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Online Resources
A Note About Resources
An extensive search for resources was done in August of 2008. The first
100 results of a Google search (“constitution day” + activities
+ lessons) were scoured to find the resources below. Although other sites
may exist, the sites below are the most popular, and in most cases the
most logical with which to start reviewing to seek resources for Constitution
Day. Lesson plans and activities found among the sites vary in quality.
Although there is a lot of information and some lesson plans available
for elementary, most of the Constitution Day information seems to be designed
for middle and high school.
All links have been checked and are live as of September 3, 2008.
Most links in the Online Resources will take you to a home page on which
you will find a specific Constitution Day resource link.
Elementary, Middle and High School Resources
- Center
for Civic Education
The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
educational corporation dedicated to fostering the development of informed,
responsible participation in civic life by citizens committed to values
and principles fundamental to American constitutional democracy. Free
downloadable lesson plans are available for all grade levels.
- National
Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is an independent, non-partisan,
and non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding
of, and appreciation for, the Constitution, its history, and its contemporary
relevance. The link above is to their Constitution Day home page. To
review other Constitution related information and resources click here.
- ConSource
The only free, fully-indexed online library of constitutional sources!
- Constitutional
Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation is pleased to present a series
of free online lessons, resources from the CRF catalog, and Internet
links to help educators design their own Constitution Day program.
- National
Archives Teaching With Documents: Observing Constitution Day
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional
Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created.
The National Archives and Records Administration celebrates this important
day in our nation's history by presenting the following activities,
lesson plans, and information. Click here for the best place to see
a visual
image of the actual Constitution. Click here
for Teaching With Documents: U.S. Constitution self-service online workshop.
- The
Bill of Rights Institute's Constitution Day Page
The Bill of Rights Institute is offering free educational and
programming materials to schools to help your teachers organize events
to commemorate Constitution Day, September 17, 2008.
- U.S.
Courts Constitution Day Resources
The Federal Judiciary has provide the following resources:
- One-Page Handouts on the Key Themes of Constitution Day 2006
- Fast Facts
- Interactive Games (Flash is required)
- Courtroom and Classroom Activities and Simulation
Click here to go to
The Federal Judiciary home
page.
- Constitutionfacts.com
ConstitutionFacts.com provides a series of free educational
resources and Internet links to help educators comply with the new federal
regulation requiring the development of student programming to celebrate
Constitution Day each year.
- Justice
Learning
Justice Learning is an innovative, issue-based approach
for engaging high school students in informed political discourse. The
web site uses audio from the Justice Talking radio show and articles
from The New York Times to teach students about reasoned debate and
the often-conflicting values inherent in our democracy. The web site
includes articles, editorials and oral debate from the nation's finest
journalists and advocates. All of the material is supported by age-appropriate
summaries and additional links. Constitution Day resources include free
DVDs of two videos featuring Supreme Court Justices.
- Teach
the First Amendment and The
Future of the First Amendment
Launched by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, these
web sites offer teachers and administrators the free teaching guides
and lesson plans as well as other resources like tools for starting
and protecting student newspapers and broadcast stations. Educators
can also find a short quiz on the site to test their own knowledge and
students' knowledge of the First Amendment. The latter web site offers
a free teaching DVD about the First Amendment.
- Annenberg
Classroom
Annenberg Classroom has created classroom-ready digital resources to
help schools celebrate Constitution Day.
- The
Illinois First Amendment Center
The mission of the Illinois First Amendment Center is to promote
First Amendment rights and responsibilities through education designed
to raise awareness of the need to understand, preserve, and protect
the First Amendment. There are free resources to request and download,
including lessons and short video clips.
- First
Amendment Schools: Educating for Freedom and Responsibility
First Amendment Schools : Educating for Freedom and Responsibility
is a national reform initiative designed to transform how schools teach
and practice the rights and responsibilities of citizenship that frame
civic life in our democracy.
- Education
for Freedom
The Freedom Forum's First Amendment Center offers lesson
plans for teaching the First Amendment.
- Federal
Department of Education Constitution Resources
- NASPA
Constitution Day Implementation Guide
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators organization
has developed a Constitutional Day Implementation guide that can be
downloaded in PDF document. Although intended for higher education,
the document provides some useful information for middle and high school
teachers.
- Jones
International University
Jones International University honors this historic moment with a special
podcast series, “In Their Own Words.” We’ve
assembled several speeches and letters of figures who were instrumental
in shaping this living document we call the U.S. Constitution, the Bill
of Rights and the subsequent amendments that comprise the supreme law
of the United States.
- Dirksen
Congressional Center
The Dirksen Congressional Center is a non-partisan, not-for-profit
organization in Pekin , Illinois , that seeks to improve civic engagement
by promoting a better understanding of Congress and its leaders through
archival, research, and educational programs.
- CQ
Press in Context
Although still dated 2006, the resources are still relevant.
“CQ Press in Context” is a free, nonpartisan resource for
information on pivotal events and issues shaping today’s world
of government and politics. This site contains a FREE selection of full-text
documents from the subscription-based CQ Electronic Library (CQEL).
These offerings provide critical background information to help unpack
and understand an important issue. A free lesson plans dealing with
teachers’ and students’ First Amendment Rights in school
are provided. Scroll down to the Pro/Con Debates on Constitutional
Issues to download opposing sides on pivotal issues shaping
today’s world of politics.
- EDSITEment
This site, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities,
offers lesson plans searchable by topic and grade level, including:
- Landmark
Supreme Court Cases
This site was developed to provide teachers with a full range
of resources and activities to support the teaching of landmark Supreme
Court cases, helping students explore the key issues of each case. The
"Resources" section features basic building blocks such as
background summaries and excerpts of opinions that can be used in multiple
ways. The "Activities" section contains a range of short activities
and in-depth lessons that can be completed with students. While these
activities are online, many of them can be adapted for use in a one-computer
classroom or a classroom with no computer.
- Education
World
Teaching Citizenship's Five Themes: Activities from the editors
of Weekly Reader can help develop K-6 students' understanding of the
five citizenship themes--honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility,
and courage.
- Ben's
Guide to Government
- Library
of Congress, Federalists Papers
- K-12
Custom Curriculum Materials
Download these FREE curriculum resources about the U.S. Constitution.
This curriculum unit includes an interactive ebook
with questions built right into the book. These resources can be used
on Palm and Windows Mobile handhelds, as well as laptop and desktop
computers.
Searchable and/or Downloadable Lesson Plans
- Gateway to
21 st Century Skills
A consortium effort to provide teachers with quality materials
and tools found on federal, state, university, and non-profit and commercial
internet sites. On the right hand side you can search the for Constitution
Day lesson plans.
- Junior
Achievement
JA Worldwide™ has developed five lesson plans on the U.S. Constitution
that can be downloaded and used in conjunction with Constitution Day.
In addition, three of these lessons are scheduled to be published in
the September issue of the National Council for the Social Studies publication,
Social Education. Lessons can be accessed and downloaded below.
- Thinkfinity
- Search for: Constitution Day and American Constitution
- Limit Subjects to: social studies
- Limit search to appropriate grade level
- Click on the 'Search' button to view results
- Educator's
Reference Desk Lesson Plans K-12
Constitution Day resources were identified by Roy Sovis, Coordinator for Instruction-Social Studies and Amy Bloom, J.D., Social Studies Consultant, Learning Services Oakland Schools
For more information contact Roy Sovis at (810) 591-4520 or via email at rsovis@geneseeisd.org.
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