Spotlight the Signers and Bring Revolutionary Stories to Life

In our new Interactive Declaration of Independence, you'll find biographies of the delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, compiled by leading historian Carol Berkin.

Using our America 250-inspired 2025-2026 Civic Calendar, which includes the birthdays of each signer, you can prepare bell-ringers to share the biographies of these key individuals and spotlight revolutionary moments and themes that helped shape the road to 1776. Plan to explore these birthdays (and more!) in October:

• Caesar Rodney, signer of the Declaration of Independence (1728)
• Francis Lightfoot Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence (1732)
• Jared Ingersoll, signer of the U.S. Constitution (1749)

Be sure to request your free printed copy of our 2025-2026 Civic Calendar.

It’s a month-by-month guide to weaving the founding stories of the United States into lessons and discussions in a way that’s timely, meaningful, and complimentary to existing curriculum.

Each month offers ready-to-use discussion questions and links to related free resources from our Interactive Declaration of Independence and America at 250 Civic Toolkit.

New We the People Podcast

Can Government Officials Pressure Private Companies and Universities to Restrict Speech?

In this episode, Genevieve Lakier of the University of Chicago Law School and Eugene Volokh of the UCLA School of Law join to discuss the recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC and the broader history and constitutionality of jawboning, the practice of government officials pressuring private actors to stifle speech. 

From Our Partners

⭐ 2025-2026 National Civics Bee Competition: Hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition is open to 6th-8th graders. Students can apply by writing an essay about how they believe they can make a difference in their community. Applications are open until February 3, 2026.

⭐ Retro Report's U.S. Supreme Court Collection: The free collection features 16 short videos about the First Amendment, the equal protection clause, affirmative action and other relevant topics. An interactive timeline of 25 Supreme Court cases that shape our world today, with required cases in the AP Gov curriculum.

⭐ America’s 100 Docs: A new, free interactive game for history classrooms from the National Archives Foundation that invites students and the public to explore 100 significant documents, images, maps, and artifacts from U.S. history.

⭐ 2025 Pennsylvania Civics Educator Forum: On November 13, 2025, PA Civics is proud to host its next professional development forum for educators, this time in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This year's theme: “Teaching America’s 250th Anniversary: Understanding Our Past, Shaping What’s Next.”

Upcoming Professional Learning & Events

🗓️ Monthly Virtual Professional Learning Session: Voting Rights

Wednesday, October 15 | 6:30-8 p.m. ET

In this session, participants will explore the right to vote throughout history and work to answer several key questions about voting rights in America. Join us as scholar Pamela Karlan addresses the ways in which the Constitution protects the right to vote, how the amendment process has shaped voting rights, and Supreme Court decisions dealing with the right to vote. Rebecca Smart, a member of the Center’s Teacher Advisory Board, will guide participants through resources to lead conversations on voting rights in the classroom.

🗓️ America’s Town Hall: The Pursuit of Liberty: A Book Launch Event With Jeffrey Rosen and Jeffrey Goldberg

Tuesday, October 21 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. ET

Join National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen and Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg for the launch of Rosen’s new book, The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America.

🗓️ America’s Town Hall: Liberalism: Current Challenges and Modern Debates

Thursday, October 23 | Noon ET

Susan Stokes, author of The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies, and Cass Sunstein, author of On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom, explore the current challenges facing liberalism and why liberalism remains essential to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

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About the National Constitution Center’s Educational Resources 

The National Constitution Center provides K-12 curriculum, professional learning, and student programs that make constitutional education engaging and relevant. Learn more at: constitutioncenter.org/education.

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