Constitution Day is observed on September 17, the day the U.S. Constitution was signed in Philadelphia in 1787. It’s also known as Citizenship Day, and schools that receive federal funding are required to hold an educational program about the Constitution around this date. For kindergarten, the key is to connect a big idea to something children know well: rules.
Explaining the Constitution simply
Try something like: “A long time ago, leaders of our country wrote down important rules for how the country would work. That set of rules is called the Constitution. It also lists rights, which are things every person should be allowed to do.”
Connect to classroom rules
- Ask why we have rules at school: to keep everyone safe, to be fair and to help us learn.
- Create or review your class rules together, then have every student sign them, just like the signers of the Constitution.
- Talk about what a group can do when a rule isn’t working: discuss it and agree on a change.
Rights and responsibilities
Kindergartners can understand that rights come with responsibilities. If everyone has the right to be heard, everyone has the responsibility to listen. Make a simple two-column chart together.
What does a good citizen do?
- Helps others
- Takes turns and shares
- Follows the rules
- Takes care of the classroom and community
Hands-on ideas
- A class constitution poster with every student’s signature.
- Role-play: What would a good citizen do if…?
- Picture sorts: fair or not fair, safe or not safe.
Ready-to-use kindergarten activities
For ready-to-use lessons, our Constitution Day Activities for Kindergarten: Citizenship, Rules and Rights are available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
