Constitution 101 Curriculum
Your guide to teaching the U.S. Constitution, modeled on our unique and proven framework for nonpartisan constitutional education. Engage students in deep thinking and analysis of the Constitution and America’s founding principles.
Constitution 101 is offered in several free formats that are designed to be flexible to fit different learning environments. Use either the teacher-led high school curriculum or the student-led companion course on Khan Academy.
Teacher-Led
High School Curriculum
This high school curriculum offers 15 modules, each with videos, activities, and assessments. Drawing on primary source documents and landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases selected by leading experts, students explore the Constitution and historical and philosophical foundations of America’s founding principles from a diverse range of voices.
Use The CourseEach module includes the following materials for educators:
- Course description, objectives, and goals
- Background knowledge tools
- Closure activities to assess learning and allow for reflective practice
- Scope and sequence guide to support pacing for state civic standards
- Enrichment activities and connections to other popular NCC resources, including the Interactive Constitution
Teacher-Led
Middle School Curriculum
This course is a set of 15 flexible modules that will lead middle schoolers through the process of inquiry to build their own understanding of the Constitution. By exploring the Constitution’s history and creation, its unique structure, and pivotal case law, students will study the historical and philosophical foundations of America’s founding principles throughout history.
Use The CourseEach module includes opportunities for guided discovery and practice through the following components:
- Key Questions to drive inquiry
- Activate prior knowledge ideas to build connections
- Vocabulary supports to scaffold learning
- Unboxing the Constitution videos to increase engagement with constitutional topics
- Inside the Constitution videos to break down constitutional topics with the NCC’s President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen
- Student activities to encourage individual and collaborative learning
- Civic connections and learning projects to deepen knowledge
Student-Led
High School Course on Khan Academy
The National Constitution Center has partnered with Khan Academy to create a free educational experience that empowers students to learn at their own pace. A complement to the teacher-led curriculum, this self-paced high school level course offers nine engaging units in which students hear from top constitutional scholars and explore critical constitutional debates shaping our nation today.
Use The CourseEach unit encourages independent discovery and mastery of constitutional concepts through resources and activities, such as:
- Video interviews with leading constitutional scholars, professors, and experts from diverse political philosophies
- Primary source documents and landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases
- Relevant exercises and quizzes that put knowledge into practice, designed to help students apply the concepts they’ve learned to the world around them
Testimonials
Highly informative in a very clear, relaxed, conversational style. The Constitution 101 videos, not only explain parts of the Constitution, but also gives examples of Supreme Courts cases or events related to it...
I really love the way that the Constitution 101 program described some big abstract concepts that are hard for students to wrap their heads around. Giving some real tangible tools, this is a really helpful resource for teachers to have.
Constitution 101 on Khan Academy course...provides teachers with a user-friendly way to engage with the Constitution, check for mastery, and differentiate instruction to meet the needs of 21st century learners. I cannot recommend it enough.
Using NCC's resources can significantly enhance your teaching by providing engaging, high-quality, and interactive materials that help students develop a deeper understanding of the Constitution.
Classroom Resource Library
Our instructional materials use the National Constitution Center’s Interactive Constitution to provide students with nonpartisan analysis from top constitutional scholars.
