September 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day commemorating the signing of the newly created Constitution in 1787.
According to the US Department of Education: "each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year is required to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution for its students."
What is your school district doing to learn about and celebrate this important document? As engaged citizens, what can you do to assist your educators?
The US Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas, utilizes community leaders and education and history students in the local university to conduct read-alouds in every classroom within a select grade level.
I have been involved with this activity for several years and have prepared a guide for Lynne Cheney's book We the People. 
I target fifth grade as the Arkansas social studies curriculum standards for that grade include a study of the Constitution and founding documents. See the attached resource for such a read-aloud. If you can secure funding, leaving a copy of the book with the teacher is usually appreciated. A shortened and student-friendly version of the Constitution is available from www.flagusa.org to provide for classrooms.
I have also prepared a script for a James Madison enactment in government classes at the secondary level. Words in italics in the script are actual quotes. The primary sources for this impersonation are The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison and The Federalist Papers. In addition, I have prepared supporting documents (timeline of Madison and the Constitution, and questions for rigorous exploration of the Constitution) to share with the classroom teachers. We are going to pilot this in one district this year. The script is in large print for ease of reading. See the attached resources if you would like to conduct this in your schools.
The Department of Education website also includes resources at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/constitutionday.html.
Before you approach any teacher about Constitution Day activities, you should first contact the district or county superintendent and curriculum director. Their approval is needed before proceeding.
Constitution Day is the perfect opportunity to promote understanding of the document which regulates our government and citizenry and its superiority to other forms of government. As Alexander Hamilton wrote, "If it be asked, what is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of security in a republic? The answer would be an inviolable respect for the Constitution and the laws."
