Classroom Exchanges with the National Constitution Center

The Classroom Exchanges program partners high school classes from across the country to discuss big constitutional questions via online video conferences. These 25-30 minute discussions are moderated by a judge, lawyer, or master teacher who is trained in nonpartisan civil dialogue practices. Participating teachers receive lesson plans, resources on civil dialogue techniques, and materials explaining how to use the necessary technology.

The Center's new Interactive Constitution: Classroom Edition helps teachers educate students about the U.S. Constitution and prepare students for exchanges. The free digital platform provides trusted nonpartisan constitutional resources including videos, podcasts, lesson plans, and other multimedia resources. Visit the Classroom Exchanges page on the Interactive Constitution: Classroom Edition to learn more!

Since the introduction of the program on Constitution Day 2018, the exchanges have reached over 3,100 students. We want your class to participate too!

What do you need to participate?

Webcam
Speakers
Microphone
Two class periods to prepare

How do you register?

Once you've had the chance to familiarize yourself with the Interactive Constitution and review the Classroom Exchange page, follow these steps to register:

Start on our online matchmaking platform.
Create an account by entering your school information, including your city and state.
Accept the Zoom invitation sent to the email address you provided during registration. This provides the support you will need to participate in the video conference.
Make an individualized class profile for each class you want to participate, including the time the class meets and the topic you want them to discuss.
Wait for a match! You will receive notification when a class with similar details is available during the times you requested.

Note: You will not be open to find a match if you do not complete your account registration, so make sure you enter in all of your details before you create your individual class profiles.

LEARN MORE

If you have any questions before signing up, please email exchange@constitutioncenter. org. You may also contact us at this email address if you are a middle school teacher who is interested in participating in this program when it is available for your classes.

Recent Podcasts

Do your students have questions about current events? The National Constitution Center has two podcasts— We the People and Live at America's Town Hall— to help provide answers to some of the big questions of the day.

Richard Stengel on Misinformation
Richard Stengel, the longest serving Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in American history (2013-16), discusses the fight against the global rise of disinformation, describing how disinformation has been used by terrorist groups like ISIS, how it influenced the 2016 election, how it factors into the current impeachment inquiry, and more. (1 hour)
What Does the Constitution Say About Impeachment?
Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, who served on the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment, and Gene Healy, author of Indispensable Remedy: The Broad Scope of the Constitution’s Impeachment Power detail what the Constitution says about how impeachment should be carried out, how those precedents compare to today, and what might happen next. (1 hour, 5 minutes)
Can Employees be Fired for Being LGBTQ?
Karen Loewy, Senior Counsel for LGBTQ legal advocacy organization Lambda Legal, and Professor David Upham of the University of Dallas— who both wrote briefs in the recent Supreme Court cases that raise the question of whether Title VII prohibits discrimination because of sexual orientation and/or gender identity— explain the arguments on both sides of these cases, analyze the justices’ reactions at oral argument, and predict the potential social and legal consequences of these cases. (54 minutes)

Summer Teacher Institutes at the National Constitution Center

The education team at the National Constitution Center is thrilled to host four Summer Teacher Institutes in July 2020. These week-long professional development opportunities provide educators the chance to experience the museum and the surrounding historic district, learn from constitutional scholars from across the philosophical spectrum, and collaborate with their peers from around the country. This year's dates and topics are:

July 5–10: Federalism
July 12–17: Federalism
July 19–24: First Amendment
July 26–31: Battles for Freedom and Equality

Applications are available online and are due by Friday, December 20, 2019. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application on Friday, January 17, 2020.

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