Did you know that every educational institution that receives federal funds is required to teach something about the U.S. Constitution on Constitution Day? Of course some districts enforce this law more than others. I personally just use the weeks surrounding Constitution Day to teach those government standards. Constitution Day is September 17th. If the thought of having to come up with something to do in the coming weeks to teach about the Constitution sends your brain into overload, don’t you worry! I have compiled some Constitution Day activities for the elementary classroom to help you out.
Create a Classroom Constitution
Have students create their own government with their own rights and rules for the classroom. This is a great idea for building classroom rules/ community at the beginning of the school year.
Bill of Rights Role Play
Assign different amendments to small groups of students. Each group creates a skit or role-play to demonstrate the rights guaranteed by that amendment. This is a fun and engaging way to break down the whole constitution for your class.
Patriotic Music
Bring in some patriotic music to set the stage. Teach students the lyrics to songs like, “The Star Spangled Banner” or “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Have a little karaoke fun with the songs from the musical Hamilton. Play the music during lunch or while your kiddos are working on independent work.
Preamble Puzzle
Provide students with a copy of the Preamble cut into puzzle pieces. They work individually or in groups to assemble it in the correct order.
Constitution Games
Play a Constitution game like the ones found here. These make a great early finisher activity for students throughout the week.
Constitution Day Coloring Pages
Offer coloring pages featuring symbols like the Liberty Bell, American flag, or images of the Founding Fathers. You could tie the coloring page into research about the important symbol.
Constitutional Trivia
Create a trivia game with questions about the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, and the history of the document. This can be done in teams or as a whole class.
Constitution Videos
There are so many kid-friendly videos out there to teach about the Constitution. A quick YouTube search yields many results. Go old school on your students and show them this classic School House Rock video about the Constitution. These videos are still entertaining!
Writing Prompts
Provide students with prompts related to the Constitution, such as “Why is the Constitution important?” or “What would you add to our classroom constitution?” Students will develop critical thinking and writing skills while reflecting on the significance of the Constitution.
Create Your Own Constitution
Have students create a scroll or booklet version of the Constitution. They can write out parts of the Preamble or key amendments and decorate it.
Take a Virtual Tour of the National Archives
Take students on a virtual tour of the National Archives to see the original Constitution and other important documents. Students will be able to (virtually) experience where these important documents are housed. Explore how historians preserve and protect the documents.
Constitution Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt with clues related to facts about the Constitution. This can be done around the classroom, school, or as a digital activity.
Founding Fathers Matching Game
Create a matching game where students match the names of Founding Fathers with their contributions to the Constitution. Students will learn about the key figures who played a role in the creation of the Constitution.
Interactive Timeline
Work with students to create a timeline of events leading up to and following the signing of the Constitution. Include key dates, events, and figures.
These activities can help make Constitution Day meaningful and fun for your class while also teaching the basics and principles of this very important founding document!
If you want to teach about the Constitution, U.S. Citizenship, or the Founding Fathers, check out these teacher favorites for easy print and go resources!
More related blog posts to check out:
Constitution Day Made Fun
Patriotic Resources for the Elementary Classroom
