Constitution Day
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Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: September 17thA 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.”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.Teachers may also refer to the following websites for additional resources.
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Bill of Rights Institute (Lesson Plans) http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/
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Center for Civic Education (Lesson Plans) http://www.civiced.org/byrd2006/
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Congressman Pete Visclosky’s Kid’s Page (Appropriate for very young students) http://www.house.gov/visclosky/kidspage/costitution%20day/constitutiondaytherealfacts.html
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Constitution Day, Inc. (Recorded Preamble) http://www.constitutionday.com
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Education World (Lesson Plans and links to other sites) http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson347.shtml
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National Center for Constitutional Studies (Build a Quiz) http://www.nccs.net
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National Constitution Center (Lesson Plans) http://constitutioncenter.org/
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PBS Lesson Plan (Why Celebrate Constitution Day?) http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/classroom/constitution_day2.html
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The National Archives (Constitution Game and other Resources) http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution/constitution-day.html
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Elementary Lesson Concepts
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Kindergarten - Grade 1 -- Reciting and discussion the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance to the FlagGrade 2 -- Discussion of the importance of rules/laws and impact they have on individuals, families, and neighborhoodsGrade 3 -- The role of the Maryland and the Annapolis ConventionFrom Revolution to Reconstruction
Annapolis Convention:
Constitution Day Sample Lesson (This is a compressed folder you will download)Grade 4 -- Maryland signers of the constitutionBiographical Sketches of Constitutional Signers (pictures of the signers included)
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/constitution/bioa.htmGrade 5 -- The importance of the constitution in American historyEarly American HistoryConstitution Day Sample Lesson (This is a compressed folder you will download)
