In the United States, Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution. On this day, elementary schools across the country celebrate by holding special Constitution Day activities.
These activities help elementary students learn about the founding document of their country and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Through these activities, students also develop a greater appreciation for the democracy that they live in.
Below are 30 Constitution Day activities for elementary students that are both educational and fun!
1. I Know My Rights
@learnedjourneys Constitution Day 09/17#learnedjourneys #civicseducation #nationalarchives #homeschool #reading #childrenrights #learn @NationalArchivesMuseum ♬ Education - BlueWhaleMusic
Turn this engaging reading activity, into a lesson plan all about your students' rights. These are helpful resources that will follow them through the rest of their lives. Easily create the table at the end of this TikTok video using google docs or Canva!
Learn more: Learned Journeys
2. Memorize the Preamble
@pennystips School House Rock Preamble - easy way for kids to memorize the Preamble. #preamble #schoolhouserock #pennystips #fypシ #constitution #diskuspublishing ♬ original sound - Penny’s Tips
Looking for educational resources that are both engaging and also help your students memorize the Preamble? Well, this is an oldie, but a goodie. I remember watching it as a kid and I loved when my teachers would play it (at really any age).
Learn more: Penny's Tips
3. Constitution Quiz
Online games are always a great way to spark some engagement from your kiddos. This digital activity can be used as a research-based, collaborative activity rather than a quiz. Let your kiddos research on their own all about U.S. history.
Learn more: Constitution Facts
4. Have a Play
Learn all about the constitution by acting it out. Some students will absolutely love this idea and some may absolutely dislike this idea. Feel out your classroom and task students with the parts that will be most beneficial to them.
Learn more: Ca3rs Project
5. Reader's Theatre
Reader's theater is one of the primary sources for building fluency in the classroom. Engaging in activities like this is a perfect way to not only learn about important Constitutional Rights but also work on reading skills. Have students read with emotion and really get into their parts in order to get the full effect.
Learn more: Ca3rs Project
6. Learn the Preamble
This is a full lesson plan, ready to be implemented into your classroom for Constitution day! Free lessons are challenging to come by these days. But not here, this is a perfect lesson to lay out what the Preamble really means. While also pushing kiddos to work collaboratively to answer all of the questions.
Need to Know: This will automatically download as a PDF upon clicking
Learn more: Civic Ed
7. Learn the Preamble Hand Motions
Engaging in activities that get your kiddos up and moving are always a win. Learning the hand motions of this vital part of U.S history could help to get your kiddos more interested. Have them film themselves using the hand motions and make a little video.
Learn more: Ca3rs Project
8. To Sign or Not To Sign
Students will go through this fun activity and learn all about the Constitution. Resource types like this help students to realize and find their voice in different matters that sometimes feel totally out of reach. At the end of this engaging resource, students will have the chance to decide whether or not they would like to sign or not sign the Constitution.
Learn more: Constitution Center
9. Preamble Drawing
This is one of those simple classroom resources that kids can take totally into their own imaginations. Educational classroom activities that integrate crafts are always fun and engaging. This could even be used as an independent activity for students to read and create their very own images.
Learn more: Janine Schultz
10. History Lesson Preamble Sketch Book
Teachers work really hard to mix up their activity ideas constantly. This one is a great one for really anything to do with U.S. history. But the Preamble stretch book has already been designed for you, so you mine as well just use it for that, print away and watch your kiddos engage in some activity fun.
Learn more: Undercover Classroom
11. Constitution Checkers
Studying American history may not be your student's favorite activity (or maybe it is). Either way finding a lesson students will be totally engaged in can be daunting. Not with Constitution Checkers. This is an interactive resource that students will be raving about.
Learn more: Undercover Classroom
12. Constitution True or False
Sometimes a good Ol' worksheet is the best way to go for memorizing key amendments. Make it more fun by turning this free printable into a founding document scavenger hunt!
Who can research and find the right answers first?!
Learn more: Literacy in Focus
13. Constitution Day Craftivity
Create a cute little mini book with your students. Learning about the constitution doesn't have to be a crazy intense history lesson. Just use some center time and have students read, use background knowledge, or research the answers to these little foldable books.
