DOE Home

Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction

Bureau of Curriculum & Instruction

Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week

• United States Public Law (PDF) requires that public educational institutions receiving federal funds teach about the Constitution on September 17 each year.
• Florida Law requires public school districts to commemorate the founding principles of our nation during the last full week of September.
• Governor's Proclamation (PDF, 124KB)

Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week Resources

• National Constitution Center
  The National Constitution Center is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of, and appreciation for, the Constitution, its history, and its contemporary relevance.
• Center for Civic Education
  The Center for Civic Education, in collaboration with the American Association of School Administrators, offers free lesson plans for Grades K-12 in observance of Constitution Day.
• The Declaration of Independence: Rewriting the Rough Draft
  This site from the Library of Congress allows students to view the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and create a new draft of their own.
• The Constitution: Primary Source Set
  This site from the Library of Congress provides classroom sets of primary source documents.
• National Archives Teaching With Documents: Observing Constitution Day
  The National Archives and Records Administration commemorates our nation's history with resources focused on our country’s founding documents.
• The Charters of Freedom
  This site from the National Archives is an online exhibit of our founding documents and leaders.
• Drafting the Declaration: the Jefferson Desk and the Declaration of Independence
  This site from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History uses Thomas Jefferson’s desk as a primary source object with related lessons and activities.
• Declare the Causes: The Declaration of Independence
  This site, from the National Endowment of the Humanities focuses on grade levels 3-5, providing lessons on The Declaration of Independence.

Additional Activities and Interactive Resources

• Online Revolutionary War Game
  While playing this interactive game from PBS, students test their knowledge about the American Revolution, and see if they can navigate their way to independence. Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate
• The U.S. Constitution Power Grab Game
  This activity linked from the State of California’s online resources focuses on the Constitution and its fundamental ideas: checks and balances, separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights. Grade Levels: Secondary
• Timeline of the Revolution
  This PBS site has a complete timeline of the conflict between the British and the Colonists. Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate
• Spy Letters of the American Revolution
  This site, from the University of Michigan includes a set of letters written by spies on both sides of the American Revolution, plus the stories surrounding them. Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate
• Kids in the House
  The Kids in the House website is a public service provided by the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. The site offers lessons and activities all grade levels.
• Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government
  The US Government Printing Office provides resources including primary source documents and activities for all grade levels.

For questions & comments regarding education issues: | For questions & comments regarding this Web site: E-mail Webmaster
Accessibility | Copyright Florida Department of Education ©2005 - 2013 | Privacy Statement | Public Records
Free Downloads: Acrobat Reader | Excel Viewer 2003 | Word Viewer 97/2000 | PowerPoint Viewer 2003
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.