Constitution Day Resources for Middle School & High School (ages 12 and up)

As we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th, we need to draw our children into the essential question one of my students asked last week: How is our constitution relevant today if it was written so long ago? Spur their interest with the contradictions inherent in the way the Constitution treated African Americans, but also show them how it protects their own rights today.

Today I'm sharing resources I've collected that will help middle school and high school students explore the way the Constitution establishes basic structure of our government, the responsibilities of each branch of government, and the basic rights afforded all Americans.

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL resources:

• Library of Congress
• lesson plans, teacher resources
• Constitution teacher’s guide & primary source sets
• Bill of Rights primary sources

• Constitution Center
• Hall Pass (virtual field trips)
• Lesson Plans
• Video Resources
• example: The Freedom of Expression
• American Bar Association 

• Lesson plans
• Excellent video from Chicago students
• NEA resources: links to lesson plans, activities, worksheets
• grades 6-8: constitution-day-grades-6-8
• grades 9-12: constitution-day-grades-9-12
• Center for Civic Education

• Constitution Day lesson plans
• 9/11 and the Constitution: American Identity, Diversity & Common Ground
• 60-Second Civics Podcasts

I'd like to end by sharing this video produced by the National Constitution Center. I found it a very effective way to bring students into thinking about what rights the Constitution guarantees that matter to them. Today. Right now.



Federal law requires that all schools receiving federal funds hold an educational program for their students on September 17th.

Yesterday I shared resources that are more appropriate for younger elementary students. I'd love to hear about resources you like to share with students to help them think about the importance of our constitution.

©2013 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books