Constitution Day: Opportunity or Irony?

The idea of Constitution Day might seem paradoxical to many social studies educators: Does reserving a single day in honor of the Constitution actually mitigate its importance by encouraging single-shot, surface-level learning? Furthermore, how can we compel teaching about freedoms that are integral to the lives of every one of us, not just school children? How can (and should) the federal government drive state and/or local school curricula in this manner?

Reflecting on these questions is important when determining what we want our students to understand about the Constitution, their government, and their rights and freedoms as well as how we want to address Constitution Day in our schools. I've made a Constitution Day Planning Guide with the hopes that it can help you provide exciting and relevant educational opportunities to your students throughout the entire school year, not just on September 17th.

The Planning Guide includes the following:
* Programming Ideas: ideas for classroom or school-wide events celebrating the Constitution
* Primary Source Documents and Reading Informational Text Strategies: the U.S. Constitution, the Vermont Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence formatted for student interaction; a glossary for the U.S. Constitution; informational text reading strategies for teachers
* Classroom Resources: resources for teaching about the Constitution and the U.S. government. Grade levels, themes, and types of resources are highlighted.
* Current Events: recent events from the news that focus on student rights and responsibilities

Click here for the guide http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_curriculum/history.html, then click on Curriculum and Assessment Resources.

• What do you think about the idea of a Constitution Day? Does it hurt or promote learning about the Constitution?