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| Constitution Day Resources |
| posted by: Alix | September 15, 2011, 02:43 PM |
|
This Saturday, September 17, is Constitution Day/Citizenship Day, commemorating the September 17, 1787, signing of the U.S. Constitution. In recognition, Congress has mandated that every educational institution receiving federal funds take a day to teach about our country's most important document. Since September 17 falls on a Saturday this year, institutions may celebrate either the preceding or the following week. If you are planning on discussing the constitution with your students, there are some fantastic resources for reading, sharing and contributing. To assist students and educators in learning about the constitution, free online resources are available from the Department's Federal Resources for Educational Excellence website, as well as the National History Education Clearinghouse and the National Archives and Records Administration. Among the federal government's resources are profiles on the delegates who gathered in Philadelphia to rewrite the Articles of Confederation, as well as an interactive timeline that shows the impact of the Constitution on our history. Education company Scholastic also has released resources in conjunction with the American Board of Trial Advocates. Catering to younger children, the sample lesson plans feature topics like, "The Constitution in Today's America" and "The Making of an Amendment" are available for free on Scholastic's interactive website. The Bill of Rights Institute has an entire section of their website devoted to students and teachers searching for ideas to celebrate the constitution. Everything from video clips and sample lesson plans to a game on what life in America would be without the Bill of Rights, are available on their website. Additionally, you won't want to miss Constitution Hall Pass—viewed by over a million students on Constitution Day last year. This free webcast allows teachers and students to learn more about this historic day while chatting live with the National Constitution Center's education staff. All you need to participate is an internet connection. This year's new episode, Constitution Hall Pass: Freedom of Expression is set to bring the story of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to life and celebrates artists, writers and musicians throughout history who have exercised their right to free expression. The episode will be available on the Center's website tomorrow, September 16, with a live chat from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT. Click here for details. In addressing Constitution Day this year, keep in mind that civics knowledge is on the decline, particularly for older students. Only 24% of 12th graders were assessed as proficient under the Department of Education's National Civics Report Card in 2010. Constitution Day 2011 is the perfect time to readdress civics and the importance of our democracy. Do you plan on teaching about the Constitution your classroom? Do you have any suggestions about addressing civics in the classroom? Comment below.
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