The National Constitution Center’s professional learning series offers an introduction to the U.S. Constitution and explores methods for constitutional teaching and pedagogy from experienced practitioners. Sessions range from an overview of the Constitution’s text and the leading methods for interpretation, the creation of the Bill of Rights and the underlying principles, and landmark Supreme Court cases to areas of ongoing debate on key topics, including separation of powers, federalism, slavery in America, free speech, digital privacy, the battle for equality, and voting rights.
Each session also features a practicum component led by the National Constitution Center’s education team. Through this practicum component, participants will examine the Constitution through a mix of civil dialogue, critical thinking, and active listening—using resources from the Center’s Constitution 101 curriculum. This free, 15-week curriculum provides students with a basic understanding of the Constitution’s text, history, structure, and case law.
These 90-minute sessions will be hosted on the third Wednesday of each month through Zoom and begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. They are free of charge and can be attended as an entire series or as individual sessions.
Article III: The Judicial Branch
Participants will delve into the role of the Supreme Court and the structure of Article III of the Constitution. Educators will explore judicial interpretation and learn how to bring real-world Supreme Court cases into their classrooms, helping students understand the lasting impact of judicial decisions.
