Each year on Sept. 17, schools across America commemorate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day; a time to honor the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and recognize those who have become US citizens. This historic day marks the foundation of our nation's government and celebrates the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Explore the curated resources below to help bring the Constitution to life in the classroom. The resources provide engaging lesson plans to interactive activities, to support meaningful conversations about democracy, civic duty, and the enduring legacy of the Constitution of the United States.

Additional standards aligned resources created by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) are available on the OSSE social studies landing page.

• EDSITEment! The Preamble to the Constitution: How Do You Make a More Perfect Union?: In this lesson, students evaluate the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution.
• National Archives: The Constitution at Work: Elementary Edition: In this lesson, students connect primary sources with specific sections of the Constitution.
• National Portrait Gallery: Visualizing Democracy: In this lesson, students explore portraits of individuals from the colonial era to today who helped shape US democracy.
• iCivics Education: How Did the Constitution Create Compromise?: In this lesson, students discover the goals and compromises of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention.
• The Center for Civic Education: 9/11 and the Constitution: In this lesson students reflect on constitutional principals and evaluate progress toward the realization of American ideals.

• EDSITEment! A Day for the Constitution: In this lesson, students learn about the significance and structure of the Constitution.
• EDSITEment! Commemorating Constitution Day: Teacher’s Guide: This resource includes additional lesson plans and resources for teaching Constitution Day.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: Learning History Through Objects: The Founding Documents: Through these learning materials, students will use objects to evaluate the history of the Founding Documents.
• The Center for Civic Education: What Is Constitution Day?: This website includes resources and lesson plans for teaching Constitution Day.
• National Constitution Center: Principles of the American Revolution: This website includes resources about core principles embedded in the Constitution, including natural rights, rule of law, and popular sovereignty.

• EDSITEment! A Day for the Constitution: In this lesson, students learn about the significance and structure of the Constitution.
• EDSITEment: Commemorating Constitution Day: Teacher’s Guide: This resource includes additional lesson plans and resources for teaching Constitution Day.
• Library of Congress: Constitution Day Teacher Resources: This webpage features materials from the Library of Congress and primary sources for teaching about the Constitution.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: Defining Freedom: Securing the Promise of the 13th Amendment: This article explores the history and legacy of the 13th Amendment.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: Reconstructing Citizenship: This article explores the 14th Amendment and how it shaped citizenship and civil rights.
• National Museum of the American Indian: Northern Plains Treaties: Is a Treaty Intended to Be Forever? These lessons explore Indigenous Nations' treaty negotiations with the US.
• Library of Congress: The Constitution of the United States Explained: This resource includes an annotated Constitution and related resources.
• United States Census Bureau: Constitution Day and Apportionment Resources: Resources on the connection between the census, the Constitution, and citizenship.

Constitution-related resources are available through the OSSE Learning Management System (LMS). The following driving concepts support the teaching and analysis of the United States Constitution.

• Grade 4 Driving Concept 5: The Creation of a New Nation – The American Revolution and Founding of the United States Government (1700s-1790s)
• Grade 7 Driving Concept 3: A Newly Formed, Diverse Nation: Confederation to Constitution (1770s-1800s)
• Grade 8 Driving Concept 2: How does the Government Function?

Share Your Lessons

OSSE would love to see your Constitution Day lessons. Lessons can be shared at [email protected].