Constitution Day
Federal law now requires educational programs that receive federal funding to teach students about the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year. These links are designed to help teachers meet this new requirement.
Constitution Day Resources from CDE
The California Department of Education website provides resources and excerpts from related History-Social Science and English-Language Arts content standards to support classroom instruction on Constitution Day.
Constitution Day: Educator & Student Resources
This site from the National Constitution Center and several partners offers suggestions for celebrating Constitution Day with schoolwide events, lessons, online resources, and other ideas.
National Archives: Observing Constitution Day
View the Constitution itself or try these activities that make use of original documents.
U.S. Courts: Constitution Day
Constitution Day resources include one-page discussion handouts on Constitution themes, interactive games, simulations, and a review of the landmark court case Marbury vs. Madison
Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF)
This site shares free online lessons, resources from the CRF catalog, and online resources to help educators design their own Constitution Day program.
SCORE History/Social Science
Search for “constitution” in both resources and lessons to find dozens of classroom ideas from Schools of California Online Resources for Education (SCORE). These resources have been evaluated and aligned to the California History-Social Science Content Standards and curriculum.
Catch the Spirit: Constitution Day
Originally education organizations in Missouri created this brochure filled with lessons and activity ideas for educators to use in celebration of Constitution Day. Celebration USA adapted the materials to their site and is offering numerous opportunities for teacher resources.
Education World: 15 Questions from the U.S. Citizenship Test
Ten of these questions cover content from the Constitution and would make a good Constitution scavenger hunt.
Search the SCOE Library/Media Collection
There are many Constitution Day resources in SCOE’s Library/Media collection, which can be searched online. A quick search for “constitution” shows more than 100 items, including biographies of significant signers and picture books such as A More Perfect Union and Shhh! We’re Writing the Constitution, as well as dozens of DVDs. Resources can be reserved online or by contacting Library/Media staff at (707) 524-2831.
