The Constitution has sheltered us from those who would destroy freedom, but the fortress is incredibly fragile because it is only as strong as our devotion and allegiance. ~Janice Rogers Brown

Constitution Day is approaching soon–September 17. Schools receiving federal funds are required to recognize this day/week/month with educational activities regarding this powerful document Section 111(b) of Public Law 108-447, enacted in late 2004]. In a previous post, I shared a read-aloud about the Constitution, which is ideal for grades 4-5. What about for other students? District Captain Ellen Bertelsen has been successful in presenting a slide show from Patriot Academy in middle school grades, especially in private schools and homeschool associations. Patriot Academy suggests that this is appropriate for grades 3-9. If you (easily) sign up as a Constitution Coach, you will have FREE access to this presentation, which lasts 30-45 minutes(along with support from experienced coaches). It is accessed via the Constitution Coach Dashboard under Constitution Day Curriculum. Uncertain how to explore this opportunity with a school, Patriot Academy gives you a script on approaching school leaders. Remember that our goal is to assist and support the schools in this recognition of our Constitution, not to bludgeon them with legal requirements. Be sure to request AV support in the classrooms in which you present. And notify your local legislators if you have scheduled a presentation, in case they might be able to attend. An extension activity is to have a copy of the Constitution without signatures; students are then asked to add their signatures at the bottom committing to the values and governance this document contains. After the presentation, Bertelsen gives students a Patriot Academy bookmark that lists the sections of the Constitution as well as amendments. These bookmarks are available in the Patriot Academy store (100 for only $10). You might also consider contacting your public library and local church about sharing this offering. Why not educate adults also? Ellen is available to visit with you if you have questions about pursuing this. You may contact her at [email protected] A plethora of additional resources is available for you to share directly with students or share with teachers and administrators to ensure that our students engage with and celebrate the Constitution. Here are several from national organizations. The National Constitution Center has a Constitution 101 Course with video modules. The Center for Civic Education provides lesson plans for grades K-12. For older students, the Library of Congress has lesson plans with primary source documents entitled The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union. The National Council for the Social Studies also utilizes a primary source document in the first page of the journal from the Constitutional Convention.  iCivicsEducation has both lesson plans K-12 but also online games for students to play. While not a teaching activity, word searches can reinforce key vocabulary around the Constitution. Several options may be found at Word Mint. Let's assure that our students are at least exposed to some elements of the US Constitution during September. These are our future patriots. Suzanne McPherson Volunteer Activist, Mentor, and State Content Writer