Email from National Constitution Center Plus: Reflections on September 11, 25 Years Later Celebrate Constitution With Your Students   CIVIC HOLIDAY 2026 Constitution Day Thursday, September 17 | 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Free Admission courtesy of PECO Make Constitution Day a meaningful learning experience for your students. On Thursday, September 17, bring the Constitution to life with our free livestreamed programs, or plan a field trip to Philadelphia for a full day of Constitution-focused learning. Whether you’re teaching the founding documents, preparing students for civic participation, or looking for an engaging way to mark Constitution Day, these programs offer ready-to-use opportunities to connect history and civics to your classroom. LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSTITUTION DAY PROGRAMMING Add These Virtual Programs to Your Constitution Day Lessons Constitution Day Naturalization Ceremony—9:30 a.m. ET Invite students to witness 50 immigrants from around the world take the Oath of Allegiance and become U.S. citizens. Use the ceremony as a springboard for conversations about citizenship, civic identity, and what it means to be an American. Student Town Hall: Jefferson, Madison, and the Road from Independence to the Constitution and Bill of Rights—11:30 a.m. ET Help students connect three foundational documents—the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Students will hear from Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as they explore how the ideas of independence shaped the nation’s system of government. The Next 250: Youth Voices on the Civic Decade—1 p.m. ET Bring student voices into your classroom. In partnership with Made By Us and History Co: Lab, civically engaged young people will reflect on America’s first 250 years, share the Youth 250 Declaration, and imagine the Civic Decade ahead. Rediscovering America’s Forgotten Founders: Architects of the Constitution—6:30 p.m. ET Introduce students to four influential founders who are often left out of the traditional founding story: John Dickinson, Gouverneur Morris, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson. Explore how these figures helped draft, shape, and secure ratification of the Constitution. Bring Your Students to the National Constitution Center Prefer to celebrate in person? Visit the National Constitution Center on September 17 for free admission, courtesy of PECO, and experience a full day of programs and interactive exhibits exploring the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Civic Decade. PLAN YOUR CONSTITUTION DAY FIELD TRIP Can't join live? Register in advance using the links above and share the programs with your students and colleagues. Recordings will be sent after the programs.   Remembering September 11   Twenty-five years later, September 11 remains both a defining moment in American history and a deeply personal memory for millions of people. Remembering is more than looking back. Civic memory is how we carry the experiences of our shared national story forward—through the stories we tell, the objects we preserve, and the memories we pass from one generation to the next. Hear National Constitution Center Interim President and CEO Vince Stango reflect on the events of that day, the nearly 3,000 lives lost, and the experiences that shaped a generation, on our Youtube channel. In looking back, he considers how remembrance can inspire us to carry forward a spirit of courage, service, and responsibility to one another. Watch now For more information on how the National Constitution Center is marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, visit our website. We would love to hear your thoughts—reply directly to this email to share your personal reflections on September 11 with us. CONSTITUTION DAILY BLOG Looking Back: Authorizing Military Force after the 9/11 Attacks by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes “Shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks carried out against the United States, Congress approved legislation granting the president sweeping powers to prevent similar terrorist actions. The 2001 statute related to the 9/11 attacks remains active today, amid questions about whether Congress should repeal or replace it. ... ” Read more THE CIVIC DECADE September 11 and the Objects That Carry Our Civic Memory by Julie Silverbrook | Read time: 5 minutes “I was 13 years old on September 11, 2001, sitting in my middle school math class in Richboro, Pennsylvania, next to my twin sister. Before our class knew what was happening, students began being called out of the room. Some had parents who worked at the World Trade Center. Others had parents who worked for airlines. Eventually, we learned about the attacks, but what I remember most is the uncertainty that followed. ... ” Read more   Upcoming Free Professional Learning   Building a More Durable Democracy Through Civil Dialogue Wednesday, September 16 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET Online Participants will explore how civil dialogue can contribute to a stronger, more durable constitutional democracy. Join Robert B. Talisse of Vanderbilt University as he examines the role of constructive dialogue in democratic life, the challenges political polarization poses to engaging across differences, and how citizens can approach disagreement with curiosity, respect, and a willingness to consider competing perspectives. A teacher facilitator will share classroom-ready resources and strategies for fostering civil dialogue and productive civic engagement among students. Learn more REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE