Engage Students in Civic Virtue With the Benjamin Franklin Challenge

Flip to the middle of your 2025-2026 Civic Calendar and find a civic virtue chart activity, featuring Ben Franklin. Franklin believed that practicing virtues was a lifelong effort—something that could be improved over time. Use this chart to invite students to follow his example by noticing, practicing, and reflecting on virtues in everyday life.

• Start together: Begin by talking about civic virtue—the idea that our choices and actions can strengthen our community. Review the 12 virtues on the chart, read their definitions, and discuss what they mean.

• Encourage weekly practice: Each week, encourage students to look for moments—at school, at home, or in the community—where they or others demonstrated these virtues.

• Foster interactive reflection: Have students write their examples on sticky notes and place them in the boxes. At the end of the week, clear off the notes so the chart can be used again. By returning to the chart again and again, students practice the same kind of ongoing self-reflection Franklin valued.

Request free printed versions of the calendar and be sure to share how you are using it in your classroom using #NCCEd on X.

This year's Civic Calendar will be your go-to learning companion for teaching about America’s 250th. Each month spotlights revolutionary moments and themes that helped shape the road to 1776, with ready-to-use discussion questions and links to related free resources from our Interactive Declaration of Independence and America at 250 Civic Toolkit.

Spring Weekend Workshop Applications Are Open

Deepen your understanding of the principles that inspired the signers of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago during a Weekend Workshop at the National Constitution Center this spring. Offerings include:

• Friday, March 27–Sunday, March 29: Principles of America at 250: Independence
• Friday, April 24–Sunday, April 26th: Principles of America at 250: Liberty 
• Friday, May 15–Sunday, May 17th: Principles of America at 250: Equality

Through scholar-led sessions, guided tours, and collaborative discussions, participants will:

• Examine key founding principles highlighted in the America at 250 Civic Toolkit;
• Explore the Center’s exhibits and nonpartisan educational resources, including the Interactive Declaration of Independence and our Constitution 101 Curriculum;
• Learn the Center’s approach to teaching history through storytelling, constitutional thinking, and civil dialogue;
• Build connections with peers nationwide, strengthened through quarterly follow-ups after the workshop.

Applications are open from October 10–November 14, with notifications sent no later than December 1.

More details:

• Weekend Workshops are open to elementary, middle, and high school teachers from across the nation; however, special consideration will be given to teachers who work in rural and underserved communities.
• The Center covers the costs of all travel, lodging, and meals for those selected to participate, but space is limited to no more than 18 educators.
• After the workshop, participants have the opportunity to schedule professional learning sessions for their school or district during the 2026-2027 school year at no cost to them.

Events & Professional Learning in November

🗓️ Live From the Museum: Celebrating Native American Heritage Month with the Aquinnah Cultural Center

Monday, November 3 | Noon ET

In partnership with the Aquinnah Cultural Center, join a museum educator live to commemorate Native American Heritage Month. Dedicated to the Aquinnah Wampanoag, the Aquinnah Cultural Center in Massachusetts imparts cultural knowledge, fosters tribal connection, and shares their historical narratives and oral traditions. Together, we’ll explore tribal sovereignty, the constitutional roots of Indigenous relationships, and take a look at the belongings and creations of the Aquinnah Wampanoag.

🗓️ Learning with NCC: Storytelling with Retell in Rhyme

Tuesday, November 11 | 7:00-8 p.m. ET

In this session, educators will dive deeper into Historical Foundations through Storytelling using the Retell in Rhyme NCC protocol. They will use W.E.B. Dubois’ The Souls of Black Folk (1903) to enhance their understanding of Black political and legal activism to win recognition of the constitutional rights and guarantees of full civic membership and inclusion promised by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The session will also help educators make connections to their work and provide methods of implementation.

🗓️ Monthly Virtual Session: Native Americans and the Constitution

Wednesday, November 19 | 6:30-8 p.m. ET

In this session, attendees will delve into the comprehensive historical context of Native American history, examining its constitutional implications and their significance. Join us as scholar Gregory Ablavsky dives into stories about Native Americans and their contributions to U.S. constitutional history. Ginnie Holloway, a member of the Center’s Teacher Advisory Board, will lead the practical integration of these vital narratives into educational curricula and instruction.

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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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