New for 2009! | 2009-2010 Being an American Essay Contest | Do You Know Your Constitution?
Celebrate Constitution Day Tabloid and Online Module | Lesson Plans | Other Resources
Pocket Constitutions
These Pocket Constitutions are a necessary resource for all citizens. They are a great tool for your students to help them understand the structure and purpose of the national government, as well as their personal rights. Carry the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights in your pocket.
For a full text of the Constitution, Click Here.
NOW AVAILABLE! Which Founder Are You?- A Facebook Student Activity
We realize that many classrooms do not have access to Facebook. This activity is intended to be started in the classroom and completed by students outside of the classroom. If you are looking for other activities that you can use in the classroom on Constitution Day, please see our other resources by clicking here.
Students can take a fun, short quiz packed with interesting information about three of the men who helped write the Constitution. With a few personal questions thrown in, along with expected ones on their views of history and government, this interactive quiz helps students see the Founders not just as political thinkers, but as real people who might have had pet peeves and insecurities just like them. At the end, students find out which Founder they “are,” and get a chance learn more about him and his contributions to the Constitution. With suggested activities for classroom use, students are encouraged to engage with one another in discussion on their Founders’ pages.
- Visit the Facebook Instructions and Activities page to find out how you can use this resource in the classroom!
- Take me to the quiz on Facebook NOW!
If you are looking for classroom activities and do not have access to Facebook in the classroom, please see our other activities for Constitution Day below!
NOW AVAILABLE! Current Events Briefing Sheet - In Conjunction with our new eLesson!
With Congress set to return to work around the same time as students return to their classrooms this fall, there are many opportunities to analyze and discuss current events in light of our Founding documents. The Bill of Rights Institute’s “Current Events Briefing Sheet” provides a framework for discussing current events and the Constitution. Current Events and the Constitution will be a regular Bill of Rights Institute eLesson and will debut the Monday before Constitution Day 2009. Each month, students will analyze how the Constitution applies to a specific current issue, and the template can be adapted for discussion of current events on the local, state, or national level.
Sign up for our new Current Events and the Constitution eLesson now (as well as our other eLessons), and visit the first activity focusing on the healthcare reform debate and the Constitution!
2009-2010 Being an American Essay Contest
The largest high school essay contest in the country is back, asking students to answer the question, "What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?" With over 31,000 participants last year in all 50 states, this year's Contest promises to be even bigger. Teachers can begin submitting their students' essays on Constitution Day, September 17th. For more information about the Contest, or to begin registration and essay submission, please visit www.BeingAnAmerican.org.
Do you know your Constitution? Quiz
Do you think you know the Constitution? Find out with this 20 question quiz written to test your students' knowledge of our nation's Constitution. Students can keep track of their score and even print the quiz to show everyone how well they've done.
Click here to take the quiz now!
Celebrate Constitution Day Tabloid
Celebrate Constitution Day, a 12-page Tabloid packed with activities and content including: The Tabloid - provided in partnership with the Newspaper Association of America Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.- Focus on the Constitutional Convention, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, with a special First Amendment focus.
- “First Amendment in Action” activities on every page encourage kids to use their newspaper to learn about their rights and freedoms.
To download the full tabloid, or a series version of the tabloid, please click here.
*Click here to view the answers for the Tabloid's Crossword Puzzle.
Visit the On-line Module - An interactive flash experience, the On-line Module is a great way to connect your students with the thoughts and ideas of the Constitutional Convention, and it's a lot of fun!
Visit the Online Interactive Module!
Below are some screenshots and explanations for each activity in the Module.
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From the homepage of the module, you can select any one of 3 activities. Each activity is listed below. |
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The highlight of the On-line Module, Madison's Notes are Missing takes users back in time to the Constitutional Convention. The time-traveler will ask questions of the Founders and report their findings in a news story. Each Founder is voiced and animated. |
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The next activity is an interactive crossword puzzle that focuses on the Founding. |
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The final activity is a quote matching exercise that lets users identify important phrases that were used by the Founders. Each quote is matched with its Founder by dragging it from the bottom box into the speech bubble above. |
Lesson Plans
Constitution Day Lesson For Middle School (click links below to download)
High Resolution in pdf format (1.55 mb) can take 2 to 3 minutes to load
Low Resolution in pdf format (427 kb)
Constitution Day Lesson for High School (click links below to download)
High Resolution in pdf format (1.43 mb) can take 2 to 3 minutes to load
Low Resolution in pdf format (469 kb)
Constitution Cube Activities (Click Here!) (Great for every type of learner)
Faces of Freedom - Lesson 2: Champions of Freedom for Middle School
Lesson 2: Champions of Freedom in pdf format (221 kb)
Founders' Online (Click Here!)
Founders and the Constitution3-minute audio biography (streaming audio) to listen, download Windows Media Player
First Amendment Lesson (pdf) from Media and American Democracy for High School (Click Here!) (386 kb)
More Resources for Constitution Day 2009
Celebrate the Constitution: Why do we have a Constitution?
This entertaining and informative activity booklet helps teachers educate their students about how the Constitution continues to impact our rights and responsibilities as citizen's today. Includes multiple activities to engage your students.
Purchase your classroom set today - 25 copies for only $100!
Pocket Constitution
Includes the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, and an index to the Constitution and the amendments.
Order Pocket Constitutions for your students today so they can carry their rights with them everywhere!
Only $1 each, additional discounts apply to purchases of more than 25.