Learning With the NCC: An Introduction to NCC Resources Tuesday, September 22 | 7–8 p.m. ET Online During this introductory session, educators will get an overview of the newer NCC resources: The Interactive Declaration of Independence and Constitution in the Headlines. Participants will explore ways they can use these two resources to talk about the legacy of the Declaration of Independence at the 250th and beyond. Learn more REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE Legacy of the American Revolution Wednesday, September 23 | 6:30–8 p.m. ET Online The National Constitution Center, in partnership with Ft. Ticonderoga, is hosting a free, virtual professional learning workshop on Wednesday, September 23, from 6:30–8 p.m. Using the Center’s nonpartisan resources and Educational Framework, participants will develop a deeper understanding of the people, ideas, events, and artifacts that shaped the revolutionary era, while exploring American military institutions through the colonial, Revolutionary, and Federal periods. Learn more REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE Constitutional Thinking & Media Literacy Skills Saturday, September 26 | 8 a.m.–4 p.m. ET In Person at the National Constitution Center Dive into constitutional thinking skills and media literacy at this professional learning session at the National Constitution Center. Using resources from the NCC and PBS LearningMedia, participants will engage with tools that empower teachers and students to deepen constitutional understanding, evaluate media materials, and build inquiry skills that strengthen curiosity. Teachers will receive breakfast and lunch, a letter certifying the number of professional learning hours earned, and a small stipend in recognition of their time. Act 48 credit hours will also be available for educators from Pennsylvania. Learn more REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON This program was made possible by the National Constitution Center and PBS LearningMedia.   Live from the Museum: Upcoming Programs   Bring the excitement of a field trip right to your classroom. Educators and students connect with a museum educator to explore popular topics live from the National Constitution Center. LIVE FROM THE MUSEUM Introducing the Six Signers Monday, September 14 | 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET Step inside Signers’ Hall for a live virtual tour of the iconic exhibit featuring life-size statues of the 42 men who gathered in Philadelphia for the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. As we kick off the Civic Decade, a museum educator will introduce you to the six delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence back in 1776 and returned to Independence Hall 11 years later to help draft and then sign the U.S. Constitution. REGISTER FOR 12 P.M. REGISTER FOR 2 P.M. LIVE FROM THE MUSEUM Exploring America’s Founding Tuesday, September 15 | 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET Journey back in time for a live virtual tour in America’s Founding. Join a museum educator to explore the people, ideas, and events that shaped the nation from the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War to the challenges of the early republic and the creation of a new form of government. REGISTER FOR 12 P.M. REGISTER FOR 2 P.M.   New From the NCC   AMERICA’S TOWN HALL The First Amendment and Artificial Intelligence Run time: 1 hour, 2 minutes Technology and constitutional scholar Jonathan Zittrain and Distinguished Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School Ellen Goodman examine the intersection of the First Amendment and artificial intelligence, how constitutional values can help guide emerging technologies, and what the future of free expression looks like in the digital age. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. Watch now This program was presented in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of First Amendment Day, a new annual celebration inviting visitors of all ages to explore the five freedoms of the First Amendment through conversation, creativity, history, and hands-on experiences. WE THE PEOPLE The State of Free Speech in 2026 Run time: 1 hour, 11 minutes Geoffrey Stone of the University of Chicago Law School and Eugene Volokh, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and UCLA School of Law, discuss the First Amendment and the rapidly evolving speech landscape—from social media and artificial intelligence to college campuses and the press. Thomas Donnelly, lead scholar at the National Constitutional Center, moderates. Listen now CONSTITUTION DAILY BLOG Supreme Court asked to consider dispute over religious use of public park By Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes “When do a city’s plans to redevelop a municipal park conflict with a Native American group’s use of part of the park for religious ceremonies? In Perez v. City of San Antonio, the Supreme Court has been asked to grant a petition for review from Gary Perez and Matilde Torres, members of the Lipan Native American Church, which has used a bend in the San Antonio River for decades for religious observances. Renovation plans from the city of San Antonio would remove a section of trees at the site used for nesting by migratory birds, including cormorants, that are considered sacred by the church and part of their religious ceremonies. ... ” Read more     Connect With Us Constitution 101 | Professional Learning | Virtual Student Programs | Events Calendar 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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