On September 17, 1787 the delegates to the Philadelphia Convention signed the U.S. Constitution, creating American constitutional democracy. Public Law 108-447, sec. 111(b), enacted in 2006, states that "each educational institution that receives federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17..." When September 17th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, Constitution Day may be held during the preceding or following week.

Since Constitution Day falls early in the school year, you may want to use it to begin a series of lessons that will help your students to understand American constitutional democracy and their role in it as citizens. You may also want to use Constitution Day as a way to introduce your students to the need for rules and laws and the requirements for Constitutional rules or laws, such a due process and equal protection. You may also want to use Constitution Day as a way to involve your students in writing a class Constitution.

Many organizations have developed resources of schools to use to celebrate Constitution Day. Below are a few:

• Bill of Rights Institute
  http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/Instructional/Resources/ConstitutionDay/index.htm
  Provides middle and high school lessons, videos, and free materials for Constitution Day.
• Center for Civic Education
  http://www.civiced.org/byrd2006
  Offers lessons on the Constitution for students in grades K-12.
• Constitutional Rights Foundation
  http://www.crf-usa.org/constitution_day/constitution_day_home.htm
  Offers a variety of specialized lessons and articles for students in grades K-12.
• First Amendment Center
  http://www.firstamendementcenter.org
  Materials are organized according to the five freedoms in the First Amendment.
• Justice Learning
  http://www.justicelearning.org/constitutionday/index.asp
  Made possible through a grant from the Annenberg Foundation, this project provides information on justice issues using current events resources.
• National Archives
  http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution/constitution-day.html
  Provides information on activities and lessons for the classroom, as well as details on events in Washington, DC celebrating Constitution Day.
• National Constitution Center
  http://www.constitutionday.us
  Provides students and educators with a variety of classroom resources and activities.
• Public Broadcasting Service
  http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/classroom/constitution_day.html
  PBS' Rediscovering George Washington program provides educators with resources and lesson plans about Constitution Day and the founding of our government.