If you’re searching for Constitution Day activities suitable for your elementary students, you’ve landed in the perfect spot!

As you may already be aware, Constitution Day falls in mid-September and is observed in public schools. While it’s wonderful that schools discuss the Constitution with students during this time, I like to integrate related topics into my social studies curriculum when they naturally arise.

So, what’s a teacher to do?

In my experience, the best way to commemorate this day is by providing a brief overview of the Constitution, its Preamble, the Branches of Government, and the Bill of Rights and incorporating the engaging activities below. Then, I address it in more depth later in the year as I teach history chronologically.

Constitution Day Activity: Use a read-aloud book

“A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution” by Betsy Maestro is a great resource for providing an overview of the reasons behind and the process of writing the Constitution. The book has the engaging narrative style of a storybook and resonates well with elementary students.

Begin with a read-aloud session, ensuring comprehension by periodically posing questions to the students.

Next, engage the students in a physical activity, such as the straightforward yet enjoyable Stand Up / Sit Down game.

This game is uncomplicated, requiring no additional materials. 🙌🏼

Present each statement one by one. If the statement is true, students should stand up.

If the statement is false, students should remain seated and indicate their disagreement with a “thumbs down” gesture. Encourage volunteers to briefly clarify how to rectify the false statements.

Below are statements you can use for a Stand Up / Sit Down Game. These were designed for use with the book “A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution” by Betsy Maestro.

1. The Constitutional Convention was held in the same building where the Declaration of Independence was signed. (True)
2. Alexander Hamilton was the first delegate to sign his name on the Constitution. (False, George Washington signed his name first.)
3. The men who wrote the Constitution believed that the power of the government should come from the people. (True)
4. George Washington was present at the Constitutional Convention. (True)
5. During the Constitutional Convention, everyone agreed and the process of writing the Constitution was simple. (False, There were many arguments and disagreements during the convention.)
6. Although he wasn’t sure at first, Ben Franklin decided that the sun on George Washington’s chair was a rising sun. (True)
7. All of the delegates arrived at the same time. (False, They arrived at different times.)
8. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention agreed that everything discussed at the meetings would be kept secret until the convention was over. (True)
9. Every delegate at the convention signed his name to the Constitution. (False, Three of the delegates present when the Constitution was signed refused to add their names.)
10. The Bill of Rights protects the rights of Americans. (True)
11. The Constitutional Convention was held in New York City. (False, Philadelphia)
12. Before the Constitution could become law, it had to be ratified, or approved, by each state. (True)
13. There were many compromises made during the Constitutional Convention. (True)
14. George Washington is known as the Father of the Constitution. (False, James Madison)
15. Delaware was the first state to approve, or ratify, the Constitution. (True)

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Constitution Day Crafts for Younger Students

Here’s a user-friendly Constitution Day unit that provides essential information about the historical context leading to the Constitution, the Framers, the Preamble, and the Amendments. It’s an ideal resource for both Election Day and Constitution Day celebrations! This Constitution Day package includes two craft activities designed for different levels, seven anchor charts/posters, and an eight-page mini-book.

The anchor charts are most effective when used in 1st to 3rd-grade classrooms. For Kindergarten and 1st grade, I recommend utilizing a projector to conduct a read-aloud session with the mini-book for content delivery. In 2nd to 3rd grades, the mini-book can serve as valuable practice material and can be sent home for reinforcement. It aligns with the information presented in the anchor charts and is designed to introduce students to the content rather than master reading skills.

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