Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: September 17th

 

 

A federal law enacted in December 2004 designates September 17 as “Constitution and Citizenship Day,” to commemorate the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787.  The federal law is included in Section 111 of Pub.L. 108-44 (Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005). It contains the following provision in Section 111 (b): “Each educational institution that receives Federal funds in the fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.”

 

The U.S. Department of Education has published additional information about the law at www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2005-2/052405b.html.  It states since September 17 falls on a Sunday in 2006, educational institutions may hold educational programs during the preceding or following week, i.e. between Monday, September 11, and Friday, September 22.

 

There are numerous references to the U.S. Constitution, the Maryland Constitution, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the Social Studies Voluntary State Curriculum, Prek – 8th grade and Government VSC, both of which are located at:

www.mdk12.org.

 

I hope you find this information useful as you plan activities to comply with the federal law.  If you should need additional assistance, please feel free to call me at 410-767-0519 or Email: mthoma@msde.state.md.us.  Teachers may also refer to the following websites for additional resources. 

 

National Constitution Center (Lesson Plans)

http://constitutioncenter.org/

 

National Center for Constitutional Studies (Build a Quiz)

http://www.nccs.net

 

The National Archives (Constitution Game and other Resources)

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution/constitution-day.html

 

Constitution Day, Inc. (Recorded Preamble)

http://www.constitutionday.com

 

Center for Civic Education (Lesson Plans)

http://www.civiced.org/byrd2006/

 

Bill of Rights Institute (Lesson Plans)

http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/

 

Education World (Lesson Plans and links to other sites)

http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson347.shtml

 

PBS Lesson Plan (Why Celebrate Constitution Day?)

http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/classroom/constitution_day2.html

 

Congressman Pete Visclosky’s Kid’s Page (Appropriate for very young students)

http://www.house.gov/visclosky/kidspage/costitution%20day/constitutiondaytherealfacts.html