Resources for Constitution Day

Resources for Constitution Day

Congress has set Sept. 17th of each year as a day to celebrate, study and discuss the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

The First Amendment Center and 1 for All — the national nonpartisan program designed to build understanding and support for First Amendment freedoms — in cooperation with the Newseum and with USA Today, have created materials that parents, teachers, students and others can use to learn more about the First Amendment, the first of 10 amendments that make up the Bill of Rights.

This year, Constitution Day falls on Monday.

The resources:

• A First Amendment quiz that tests your knowledge of our core freedoms. This year marks the 221st anniversary of the ratification of the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights. These core principles drafted by James Madison set the United States apart from all other nations and serve as a cornerstone for democracy. USA Today and the First Amendment Center teamed up last year to create the Great First Amendment Quiz, an interactive exploration of our most fundamental freedoms.

• A lesson plan that asks students which freedom is most important to them. Educators should know that the Newseum’s lesson plan meets National Standards of Learning and the National Council for the Social Studies Curriculum Standards for instruction.

• Social Media, the Classroom and the First Amendment. A guide for middle school and high school teachers published by the First Amendment Center and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

• A First Amendment timeline. This compilation shows the development of First Amendment freedoms and major court decisions that interpret how they function in our lives.

• A new column written by First Amendment Center Executive Director Gene Policinski on honoring our founding documents.

• A column written in 2011 by First Amendment Center President Ken Paulson on “Bill of Rights Day,” the forgotten national holiday.