Learn more: Rainbow Lessons
14. Responsibilities of Citizens in the United States Classroom
The best part about understanding the Constitution is being able to create your own! Use the Constitution lessons towards anti-bullying resources this year. Create your very own class, and additional amendments, and have students draw portraits of them following the rules.
Learn more: Literacy and Laughter
15. Preamble Motions in Action
Bring history to life with actions! Students everywhere are obsessing over TikTok dances; why not make them educational?
These Preamble motions are a great way to model U.S. history and spice up any lesson students may otherwise find a little bit boring.
Learn more: Quail Run Elementary School
16. Study the Constitution Timeline
Yep, federal resources can definitely be boring. But they're also extremely important. Create a complete lesson plan integrating different dates and current events. Have your students do a project creating timelines.
Learn more: World History Project
17. Listen to a Podcast
Sometimes, the best time for a U.S. history lesson is after recess or lunch. Allow students to put their heads down and listen to a podcast. Make sure they know they'll have to answer questions afterward!
Learn more: Constitution Center
18. Create a Preamble Flip Book
Flipbooks are a great way to not only provide students with information but also give students a way to cement their knowledge. Keep these flipbooks in student notebooks, or hang them around the classroom! It may be beneficial to make one big one to use as a manipulative.
Learn more: Apple Tastic Learning
19. Read Aloud and Explore
Read Alouds are so important, and when you can turn learning materials for students into something more enjoyable, it's always a win. A More Perfect Union is a great book to teach about the Constitution. Combining it with a read-aloud experience will help students to
- Connect to key vocabulary
- And practice listening comprehension
Learn more: Amazon
20. Create a Class Mind Map
The Constitution definitely isn't an easy thing to understand. Even for adults. Mind maps are a great way for students to map it down to smaller details. While also providing a better visual when answering questions or explaining.
Learn more: Pinterest
21. Watch a Video
Watching TV may not be the best thing, but using a video as the hook to your lesson is a great way to get your kiddos curious. Push your students to ask questions throughout the video this will help to:
- Build research skills
- Problem-Solve
- Work collaboratively
Learn more: Bow Tie Guy and Wife
22. Constitution Day Video Quiz
When watching a video, students become passive learners. Meaning they can quickly pass the information off as it's coming into their brains. BUT, video quizzes encourage students to become more active in their experiences while watching videos.
Learn more: Youtube
23. Constitution Banner
Art expression is a great way to let students release some of their more creative energy after a long week of lessons. This is the perfect project to get your classroom decorated and let your kiddos get their creativity out!
Learn more: Patty Fernandez Artist
24. Constitution Day Cartoon
Despite their reputation, cartoons can be really helpful for students. Not only does it give their minds a little time to relax, but it also helps them to visualize something bigger. Providing students with a visual of what happened that day may help spark their interest.
Learn more: Liberty's Kids - Wild Brain
25. Make a Mini Constitution Day Scrapbook
This is a great addition to a project board for research projects! If your students want to visualize the information they've been researching, a cute scrapbook may be the way to go.
Learn more: Craft Ideaz
26. Coloring Pages
Sometimes, students just need some coloring pages at the back table. These coloring pages provide students with visual aspects of what happened that day, way back in history. Let students use their creative sides and enjoy a bit of peaceful coloring.
27. Timeline Project
There's no doubt that timelines will be a part of the education system for a long time. It's one of the easiest ways to visualize past events. Use these timeline ideas and have students create their own timelines based on information they find (or you provide) on the Constitution.
Learn more: Crafty Nica
28. Fundamental Rights Poster
Posters are always great for students. Not only do they reinforce information students have learned, but they also provide a classroom manipulative.
Learn more: Creative Mantra
29. 3D Flag Project
Who doesn't love 3D?
This 3D flag is really fun to make with your students. It makes an even more attractive decoration in the classroom. Although art like this may be dependent on the video itself, it's important to encourage your kids to take their own angle with their project. Use it as a sense of self-expression.
Learn more: Art With Trista
30. Draw the Constitution
This is just a really fun wrap-up to any lesson on the Constitution. Whether it's decorating the classroom or you have students take it home. It's a great way to put down everything that was learned throughout your Constitution lessons into a simple drawing.
Learn more: Art Land
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