Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech with a mobile that inspires you to think about your own dreams.
This activity is part of Module 10: The First Amendment from the Constitution 101 Curriculum
This handwritten congressional copy of the amendment that banned slavery is signed by President Lincoln and others.
The 2017 calendar explores turning points in American history with fifteen landmark Supreme Court cases.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 14th Amendment, the Center's 2018 calendar explores its history and legacy.
The 2019 Civic Calendar from the National Constitution Center not only highlights civic holidays throughout the year, but will also focus on historical events dealing with the First Amendment.
The National Constitution Center’s 2022-2023 Civic Calendar explores the 27 Amendments in 12 Months!
The National Constitution Center’s 2023-2024 Civic Calendar explores the Civil Rights Movement.
The National Constitution Center’s 2024-2025 Civic Calendar explores the history of elections and voting rights in the United States.
This activity is part of Module 3: Road to the Convention from the Constitution 101 Curriculum.
In this online game, learn about Lincoln’s leadership by exploring the political choices he made.
This clever twist on the classic cootie catcher tests your knowledge of the first 10 amendments.
Show your patriotic pride with this festive stars-and-stripes-covered pinwheel.
Students will deepen their appreciation of war art through watching and listening to veteran war experiences.
The first charter, or constitution, adopted by the 13 states following the American Revolution.
Celebrate one of America's most famous Founding Fathers with a craft inspired by his kite experiment.
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution form the Bill of Rights.
Students learn about the specific rights and freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights, one of our nation's most important documents.
Get more familiar with the Bill of Rights with this simple bingo game.
Students will get a look at how African-American individuals have broken barriers to racial integration in the United States.
Learn about a landmark Supreme Court ruling with this word puzzle.
Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline is an online experience highlighting some of the key dates and events that mark more than 200 years of our constitutional history.
Learn about how the Constitution protects our rights and the freedom to express ourselves—out loud!
Learn how the Constitution was amended to allow the federal government to impose an income tax, and learn where those tax dollars go today.
In this episode, we look at Dr. King’s legacy of service—and we’ll even learn about ways that you can serve your community.
In this popular episode, we explore the history of the environmental movement in the United States and the origins of the holiday we know as Earth Day.
Discover the real story of the first Thanksgiving and how the day became a national holiday during the Civil War.
Explore the compelling story of our Constitution’s first ten amendments.
Just in time for the 2012 election, this engaging, interactive lesson traces the history of the American presidency.
Learn about basic terms from the Constitution with this word puzzle.
As you read, interpret, and cite the documents in the Interactive Constitution, it is important to think about how the Constitution expands or limits the power of government. This is how Constitutional Scholars read, interpret, and cite the Constitution. But how can you do this? Here are some tips to help.
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson.
This activity is perfect for commemorating Tax Day.
As you learn about the symbolism and importance of our America's flag, you can design your own flag.
Enacted in 1862, this edition of the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
This lesson encourages students to examine their own assumptions and to deepen their understanding of current accepted interpretations of speech rights under the First Amendment.
Learn about the signers of the U.S. Constitution with this word puzzle.
Learn more about the signers of the Constitution with these Founding Fathers biographies.
Learn more about the delegates of the Constitutional Convention with these Founding Fathers biographies.
This lesson introduces students to different viewpoints and debates surrounding the 2nd Amendment by using the National Constitution Center’s Interactive Constitution. Students will build understanding of the resources and methods used by justices on the Supreme Court and Constitutional scholars when analyzing and forming opinions about articles, sections, and clauses of the Constitution.
In this lesson, students learn about the role of bureaucracy in U.S. government.
Using video clips from the Landmark Supreme Court Cases series, a partnership between C-SPAN and the National Constitution Center, students will research and role-play to better understand the legal, social, and economic factors relating to--and implications of--the majority and dissenting opinions in this infamous case.
Using video clips from the Landmark Supreme Court Cases series, a partnership between C-SPAN and the National Constitution Center, students will investigate the Supreme Court's interpretation of the 14th Amendment in the years after its ratification.
Make a dazzling sun catcher to commemorate the Liberty Bell and the constitutional ideals it symbolizes.
In this lesson, students will analyze the political and constitutional issues that faced President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
These Classroom Teaching Materials are designed to be used in conjunction with the Living News theatrical performance at the National Constitution Center or stand alone.
This lesson is designed to be used in conjunction with the Living News theatrical performance at the National Constitution Center.
The Magna Carta, or “Great Charter,” established the rule of law.
This document was an agreement drafted by the settlers of the first New England colony.
Decorate and customize a wreath for Independence Day, Flag Day, Memorial Day, or Veterans Day.
In this lesson, students will analyze how people throughout history have exercised their First Amendment rights to express their opinions.
A perspective by Richard R. Beeman, professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania.
A perspective by Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of law, political science, and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.
A perspective by Akhil Reed Amar, professor of law at Yale University Law School, and Douglas W. Kmiec, dean of Catholic University Law School.
Have fun getting to know the phrases of the Preamble while you unscramble the puzzle.
In this lesson, students will consider how respect and freedom of expression intersect and their role in maintaining a free society.
This two-day lesson uses historical quotations to help students develop understandings of conceptions of the Rule of Law, then, through small group work and class-wide collaboration analyzing Supreme Court cases, students will reflect on how their understandings of Rule of Law relate to the Constitution, the judicial system, and their daily lives.
Learn all about voting rights throughout history in this online game.
This lesson shows students firsthand how the three branches of government work together through separation of powers and checks and balances.
Honor veterans for supporting and defending the Constitution and protecting our freedom by thanking them with a special postcard.
This interactive resource celebrates constitutional and local history in Philadelphia and beyond through student-generated multimedia content.
Full text of the U.S. Constitution translated into Spanish.
Ten essential facts about the U.S. Constitution.
The first public printing of the Constitution was printed on September 19, 1787.
Read the full text of the U.S. Constitution.
An image of the original handwritten, signed U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution of the United States as a printable PDF file.
Full text of the U.S. Constitution translated into Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese.
This lesson builds student understanding of the relationships between the United States’ founding documents by comparing and contrasting the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
A series of newspaper articles drafted by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, urging ratification of the new Constitution.
Students will examine the ideas that the Founding Fathers brought to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and use them to analyze the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
This lesson encourages students to take a closer look at the American flag and its meaning.
This lesson takes a closer look at the history of Memorial Day by examining World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War and their connections to this civic holiday.
These three constitutional amendments abolished slavery and guaranteed equal protection of the laws and the right to vote.
On Constitution Day, students will examine the role of the people in shaping the U.S. Constitution.
Drafted by George Mason, this declaration of rights later became a model for other state constitutions and the Bill of Rights.
In this lesson, students will examine the constitutional, legal, political, and historical sources of the continuing debate over war powers.
We the School is an innovative new form of student government created at Constitution High School in Philadelphia.
Students will investigate the legal language defining their freedom of speech rights
Explore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.
Search and browse videos, podcasts, and blog posts on constitutional topics.
Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.
