Every year on September 17th, America celebrates Constitution and Citizenship Day. This is a great opportunity to remind your students of the start of our country and the values it was founded on. It's also an opportunity for us to make the Constitution more relevant and important to our students. You could choose to celebrate for a day, a week, or even a month with these 31 activities for your middle school classroom.
1. The History of Constitution Day
Despite being a holiday since 1940, Constitution Day is not one of our most popular holidays. Chances are your students don't know very much about it or have not recognized it before. This is a good opportunity to share the history of the holiday and the reasons it was started.
Share this article with your students.
Learn more: National Today
2. Field Trip
While few are actually able to take a field trip to a Constitution-related location on this day, many are able to take virtual field trips. The National Constitution Center offers several virtual field trips available to all.
Learn more: National Constitution Center.
3. Watch a Video
Adding a video to your history lesson about Constitution Day can break up the lesson and keep the students engaged. In this video, several people in government discuss their favorite part of the Constitution and why. This could easily lead to a discussion of the amendment process and the Bill of Rights.
Learn more: St. Mary's University
4. Schoolhouse Rock
Give your students a blast from the past with some Schoolhouse Rock. You may need to preface this video with an overview of Schoolhouse Rock to prepare them for what they're about to watch.
Have the students complete these worksheets as they listen.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
5. Propaganda Posters
An addition to your U.S. History lesson should be propaganda posters. These were used in history to influence the public. Spotlight and discuss some famous ones and then have the students create their own.
Here's a list of 50 propaganda posters and their stories.
Learn more: Canva
6. Classroom Preamble
The preamble is the introduction to the Constitution and shares the purpose of the document. While you're studying the 52-word preamble, challenge your students to create one for your classroom.
Use this activity for both the preamble and your own classroom preamble.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
7. Classroom Constitution
Once you have your preamble written, it's time to move on to the Constitution. While you already have your classroom rules established, here's a chance for the students to create their own rules. This activity causes the students to evaluate how they want to be treated and how problems should be handled.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
8. School Constitution
Another great idea would be a school constitution. Just like the original constitution, you could select a delegate from each classroom to come together and create a school constitution.
Find school constitution templates here.
Learn more: Constitution Center
9. Classroom Amendments
Make sure you add the amendments to your lesson plans. Teach the purpose of amendments and the amendment process. Discuss different amendments that were made and the reason behind them. Then, lead a class brainstorm of amendments to add to your classroom Constitution.
Here's an activity to review the amendments and check the student's comprehension.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
10. 13th Amendment Mini-Lesson
After your amendment lesson, add in some mini-lessons on specific amendments. The 13th amendment abolished slavery. This video is a great discussion starter that leads to topics in our current events and everyday life in 2022.
Learn more: History
11. 19th Amendment Mini-Lesson
Another relevant amendment to cover is the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote. In 2022, women in America lost some of their individual rights they had previously been granted. Watch this video with your class and discuss women's rights compared to men's rights and how society views these.
Learn more: History
12. Student Elections
Now that you have your class constitution, it's time to host an election. Whether you only vote for a president or the three branches of government, make the experience as real as possible.
Read how this teacher handles mock elections in her classroom.
Learn more: Strategic Educational Services
13. Presidential Debate
If you're having an election, you need a presidential debate. In honor of Constitution Day, choose topics such as "Is a 200-year-old document still relevant today" or "These are the changes I would make to our government." Start the lesson by sharing a presidential debate and discussing who they think won the debate.
Learn more: C-SPAN
14. Movie Day
Remember the thrill we'd experience when our teachers rolled in the tv? Our students experience the same thrills! Get your students a little more excited about Constitution Day with a movie day!
Check out this list of movies paired with the amendments. This is a great way to not only teach and review the amendments but also physically see their purpose and results of them.
15. Listen to a Podcast
There are many educational podcasts out there but the We the People podcast from the National Constitution Center does a great job of connecting current events to the Constitution. If you browse through their archives, you'll find great ways to review history with students.
Listen to this episode focused on literature and the Constitution.
