Celebrate Constitution Day

Constitution Day Celebration

Monday, September 18



In September 1787, the Founders signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution. Every year, the National Constitution Center hosts the best Constitution Day celebration in the country. Commemorate this historic day, while also meeting your federal education requirements!

This Constitution Day, the Center celebrates the opening of our newest exhibit, The First Amendment. The gallery offers a fresh perspective on the history of the First Amendment and how it impacts us today. This Constitution Day, we present a series of programs and events highlighting the history and meaning of the amendment.

Plan Your Year of Civic Education

Sign Up for a Scholar Exchange

Scholar Exchanges give students the opportunity to discuss constitutional topics with a lawyer, judge, or constitutional scholar and their peers from around the country. Sessions are free and open to classes ranging from elementary school to college. Sessions are scheduled at times that work for teachers and their students.

What Are Teachers Saying?

“The exchange made it all more applicable to daily life to my students. They love hearing from others and many of my students got excited to ask questions, so much so that they ended up wishing they had more time!”

“I think this was a very effective and fun way to teach the information.”

What Are Students Saying?

“I learned a lot and did enjoy speaking with the judge we spoke to. It is good to hear from an outside resource that is actually pursuing the job rather than a textbook.”

Visit our website, or email [email protected] to learn more.

Virtual Museum Experiences

Live virtual museum experiences bring fun and enriching content to your classrooms to enhance your students’ learning experience. Interact in real time with our museum educators as they explore popular topics from constitutional history.

Civic Stories

These fast-paced, engaging classes allow students to discover our roles and responsibilities as citizens and the remarkable stories of historical figures who pursued civic action to form “a more perfect Union.”

Live from the Museum

For intermediate learners, students are led by our educators through virtual tours, workshops, and demonstrations that feature some of your favorite historical figures and events.

For Educators

Exploring the Center's Education Framework: Teaching Stories Through Dialogue

Wednesday, September 20 I 6:30-8 p.m ET

In this session, participants will examine the National Constitution Center’s framework for learning, which integrates three main components: Historical Foundations Through Storytelling; Constitutional Interpretation Skills; and Civil Dialogue and Reflection. This approach teaches learners of all ages to separate their political views from their constitutional views—asking not what the government should do, but what it constitutionally may do. Participants will explore all aspects of the framework by exploring the Center’s newest exhibit, The First Amendment.

Artifact Spotlight

First Amendment Artifacts

Throughout September, we're highlighting First Amendment artifacts in celebration of our newest exhibit, The First Amendment, opening September 6, 2023.

Members of the Tinker family donned this armband to protest the Vietnam War. In a small act that led to a landmark case, eighth-grader Mary Beth Tinker wore a similar armband to her public school in 1965. She and four other students were suspended. Tinker’s parents filed suit, arguing the school violated their free speech rights.

Student Town Hall With Mary Beth Tinker

Monday, September 18 | 1 p.m. ET

Ready to dive deeper into Tinker v. Des Moines? Join us on Constitution Day for a conversation about dissent, schools, and the First Amendment with Mary Beth Tinker.

More From the National Constitution Center

National First Amendment Summit

Wednesday, September 13 I 4-8 p.m. ET

In-Person and Online

The National Constitution Center, in partnership with a coalition of leading free speech organizations, is convening a National First Amendment Summit to discuss the increasing threats to freedom of expression and to celebrate the opening of the Center's new First Amendment exhibit.

To lead off the event, author and free-speech advocate Salman Rushdie will participate in a virtual keynote conversation with PEN America’s Suzanne Nossel about the importance of free speech in a democratic society and the forces of censorship that imperil its existence, followed by a series of panels with America’s leading First Amendment thinkers.

This program is presented in partnership with the Freedom Forum, FIRE, the First Amendment Watch at NYU, PEN America, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Thank you for being part of our community of educators. If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you. Please email the education team at [email protected].

Connect with us

Interactive Constitution | Professional Development | Events Calendar | Online Learning Opportunities

The National Constitution Center's education team is here to help with any of our online resources. Email [email protected] with questions or comments on how we can help you and your students with your remote learning needs.

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