Constitutional Ambassadors Program

More than just a field trip, the Constitutional Ambassadors program is an intellectual, social, and skills-based educational experience in which middle and high school students learn the basic principles of the U. S. Constitution, see rare historical documents, priceless artifacts, interactive exhibits, and live theater that bring contemporary discussions about the Constitution to life.  The program begins in the classroom with the Center’s educational resources, continues with a 3-hour educational experience at the Center, and follows students back to their classrooms, where they can have real-time conversations on constitutional issues with other classrooms across America through our Peer-to-Peer Exchanges.

The Constitutional Ambassadors program is FREE for all students in the Philadelphia area. Transportation included.  Scholarship funding may be available for admission and transportation for students outside of the Philadelphia region. Ask the group sales team for more information. 

Contact Director of Group Sales Gina Romanelli:

• [email protected] 
•  215.409.6695

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The Constitutional Ambassadors program combines museum exploration and workshops with virtual Scholar Exchanges. Students will learn historical foundations through exhibit exploration, develop constitutional thinking skills during a scholar exchange, and engage in civil dialogue and reflection during a workshop.

Introduction: (15 minutes)  Groups are greeted by a museum educator and brought to their reserved, private museum space. Educator provides students with the topic of the day and brief program itinerary that introduces the big ideas/themes/questions of the day. The educator will encourage students to make note of any thoughts or connections that they can make to the day’s topic by using a Jamboard (a large whiteboard). This is meant to warm up the students and get them talking and thinking in a comfortable space.

Scholar Exchange: (30 minutes)  The educator will introduce a judge or scholar who will provide students with historical background, real life experiences, and context about their respective topic. Students are encouraged to engage with the judge/scholar and ask questions about connections to their theme and content. Educators will moderate discussion and encourage thoughtful conversation between the students and the judge/scholar.

Exhibit Exploration: (20-40 minutes) The educator brings students to the main lobby and provides them with an overview of the museum’s exhibit spaces. Students will then have time to explore exhibit spaces and are encouraged to search for connections of the day’s theme(s). The educator will accompany groups to the exhibit and be available to answer questions if needed, but the exploration is primarily student driven.

Freedom Rising: (20 minutes) Students see Freedom Rising.

Discussion: (30 minutes) Students return to private museum space where the educator will lead students to share any initial thoughts or observations about their time in the exhibits. Students are then instructed to work with the members of their group to discuss their time in the exhibits and how the exhibits' content and artifacts relate to the day’s big ideas and themes. Students are encouraged to contribute to giant Jamboards with their ideas, artifact drawings, thoughts, or connections that their group makes. Educators are available to answer any questions and help facilitate discussion.

Freedom of Speech: Students will examine the history of the First Amendment—focusing especially on the factors motivating America’s founding generation. In a conversation with a scholar, students will learn how the Supreme Court has interpreted freedom of speech over time and that in the United States, speech can only be limited when it is intended to and likely to cause imminent violence. Students will explore the Center's exhibit spaces and learn about how the right of freedom of speech has been used throughout American history. Together as a group, students will discuss various types of speech, including symbolic speech, hate speech, and political speech. 

Separation of Powers: Students will learn how—instead of placing authority in the hands of one person, like a king, or even a small group of people—the U.S. Constitution divides power. In a conversation with a scholar, students will examine the separation of power that exists between the national or federal government, and the state and local government under a system known as Federalism. Students will explore the Center’s exhibit spaces as they learn about the powers delegated to each branch and the role the separation of powers has in American history. Students will gather as a group to discuss how the Constitution again divides power between the three major branches of our federal government—the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.  

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For questions about the Constitutional Ambassadors program, professional development opportunities, or Classroom Exchanges, email Director of Group Sales Gina Romanelli at [email protected]. 

In conjunction with the Constitutional Ambassadors program, the National Constitution Center will offer educators comprehensive training on the Interactive Constitution and supporting materials. The Center will host daylong professional development sessions for educators, which will include exhibit tours, modeled classroom activities, and training in civil dialogue techniques, totaling four reportable hours of professional development which the Center will submit for Act 48 reporting.

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