September 17th is Constitution Day! This holiday commemorates the day that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed this important document. The U.S. Constitution is the oldest written national constitution still in operation today. We encourage teachers, community members, and others to use Constitution Day as an occasion to have discussions about questions such as “Who is included in the phrase ‘We the People’?” and “How do we form ‘a more perfect union’?”
In commemoration of this founding document, and to encourage civic engagement around it, we are pleased to share these national and state resources:
- Examine documents and other resources with the National Archives
- Teachers and educators can use the educational resources of the Library of Congress, including interactive activities and primary source documents.
- The National Endowment for the Humanities has extensive lesson plans, guides, and materials for teaching about the Constitution.
- Learn about the relationship between the Census, the Constitution, and citizenship with the U.S. Census Bureau’s list of resources and graphics.
- Check out the U.S. Department of Education’s Constitution Day resource list with resources from the Supreme Court Historical Society, the Smithsonian, and more.
- Tell your representatives in Congress how you feel about issues in your community. Find their contact information online at house.gov.
- The State Archives of North Carolina has a number of significant foundational documents you can view, including state copies of federal documents and state constitutions.
This is just a short collection of the amazing resources that are available. We encourage our readers to explore beyond what we’ve listed. If you have additional resources you’d like to share, please email mmoore@nchumanities.org.
About North Carolina Humanities: Through public humanities programs and grantmaking, North Carolina Humanities connects North Carolinians with cultural experiences that spur dialogue, deepen human connections, and inspire community. North Carolina Humanities is a statewide nonprofit and the North Carolina affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.nchumanities.org.
Press contact: Melanie Moore Richeson, North Carolina Humanities, mmoore@nchumanities.org, (704) 687-1520
Photo: George Washington is about to receive the draft of the Constitution from James Madison in this mural by Barry Faulkner in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Courtesy of the National Archives.
