Mark your calendars: September 17 is Constitution Day.
Every school that receives federal funding must teach about the Constitution on this day to commemorate its adoption. Curriculum Pathways offers a wealth of resources on the U.S. Constitution. Here are some suggestions to help your school comply with the new law. |
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What are the origins of the Constitution?
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Enlightenment Philosophers (login required)
(Modern European History>Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment)
Explore the Enlightenment movement and the specific political ideas of Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau to answer this question:
Which Enlightenment philosopher expressed the most democratic ideals?
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| Web Lesson |
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Voices of the Past (login required)
(Civics and Economics>Documents of Freedom)
Analyze primary-source documents by Locke, Jefferson, and Madison. Identify beliefs and opinions concerning government and leadership, and use the analysis to develop appropriate responses to interview questions.
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| Web Resource |
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The James Madison Center: Madison Archives (no login required)
(Civics and Economics>Documents of Freedom)
Provides a detailed biography and excerpts from Madison's political writings, beginning with the Declaration of Independence and extending through his presidency. The site includes Madison's notes from the constitutional convention and his commentary on a variety of key political topics, such as voting, slavery, Native Americans, the two-party system, and the division of power.
(James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA)
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How was the Constitution written and ratified?
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The Constitutional Convention (login required)
(Civics and Economics>Documents of Freedom)
Explore the Articles of Confederation to identify weaknesses that led to the restructuring of the federal government. Then answer this question:
Did the Virginia Plan give too much power to the national government?
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The Federalist Assignment: Advertising the Constitution (login required)
(U.S. History>Forging a New Nation)
Assume the role of advertisers trying to ratify the Constitution, in the spirit (if not the style) of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in their Federalist Papers. Then create either a print or broadcast ad for the Constitution extolling its virtues and "selling" it to a somewhat skeptical public.
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| Web Resource |
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Interactive Constitution (no login required)
(Civics and Economics>Documents of Freedom)
Presents the U.S. Constitution in a searchable format. Includes explanations of each article and clause, along with a discussion of differing viewpoints.
(The National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA)
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How is the Constitution relevant today?
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Freedom of Speech in School (login required)
(Civics and Economics>Citizenship and Law)
Explore the First Amendment and the Supreme Court's decision on Tinker v. Des Moines to answer this question: Should students be allowed to display the Confederate flag in school?
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| Web Lesson |
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Evolution of the Supreme Court (login required)
(U.S. History>Struggle for Civil Rights)
Analyze important Supreme Court civil rights cases from the 1850s to the 1990s, summarize the Court's decisions and their impact on African Americans and subsequent civil rights events, and determine the most important civil rights case.
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| Web Resource |
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Marbury v. Madison (no login required)
(U.S. History>Forging a New Nation)
Provides an overview of the case, an in-depth look at the issues and personalities involved in the dispute over the issue of judicial review, and printable versions of the majority and minority opinions.
(Landmarkcases.org, Washington, DC)
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