12 and resources for both parents and teachers. Camping Constitution From Teacher Created Materials "Camping Constitution," a Reader’s Theatre for Grades 2 and 3. The National Constitution Center http://www.constitutioncenter.org. The National Constitution Center includes an Interactive Constitution, a Constitutional Timeline, Fast Facts, Basic Governing Principles, Founding Fathers, Founding Documents, Constitutional Links, Three Perspectives on the Constitution, and a For Kids! Section. Information on the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Founding Fathers From Constitution Facts.com Constitution Lessons From Archives.gov This site contains links to numerous sources of information, activities, simulations, and lessons concerning the Constitution. Constitutional Lesson Plan Ideas From Marco Polo The Constitution for Kids From U.S. Constitution.net This is an excellent source for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade, 4th through 7th Grade, and 8th through 12th Grade. It contains the “basics” for each of these three levels. Middle and High School Lesson Plans From the Bill of Rights Institute The Bill of Rights Institute offers both middle and high school Constitution Day Lesson Plans. Constitutional Timeline From the Constitution Center An online experience highlighting some of the key dates and events that mark more than 200 years of our constitutional history. Information and Quiz From ConstitutionFacts.com Find information about the U.S. Constitution and the Amendments, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Founding Fathers, the Supreme Court, and a Constitution Quiz on this website. American Bar Association http://www.abanet.org/publiced/conversations/constitution/test_intro.html This site from the American Bar Association contains Conversations about the Constitution and other interactive features. Roosevelt Center for Adult Education Program http://adulted.rps205.com Roosevelt Center for Adult Education Program has a site for Constitution Test Prep and PowerPoint, also. The Constitutional Rights Foundation http://www.crf-usa.org/constitution_day/constitution_day_home.htm Free online resources from CRF for Grades Kindergarten through 12. Center for Civic Education http://www.civiced.org/index.php?page=constitution_day From the Center for Civic Education, these lesson plans for grades K-12 even contain audio recordings! "The Center for Civic Education, in collaboration with the American Association of School Administrators, prepared these lessons in response to legislation passed by the U.S. Congress requiring educational institutions receiving federal funding to present a program pertaining to the U. S. Constitution." To Sign or Not to Sign: The Ultimate Constitution Day Lesson Plan http://hancock.constitutioncenter.org/constitutionday/download/attachments/2769/ConstitutionDayPosterLesson.pdf?version=2 "From the moment students enter the room, they will begin to examine and understand the role of the people of the Constitution." This lesson plan is for grades 7-12. Signers of the Declaration of Independence I Have, Who Has? Activity Please email CassioK@rps205.com if you would like this same activity with pictures of 16 of the signers. Constitutional Amendments I Have, Who Has? Activity A great way to review the amendments! From the Papers of George Washington http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/constitution/draft/draft_1.html A Draft of the Federal Constitution - examine the revisions to the Constitution! The National Endowment for the Humanities http://edsitement.neh.gov/ConstitutionDay/ "This website from EDSITEment and the National Endowment for the Humanities provides Constitutional documents, background essays, and a bibliography to help educators celebrate Constitution Day, and deepen their understanding of the United States Constitution.” EconEdLink http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/em355/flash/popupActivity.html "This student interactive, from an EconEdLink lesson, has students fill in a chart with information about each of the promises made in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. They identify the meaning of each phrase and the benefits they propose to U.S. citizens.” Need More Links? http://www.thinkfinitysearch.org/MPSearch/Search_Results.asp?orgn_id=2&log_type=1&hdnFilter=&hdnPerPage=15&txtSearchFor=Constitution&selUsing=all Thinkfinity provides a wealth of information on lessons (over 800 sites) for teaching about the Constitution. Events Affecting the Constitution From U.S. Constitution Online "Through history, certain events have shaped how the Constitution has been interpreted or viewed by the public. This page will provide an overview of these events, most of which are Supreme Court cases, and provide a starting-point for further research." Spanish Constitutional Information http://www.archives.gov/espanol/dia-de-la-constitucion/ This site, in Spanish, contains links to numerous sources of information, activities, simulations, and lessons concerning the Constitution. Alternate Formats Different formats for the Constitution – even available in Spanish. The Magna Carta From U.S. Constitution Online "Of all the documents that make up the ancestry of the Constitution, one of the oldest is the Magna Carta (also known as the Magna Charta or the Great Charter). It was created in 1215 in England. It was an agreement between King John and the nobility of the day. The King's barons were unhappy with recent defeats at the hands of the French, and an unfavorable peace with the French. To assure the loyalty of the barons, John agreed to certain civil rights for the barons. These rights were encoded in the Magna Carta. These rights were not new or unique - most of the text of the Magna Carta came from the Charter of Liberties, another agreement between King Henry I and his nobility in 1100." Other Historical American Documents From U.S. Constitution Online "There are some very important documents that are related to the Constitution in much the same way as the Declaration of Independence or the Articles of Confederation are. This select number of documents are listed below. Images of some of these documents are also available." Other Ideas for Consideration: • What connection does the Preamble to the Constitution have to the disaster in the South caused by Hurricane Katrina? To the recent terrorist plots/threats? To acts of piracy? To a pandemic like swine flu? • Relate the U.S. Constitution to the formation of an Iraqi Constitution. • Compare the U.S. Constitution to those of other countries. • Constitutionalism is a form of government in which a nation follows a written constitution. No one person has all power in a constitutional government. Each of the three branches (legislative, executive, and judiciary) of the U.S. government has independent powers, but each is also limited by the others. How do the first three words of the Preamble ("We the People") reflect the idea of constitutionalism? What About Our Rights Under the Constitution? From the Center for the Teaching of American History – Peer Review Conference This lesson plan was created by Anne T. Staiger of Candor Middle School for her 8th grade students. "The primary purpose of this lesson was to engage students critical thinking skills by using primary documents to focus on how our governmental documents and ideas do not always guarantee the fair treatment of all individuals. The focus was on five groups: women, Native Americans, Japanese Americans, immigrants and African Americans." Lessons for Constitution Day - A Web Exclusive! From Teaching Tolderance.org "With Constitution and Citizenship Day right around the corner, the word 'We' should take on particular importance in our nation's classrooms." This site contains a reference to Rockford Public Schools! How A Bill Becomes A Law From the Arbor Day Foundation This informative flowchart will help you understand the process of legislation in the United States. The Liberty Bill Act S. 2056 H.R. 2878 (109th Congress) “A bill before Congress – begun by students and teachers to place an abridged U.S. Constitution on the back of U.S. Currency: Imagine seven billion one-dollar bills exchanging hands each day among the six billion people in the world… …the democracy, freedom and goodwill of the Constitution – America’s pride – on every one.” Teaching With Documents: U.S. Constitution Workshop The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration "What does the light bulb have to do with the U. S. Constitution? Or the board game 'Monopoly'? How about the letter you wrote to the president when you were in elementary school? The answer to all three questions is: plenty—if you know your Constitution. The education team of the National Archives and Records Administration is pleased to present, for the first time, a self-service online version of our popular U. S. Constitution Workshop! This activity is: •Suitable for grades 4 through 12 •Fully self-contained, requiring little advance prep time •Correlated to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Government." Students will have the "unique opportunity to learn, through analysis of primary source documents, about the content, impact, and perpetual relevance of the U. S. Constitution to the daily lives of American citizens." Branches of Power From the United States Mint "Play the game whose clues are in the Constitution" with "Branches of Power." The Three Branches of Government From Think Quest Ths site was developed by the Palese Web Team, part of the ThinkQuest Junior Competition. Despite being developed during President George W. Bush's administration, this site contains some interesting features.

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