Philadelphia, PA — September 8, 2025— The National Constitution Center today announced the launch of Constitution 101 for Middle School, a free curriculum designed to make the founding principles of the United States accessible and engaging for middle grade learners.
Building on the success of Constitution 101 for High School that is used by thousands of educators, the new middle school version adapts the same trusted framework for grades 6–8. Designed with the support of a cohort of 30 educators from across the country, middle school teachers now have access to flexible, age-appropriate lessons that bring America’s founding documents to life.
“We know that the habits of citizenship take root before students reach high school. Civic curiosity often sparks in middle school. That’s why we are so proud to launch a middle school version of our popular Constitution 101 modular curriculum,” said Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education at the National Constitution Center. “By engaging young people at this formative stage, we’re investing in the civic knowledge and critical thinking skills that will prepare them not only for high school and college, but for a lifetime of thoughtful participation in our constitutional democracy.”
The Constitution 101 for Middle School includes:
- Engaging lesson plans that introduce core constitutional concepts and topics through animated videos, discussion prompts, and learning projects;
- Primary sources simplified to build historical literacy and encourage analysis;
- Flexible design to meet the needs of today’s classrooms;
- and assessments to measure student understanding.
The curriculum is available for free at constitutioncenter.org/con-middle-school. Teachers can use the modules and access supporting materials immediately.
During the upcoming academic school year, a new cohort of educators will implement the curriculum in their classrooms through the 2025-2026 Constitutional Fellows Program, and their experiences will be studied to measure learning outcomes and improved classroom practice. This process ensures that Constitution 101 for Middle School is not only rigorous and developmentally appropriate, but also responsive to the needs of students across the country.
“We welcome any opportunity to collaborate and engage with teachers in a meaningful way. Piloting the curriculum through our Constitutional Fellowship Program provides the unique opportunity to gain real insight into how the course is impacting student learning and also builds a community of educators who can support each other and the Center,” said Sarah Harris, senior director of teacher and student programs at the National Constitution Center.
The National Constitution Center continues to expand its suite of nonpartisan educational resources and professional development programming to support classrooms in building civic knowledge and engagement. Educational programming at the Center currently reaches over 80,000 educators and 5.2 million students. Learn more at: constitutioncenter.org/education
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
