September 17th is Constitution Day! On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document that they had spent weeks creating: the Constitution of the United States.
However, the Constitution is only one of our founding documents. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights – collectively known as the Charters of Freedom – lay the foundation for our nation and government.
Students sometimes confuse these documents and have a hard time remembering each one’s purpose. Our brand new distance learning programs can help students differentiate and understand the importance and relevance of each.
K-12 Distance Learning Programs
These programs for grades 3-12 are free of charge. A National Archives facilitator will connect with your class for a fun and interactive experience via traditional videoconferencing equipment or through a web-based platform.
Each program has been designed to enhance content knowledge of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, and to strengthen critical thinking skills by analyzing primary sources from the holdings of the National Archives.
Programs are available Tuesday-Thursday and must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. For more information, email distancelearning@nara.gov or visit our distance learning page.
The Charters of Freedom: Building a More Perfect Union, for Grades 3-5
45-60 minutes
No required pre-program lesson
Guiding Question: What is the purpose of each of the founding documents and why are they important?
During this program, students will learn the purpose of each of the founding documents—the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights—and why each is important. In groups, students will complete a graphic organizer and use the information to answer questions by incorporating kinesthetic learning.
Special Constitution Day Presentation
Or, join us for a Constitution Day presentation on Monday, September 17, 2018, 1:15–2 p.m. EDT
- Register via the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)
- Or via email at distancelearning@nara.gov with subject line: Elementary Constitution Day Program. Include the school or group name, number of students participating, and grade levels.
The Charters of Freedom: Building a More Perfect Union, for Grades 6-12
45-60 minutes
No required pre-program lesson
Guiding Question: Why do the Charters of Freedom exist?
During this program, students will analyze opening passages of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They will create a graphic organizer to help them distinguish the Charters of Freedom by their purpose. Next, students will match document excerpts to each excerpt’s origin—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights. The program will conclude with a discussion about the legacy of these founding documents.
Special Constitution Day Presentation
Or, join us for a Constitution Day presentation on Monday, September 17, 2018, 10:15–11 a.m. EDT
- Register via the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)
- Or via email at distancelearning@nara.gov with subject line: Middle School Constitution Day Program. Include the school or group name, number of students participating, and grade levels.
Professional Development Webinar for Educators
Teaching the Constitution with Political Cartoons
Wednesday, September 5, 2018, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Join the Center for Legislative Archives to discover how to use political cartoons to teach about the United States Constitution. Offered for the second year, this free webinar will draw from the collection of Clifford K. Berryman cartoons from the U.S. Senate Collection. Berryman’s career as a political cartoonist in Washington, DC, spanned five decades and his cartoons are a rich resource for history and civics lessons.
During the interactive webinar, you will practice techniques for helping students evaluate visual content and explore ideas for how to use political cartoons to illustrate the “Big Ideas” of the Constitution, such as separation of powers and representative democracy. You will also explore additional resources from the National Archives for integrating political cartoons in the classroom, such as DocsTeach.org. This webinar is designed for middle school and high school educators.
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