The National Constitution Center offers a variety of methods and materials to aid teachers in their mission to inspire active citizenship in their students. The Center offers lessons for every grade level and each is aligned with national standards. Browse our selection to discover how you can engage your students and enhance classroom instruction. Be sure to check back for new additions and the Featured Lesson Plan of the Month.
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High School Lesson Plans
Living News
"Living News" is a unique, live theatrical performance at the NationalConstitutionCenter designed to introduce controversial constitutional issues and encourage students to ask questions about where they stand on these issues. This lesson contains pre, during, and post-visit activities where students analyze current events, develop their own opinion on a current constitutional debate and reflect on where they seem themselves fitting into the Constitutional system.
Abraham Lincoln Crossroads
Abraham Lincoln’s Crossroads is a classroom activity designed to support the NationalConstitutionCenter’s online game of the same name. It invites them to learn about Lincoln’s leadership through an animated Lincoln that introduces a situation, asks for advice, and prompts players to decide the issue for themselves before learning the actual outcome. Using this resource, students will work collaboratively to compile results and ultimately be assessed on their findings.
State of the Union Bingo
State of the Union Bingo is a tool designed to engage students in the President’s annual address to Congress. In this lesson students will identify the Constitutional requirement of the address, and use the bingo card to actively watch the speech as well as facilitate discussion of the President’s new agenda.
The Right to Bear Arms
This lesson invites students to examine differing interpretations of the Second Amendment and use their understanding of the amendment’s history in order to develop informed positions on Second Amendment issues. This lesson raises issues of personal freedom and safety and exposes students to the concept of constitutional change though informal methods.
What is Public Use?
The government taking of private land for public use is always a contentious issue and in this lesson students will conduct a mock trial to evaluate how and when the takings clause of the 5th amendment authorizes the government to seize private property.
Founders Library
Thinking like a Founding Father: The Founders’ Library refers to the prior knowledge the Founding Fathers brought to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. Students will use these ideas to examine the Constitution and later think how movies, books, television shows impact their ideas about the United States. The combination of personal experience and the critical examination of the Constitution will allow the students to have a deeper understanding of the creative imagination that was necessary to write and debate the Constitution of the United States.
The Preamble to the Constitution
The Preamble to the Constitution outlined six major goals of the United States government and the articles that followed were designed to give the government the powers necessary to carry out these goals. In this lesson students will identify these six goals, generate present day examples of how the government performs these functions, and decide which of these goals is most important to maintain a strong but democratic nation.
To Sign or Not to Sign: The Ultimate Constitution Day Lesson Plan
This lesson, designed for National Constitution Day, fully immerses students in the document itself and asks them to examine the role of the people in the Constitution. Through examining the debate during the Constitutional Convention, Article II, and the amendment process, students will discover the revolutionary and powerful idea that it is the people who ultimately consent to the government framed by the Constitution.
National Constitution Center Scavenger Hunt
This lesson is designed to help any visitor or class explore the NationalConstitutionCenter. Starting with the exciting performance “Freedom Rising” and ending after your trip though the American Experience Exhibit, the hunt is an exciting way to discover all the Center has to offer.
Middle School Lesson Plans
ERA for Students
This lesson invites students to analyze the history and debate surrounding the failed Equal Rights Amendment as a framework for examining the amendment process outlined in Article V. Using ERA as a model, students will work cooperatively to generate an Equal Right amendment and ratification campaign of their own. This activity will simulate civic action and allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the difficulty of formally amending the Constitution.
Living News
"Living News" is a unique, live theatrical performance at the NationalConstitutionCenter is designed to introduce controversial constitutional issues and encourage students to ask questions about where they stand on these issues. This lesson continues pre, during, and post-visit activities where students analyze current events, develop their own opinion on a current controversial Constitutional debate and reflect on where they seem themselves fitting into the Constitutional system.
Abraham Lincoln Crossroads
Abraham Lincoln’s Crossroads is a classroom activity designed to support the NationalConstitutionCenter’s online game of the same name. It invites them to learn about Lincoln’s leadership through using an animated Lincoln that introduces a situation, asks for advice, and prompts players to decide the issue for themselves before learning the actual outcome. Using this resource, students will work collaboratively to compile results and ultimately be assessed on their findings.
State of the Union Bingo
State of the Union Bingo is a tool designed to engage students in the President’s annual address to Congress. In this lesson students will identify the Constitutional requirement of the address, and use the bingo card to actively watch the speech as well as facilitate discussion of the President’s new agenda.
What is Public Use?
The government taking of public land for private use is always a contentious issue and in this lesson students will conduct a mock trial to evaluate when the takings clause of the 5th amendment allows the government to seize private property.
Founders Library: Thinking like a Founding Father
The Founders’ Library refers to the prior knowledge the Founding Fathers brought to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. Students will use these ideas to examine the Constitution and later think how movies, books, television shows impact their ideas about the United States. The combination of personal experience and the critical examination of the Constitution will allow the students to have a deeper understanding of the creative imagination that was necessary to write and debate the Constitution of the United States.
To Sign or Not to Sign: The Ultimate Constitution Day Lesson Plan
This lesson, designed for National Constitution Days, fully immerses students in the document itself and asks them to examine the role of the people in the Constitution. Through examining the debate during the Constitutional Convention, Article II, the amendment process, students will discover the revolutionary and powerful idea that it is the people who ultimately consent to the government framed by the Constitution.
National Constitution Center Scavenger Hunt
The NationalConstitutionCenter is filled with interactive exhibits, primary sources, and multimedia resources, and this lesson is designed to help any visitor or class explore the museum. Starting with a the exciting performance “Freedom Rising” and ending at the end of the American Experience Exhibit, the hunt is an exciting way to discover all the Center has to offer.
Elementary School Lesson Plans
Discovering the Bill of Rights
In this lesson picture books are used as a vehicle for teaching younger students about the major rights and freedoms Americans exercise. After reading stories aloud, students will discuss the freedoms discussed in the book, identify the freedoms they value in their lives, and chose one of a variety of extension activities to showcase their new awareness of American liberties.
It’s in Your Pocket
What is small enough to fit in your pocket but can buy you a car: money! In this multi-day lesson students will examine the history of American currency, discover the meaning beyond the symbols, figures, and mottos on American coins, and finally “mint” their own self-designed coin.
National Constitution Center Scavenger Hunt
The NationalConstitutionCenter is filled with interactive exhibits, primary sources, and multimedia resources, and this lesson is designed to help any visitor or class explore the museum. Starting with a the exciting performance “Freedom Rising” and ending at the end of the American Experience Exhibit, the hunt is an exciting way to discover all the Center has to offer.