LibGuides: Queens: SPSON Celebrates Constitution Day

Celebrating Constitution Day
September 17 is designated as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. Learn more about the U.S. Constitution through our public programs, family activities, and online resources.
Bring the Constitution to Life! Primary Sources and Learning Activities Related to the US Constitution
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created. September 17th is designated as Constitution Day to commemorate the signing.

Use this page to find primary sources related to the Constitution and the "big ideas" it contains, as well as document-based learning activities to share with your students.

Find more information about the creation and history of the Constitution on "America's Founding Documents" or access more ideas for observing Constitution Day on the National Archives website.
DocsTeach is a product of the National Archives education division. Our mission is to engage, educate, and inspire all learners to discover and explore the records of the American people preserved by the National Archives.

The National Archives and Records Administration is the nation's record keeper. We save documents and other materials created in the course of business conducted by the U.S. Federal government that are judged to have continuing value. We hold in trust for the public the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights — but also the records of ordinary citizens — at our locations around the country.
Civics for All of US
Civics for All of US is a new education initiative from the National Archives. Our mission is to build civic literacy and engagement by providing exemplary civic education resources and programs for all ages using the records of the U.S. Government.

As the nation’s record keeper and home of the founding documents of the United States, the National Archives is uniquely positioned to promote civic literacy and engagement. By studying examples of civic engagement in the past, Americans will better understand their rights and responsibilities and be prepared to participate in their communities in the present. Civic education at the National Archives engages audiences with primary sources that shed light on the successes, failures, debates, and challenges in the history of our democracy. The initiative is committed to sharing diverse perspectives and historically underrepresented voices.
Constitution Day remarks by Debra Steidel Wall, now Deputy Archivist of the United States
Debra Steidel Wall, Deputy Archivist of the United States, remarks about Constitution Day.

The United States Census Bureau

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
“On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution. For over 200 years, the Constitution has served as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights and other amendments, define our government and guarantee our rights. Each year, on September 17, Americans celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. In addition, September 17-23 is also recognized as Constitution Week. During this time, USCIS encourages Americans to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be a U.S. citizen.”

Library of Congress

Primary Documents in American History
Browse our best resources, organized by subject
Constitution of the United States
Signed on September 17, 1787, the Constitution established the government of the United States. This guide provides access to digital collections at the Library of Congress, external websites, and print materials related to the Constitution.

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The members of the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention convened in response to dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation and the need for a strong centralized government. After four months of secret debate and many compromises, the proposed Constitution was submitted to the states for approval. Although the vote was close in some states, the Constitution was eventually ratified and the new Federal government came into existence in 1789. The Constitution established the U.S. government as it exists today.

United States Census Bureau

U.S. Census Bureau Fun Facts: Constitution Day
On February 29, 1952, Congress designated September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. This day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, and recognizes all American citizens.

Did you know that the census is written into the Constitution? That’s right! Article I, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution prescribes that a count of the U.S. population be done every ten years.

Congress.gov

Browse the Constitution Annotated
The Constitution Annotated provides a comprehensive overview of how the Constitution has been interpreted over time and is now available on this new site with upgraded search capabilities. The online Constitution Annotated includes discussions of the Supreme Court's latest opinions. In the Coming months, we will be making broader changes to further modernize the Constitution Annotated.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services

Citizenship Resource Center
Naturalization has always been a family affair. From children helping their parents study the civics test items at the dining table to new citizens looking forward to reuniting with family members overseas, the naturalization process brings families together and helps build communities. Two-generation or "2Gen" approaches to citizenship education is a model of education that involves both parents and children in the learning process. At the heart of the model is family engagement—and with greater engagement, programs achieve greater outcomes.

This toolkit is a collection of resources parents may use to explore civics and citizenship with their children together. This toolkit promotes a two-generation approach to civic engagement and contains resources for both practitioners and families.

CONGRESS.GOV

Constitution Annotated: Analysis and Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution
Educational resources provided by the U.S. Congress.
Constitution of the United States
Read the full US Constitution!
The Constitution of the United States Explained
The Constitution Annotated provides a comprehensive overview of how the Constitution has been interpreted over time and is now available on this new site with upgraded search capabilities. The online Constitution Annotated includes discussions of the Supreme Court's latest opinions. In the Coming months, we will be making broader changes to further modernize the Constitution Annotated.

Fun Stuff

Schoolhouse Rock! The Preamble
Learn the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution by singing along to Schoolhouse Rock!
Constitution Day: Real or Fake? Quiz
Test your Constitution Day knowledge! Can you tell which of these Founding Father facts are real or fake?
What's Your Constitution I.Q.? Quiz
Think you know all about the U.S. Constitution? Take the quiz to find out your Constitution I.Q.!
Which Founding Father Are You? Quiz
Which Founding Father Are You? Take the short quiz to find out if you're Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and the first president, George Washington!