More Constitution Day Resources from ODE!

A Reminder . . . Schools and Districts Must Observe Constitution Day, September 17

 

In 2005, Congress established September 17 as Constitution Day. Schools, federal and state agencies, and others that receive federal funding are required to provide educational programs related to the United States Constitution on that day. The Federal Register Notice of Implementation is available at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2005-2/052405b.html. Many organizations provide resources to support schools’ activities on that day:

Annenberg Media

• The Constitution: That Delicate Balance: features a panel discussion on constitutional issues by distinguished personalities in government, media, and law. http://www.learner.org/resources/series72.html

• See how key figures in law, media, government, religion, military, health care, and business puzzle through controversies introduced through hypothetical cases and the Socratic method in Ethics in America http://www.learner.org/resources/series81.html and Ethics in America II.http://www.learner.org/series/ethics2/
• Hear leading historians recount American history illustrated by historical footage in Democracy in America. http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/ The course Web site has downloadable readings that include the writings of Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Niccolo Machiavelli, Thomas Paine, and Alexis de Tocqueville.
• Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers presents effective high school lessons and access Web-based materials including student and teacher perspectives, essential readings, and primary source documents. http://www.learner.org/workshops/civics/
• For middle and high school teachers, America's History in the Making looks at the early development of the U.S. system of government. http://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/ See unit 4, "Revolutionary Perspectives," and click on OAH Talking History to listen to the radio programs "Revolutionary Mothers" and "Washington's Slaves." Then see unit 20, “Egalitarian America,” for a look at more recent constitutional issues.
• Learn about the beginnings of the U.S. Constitution in "A New System of Government," program 5 of A Biography of America. http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/
• Programs in The Western Tradition relevant to the Constitution include program 5, "The Rise of Greek Civilization," program 6, "Greek Thought," program 37, "The American Revolution," and 38, "The American Republic." http://www.learner.org/resources/series58.html
• Search for historical artifacts –- images and documents -- related to the Constitution in the American Passages archive. http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php. Our special slideshow tool also allows you to create one or more presentations using items from the archive.

 

Classroom Law Project

“Visitor from Outer Space”:  Great with all age groups. The U.S. is overtaken by space aliens and learners are asked to ponder which rights are most important.

http://www.classroomlaw.org/files/posts-pages/resources/lesson_plans/constitution_day_lesson.pdf

 

Bill of Rights Institute

The Bill of Rights Institute has developed materials to help students and other observers understand the significance of the U.S. Constitution in observance of Constitution Day. Free materials are available to download from the web site. There are Constitution Day lessons for middle school and high school as well as a Constitution Cube lesson with activities for all levels. "Champions of Freedom" is a middle school activity that includes images of the Founding Fathers.

http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/educator-resources/constitution-day-resources/

 

Center for Civic Education

The Center for Civic Education has lesson topics for all grade levels:

• Kindergarten:  Introduction to the term authority
• Grades 1 and 2: Introduction to the terms authority, limited government and law
• Grades 3 and 4:  Introduction to the Preamble's ideas and importance
• Grades 5 and 6:  Explore terms in the Preamble
• Grades 7 and 8:  The federal system and the role of federal vs. state governments
• Grades 9 and 10:  Introduction to the first Congress, establishing the executive and judicial branches, and drafting of the Bill of Rights
• Grades 11 and 12:  Major conflicts and the Bill of Rights

http://www.civiced.org/byrd/

 

Constitutional Rights Foundation

The Constitutional Rights Foundation provides resources to educate young people about the responsibilities of "civic participation in a democratic society."  Among the resources are lessons with the following titles:  "A Visitor for Outer Space (V.O.I.C.E.)," "Diversity and Equality (The Challenge of Diversity)," "The Constitution and Governance (The Challenges of Governance)," "The Tired King (Adventures in Law and History, Vol. II)" and other titles.

http://www.crf-usa.org/constitution-day/

 

Dirksen Congressional Center

The Dirksen Congressional Center promotes an understanding of the U.S. Congress and its leaders through archives, research and educational programs. On the Historical Documents page under "Constitution" are a number of links to other resources.

http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org/

 

First Amendment Center

The First Amendment Center provided information about the First Amendment freedoms to protect and preserve the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The center is housed at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and Arlington, Virginia. Materials are organized according to the five freedoms in the First Amendment. Lesson plans are also included.

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/

 

Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The Gilder Lehrman Institute has a module on the U.S. Constitution under "For Teachers and Students." Resources include primary sources, a bibliography of books, films and additional web sites. Lesson plans illustrate how to put all of the resources together.

http://www.gilderlehrman.org/

 

History Channel

"This Day in History" for September 17 provides information about the U.S. Constitution.

http://www.historychannel.com/

Law Focused Education, Inc.

The Law Focused Education, Inc. web site has activities for students, lesson plans and other materials for teachers to use in planning for Constitution Day.  There is a weekly Constitution quiz, a Constitution game, Preamble Scramble and Branches of the Federal Government among several interactive activities.

http://texaslre.org/

 

Liberty Day

Liberty Day is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education youth about the basics of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence and to distributing copies of those documents to the country’s fifth graders. They also provide a Complete Education Resource for teachers on the Constitution. The Resource includes a Teacher’s Packet containing a lesson plan, two evaluation forms, and multiple-choice pre- and post-tests. Also included are copies of the documents and a set of 24 Q&A flashcards on the contents of the Constitution. For more information, go to the web site www.LibertyDay.org, or contact Andy McKean at Andy@LibertyDay.org.

 

National Archives

The National Archives Building in Washington, D. C. houses the handwritten copy of the U.S. Constitution. An article included on the web site entitled "A More Perfect Union" provides details of the Constitutional Convention and the process for ratifying the U.S. Constitution. Interesting facts about the U.S. Constitution are included in "Questions and Answers Pertaining to the Constitution." These resources are available on the Constitution web page.

http://www.archives.gov/

 

National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center is dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Their resources include a toolkit for a group of people to read the Constitution aloud and lesson plans and other resources. The first web address is for the home page for the National Constitution Center. The second web address is for Constitution Day activities. The third web address links to the "America Reads the Constitution" tool kit.

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/

 

Public Broadcasting Service

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) web site has at least thirty-five lessons and other activities relating to the U.S. Constitution. One lesson for high school is entitled "Why Celebrate Constitution Day?" Most of the lessons appear to be for high school and middle school classes.

http://www.pbs.org/

 

U.S. Courts

The U.S. Courts web site has discussion topics in one-page handouts, fast facts, interactive games, sixth amendment activities and court simulations.

http://www.uscourts.gov/

 

Constitution Day, Inc.

http://www.constitutionday.com/

 

 

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