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THANKSGIVING Political Cartoons PowerPoint Presentations Presidents' Day Primary Source Documents Professional Development and Grant Opportunities Sixth Grade Social Studies Program Study Skills TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT Veterans Day Vocabulary - English Vocabulary - Spanish War and Conflict 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 Wednesday, September 17, 2008. “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 2008 we will celebrate Constitution Day 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Constitution and to help educators to guide their students to gain a greater understanding of the importance of this historical document.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 http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids.html 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 is 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. The U.S. Government Printing Office http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/index.html The U.S. Government Printing Office has an excellent site for levels K-12 and resources for both parents and teachers. Camping Constitution http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/curriculum_files/free/activities/TCM10703.pdf/ "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: http://www.constitutioncenter.org. Information on the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Founding Fathers. http://www.constitutionfacts.com. Archives.gov http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-day/ This site contains links to numerous sources of information, activities, simulations, and lessons concerning the Constitution. Marco Polo’s site for Constitutional lesson plan ideas. http://www.marcopolo-education.org/MarcoGrams/Sep2005.html The Constitution for Kids http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids.html 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. The Bill of Rights Institute http://www.BillofRightsInstitute.org. The Bill of Rights Institute offers both middle and high school Constitution Day Lesson Plans. Constitutional Timeline: http://www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/ An online experience highlighting some of the key dates and events that mark more than 200 years of our constitutional history. Information and Quiz http://www.constitutionfacts.com/quiz.htm 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! Five new lessons will be available September 8, 2008. 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. I Have, Who Has? Activity Signers of the Declaration of Independence Please email CassioK@rps205.com if you would like this same activity with pictures of 16 of the signers. I Have, Who Has? Activity Constitutional Amendments 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. 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. 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? • 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?

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