Constitution Day

Constitution/Citizenship Day: September 17

This day commemorates the September 17, 1787, signing of the United States Constitution. In 2004, Congress passed a provision requiring every school that receives federal money to teach about the Constitution on September 17^th of each year. When September 17^th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week.

The websites provided below contain materials that can be publicly accessed for general use or as teaching materials in the classroom.

Celebrate Constitution Day: www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution/constitution-day.html

Read the Constitution in its original form and in a transcript. View webcasts of Senator Byrd’s remarks and discussions on federalism and checks and balances.

The Charters of Freedom: www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html

View high resolution scans of the original, signed Constitution. Obtain a transcript. Read an essay about the Constitutional Convention. Learn dozens of fascinating facts about the Constitution. Learn about each of the signers of the Constitution.

Teaching With Documents: Observing Constitution Day: www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-day/index.html

Activities, lesson plans, and information for all grade levels

National Constitution Center: www.constitutioncenter.org

The United States Constitution: www.constitutionus.com

Thinkfinity: www.thinkfinity.org

Use the search engine to find grade level specific lessons, which support and are aligned to national standards.

ARTSEDGE lessons incorporate the National Standards for Arts Education.

EconEdLink lessons address the Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics.

EDSITEment references the following standards, accessible from their Reference Shelf.

· IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts

· National Geography Standards

· National Council for the Social Studies Curriculum Standards

· National Standards for Arts Education

· National Standards for Foreign Language Education

· National Standards for Civics and Government

Illuminations lessons incorporate or "illuminate" the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics.

ReadWriteThink lessons address the IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts.

Science NetLinks' content is organized around the Benchmarks for Science Literacy.

National Geographic Education lessons are aligned to the National Geography Standards.

Kids Voting

FNSBSD website: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/8808

Kids Voting North Alaska website: https://www.kidsvotingusa.org/affiliates-near-you/11-alaska/37-kids-voting-north-alaska

Kids Voting North Alaska Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KidsVotingAlaska?ref=hl

Kids Voting USA: https://kidsvotingusa.org/

Kids Voting Information from Kids Voting USA site:

Kids Voting USA is a nonpartisan, grassroots-driven, voter education program committed to creating lifelong voting habits in children, increasing family communication about citizenship, and encouraging greater adult voter turnout.

Kids Voting USA relies on its over twenty-five year history (since 1988), continual feedback from educators, and experience of their Affiliates when developing the model to implement programming.

The programming model operates with five key components:

1. 1. Strong curricula for grade levels K-12, that offer easily implemented, interactive lessons at no cost to the schools.

   2. Choice of mock election processes to meet the individualized needs of the schools: paper ballots, electronic voting software, and/or a combination of both.

   3. Activities to involve families in teaching their children their own voting values.

   4. Educator support through local Affiliates to provide assistance with ballot creation, volunteers for activities, and resources needed for teaching civic lessons and creating voting habits.

   5. Continuing research on impact and effectiveness.

Kids Voting USA believes it is of primary importance to utilize local Affiliates for Educator support. The local Affiliates offer the schools the assistance needed so the already over-burdened Educator is not handed one more responsibility with no support offered.

We the People

FNSBSD website: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/8814

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Program promotes civic competence and responsibility among the nation's upper elementary and secondary students. The We the People printed textbook's and enhanced eBook's interactive strategies, relevant content, and the simulated congressional hearing make teaching and learning exciting for both students and teachers. The program enjoys active support from state bar associations and foundations, and other educational, professional, business, and community organizations across the nation. Since its inception in 1987, more than 28 million students and 75,000 educators have participated in the We the People Program.

The Center for Civic Education partners with a network of 50 state civics, government, and law programs sponsored by state bar associations and foundations, colleges and universities, and other civic and law non-profit organizations to promote teaching and learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. These state programs conduct local teacher professional development, hold conferences, and organize local and state simulated congressional hearings for elementary and secondary students. Each year, these state programs impact thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of students.