September 17, Constitution Day
In May of 2005, Congress enacted a law stating that “Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.” For purposes of this requirement, “educational institutions” includes but is not limited to “local educational agencies” and “institutions of higher education” receiving Federal funding.
Constitution Day September 17th commemorates the date in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention adjourned from its long months of deliberation at the State House in Philadelphia (Independence Hall), after having completed the arduous and historic task of writing the United States Constitution.
Schools throughout America will celebrate our nation’s commitment to freedom at the annual Constitution and Citizenship Day Celebration on Friday , September 16, 2011. This celebration commemorates the day in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention adjourned from its long months of deliberation at the State House in Philadelphia (now Independence Hall), after having completed the arduous and historic task of writing the United States Constitution, the oldest and most revered constitution in the world.
The National Archives has developed and posted some excellent resources to commemorate Constitution Day in the classroom.
One of the most interesting of the National Archives resources is 39 Signers. There is biographical information on each of the signers of the Constitution. In all, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
Click here for some amazing Grade Level Resources.
What’s Your Constitution IQ?