Social Studies Curriculum

Constitution Day - September 17

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Web Resources and Lessons for K-12 Educators

September 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. This day commemorates the September 17, 1787, signing of the United States Constitution. Below are online resources and lessons for K-12 educators:

American Bar Association
The American Bar Association Web site includes lesson plans for Constitution Day.

Center for Civic Education
Lessons by grade level specific to Constitution Day. The Center's Web site is also an excellent resource for civics beyond September 17.

Constitutional Rights Foundation
Free Constitution Day online resources from the Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Sources Project
The Constitutional Sources Project has created a comprehensive, online library of Constitution-related source materials.  The Center for Civic Education is promoting this as a useful addition to their own offerings.

Discovery Education videos for Constitution Day (You must already have the login for Discovery Education)
Grades K-5  |  Grades 3-5  |  Grades 3-8

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
The federal government's Web site for teacher resources (all disciplines).  It's free but you need to join to access the "40,000 lesson plans".

Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History supports many worthwhile efforts, offers teacher resources, and puts on summer institutes. The link above is one example and includes the U.S. Constitution.

Library of Congress
The link above is specific to September 17, but this whole Web site is comprehensive.

National Constitution Center
This site is easily navigable and has lesson plans for all grade levels. It is also a great resource on all things Constitutional.

National Endowment for the Humanities
A comprehensive Web site for Constitution Day within the very broad NEH site.  This link includes background information, lesson plans for teachers by grade level, and more.

National History Day
National History Day itself, but also much more about U.S. history.

The National Archives
National Archives and Records Administration, an outstanding Web site with information on working with original or primary sources. Link is specific to Constitution Day.

U.S. Department of Education
The federal government's implementation of this legislation and suggested links.