Learn more: Constitution Center
16. Coloring Sheet
No matter their grade level, students enjoy getting a break with a coloring sheet. It's a mindless activity you can pair with an active listening activity. I like to give my students coloring sheets when I have them listening to a long speech, video, or podcast!
Here's a cute preamble coloring sheet you can share with any grade level.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
17. Citizenship Discussion
Host a fishbowl discussion on citizenship. Why do people care about being a United States citizen? When did we see the greatest influx of immigrants in our country? How do people view immigrants? Discuss the difference between citizenship and naturalization and the process one must go through to become a citizen of the United States.
Read more about fishbowl discussions here.
Learn more: The Daring English Teacher.
18. Citizenship Exam
Test your student's knowledge of the country, the government, and the Constitution with the U.S. citizenship exam. Add this activity to your discussion of citizenship and the process to become an American citizen. Your students may be shocked if they don't pass the exam, but use that as motivation for them to learn more!
Learn more: US Citizenship and Immigration Services
19. Letters to Immigrants
Chances are your students know an immigrant or a classmate's family member is an immigrant. After discussing citizenship and how difficult it is to gain citizenship, show your students this video and have them write letters to immigrants congratulating them or acknowledging how difficult the process was. The truth is, American citizenship is sought after by many so to be a naturalized citizen is a great accomplishment that should be acknowledged.
Learn more: MD Naser
20. Favorite President Prompt
Have your students write about their favorite president in history. Many of your students may not have a favorite president or they base their decision on their parents' preferences. Show them this video so they can match presidents with their contributions to the country and gain a better idea of our presidential history.
Learn more: TDC
21. Compare/Contrast
America actually inspired other countries to create their own Constitution. A few other countries also have a Constitution Day such as Brazil, Denmark, and India. Lead a discussion with the students on the countries and then have them compare and contrast the way America celebrates with a country of their choice.
Give your students this free venn diagram template.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers.
22. Reader's Theater
Looking for an engaging reading activity? Educate the students a little more on the Constitution through a reader's theater activity. Assign each of the students a role and read through the play together.
Grab the script and activity here.
23. Reading Time
Who was Thomas Jefferson? What is the Constitution? What is the Supreme Court? What is Congress? All of these books and more are available from Penguin Books. Host a reading time with the Who books and let them answer all your students' questions.
Browse their selection of books here.
Learn more: Who Was Book Series
24. Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are great, but how about a Constitution scavenger hunt! Students search through the Constitution to answer questions about the articles and amendments. This is a great collaborative activity idea!
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
25. Rights and Reasons
Give your students the opportunity to choose which three rights are the most important in this fun activity from Mister Rutter. The premise of this activity is an alien takeover in which the students can choose three freedoms to take into the new alien rule. The students will analyze the Bill of Rights and choose the most valuable rights.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
26. Escape Room
An escape room activity is a perfect addition to your Constitution Day activities. This activity will get your students up and moving around while they are searching for clues and trying to crack codes.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
27. Bingo and Bookmarks
If you're looking for helpful resources to make the day a little more memorable, this activity pack comes with bingo, bookmarks, writing prompts, a coloring sheet, and more!
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
28. Online Games
Want to give the students some game time? The National Constitution Center has several games on its website for your students. They'll play with the Bill of Rights and learn more about their voting rights and the founding fathers.
Learn more: Constitution Center
29. Constitution Quest
Cognitive Square Inc. actually created a Constitution board game! Students can test their knowledge of the Bill of Rights, branches of government, facts and dates, and more!
Learn more: Constitution Quest
30 Trivia
Play a fun Constitution trivia game with your class. Split into teams and play an interactive game online or simply read some trivia questions.
The questions in this resource range from easy to difficult.
Learn more: ACLU
31. Constitutional Balderdash
Use this game to review what your students learned about the Constitution and see how much they were paying attention to! In Balderdash, you normally write down definitions for words, and everyone guesses which definition is true. In Constitutional Balderdash, write down facts about the Constitution and let the class guess if it's true or false.
Grab a free list of Constitution true and false questions here.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
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