Resources to Prepare for Constitution Day


Everything you need to plan your Constitution Day classroom visit. This guide is about one thing: planning the time you'll spend in the room — so that walking in feels easy, not daunting. For many students, you'll be the first legal professional they've ever met. When you walk into a classroom, you're not just teaching a lesson — you're living proof that the rule of law belongs to everyone. That’s what makes you the lesson, too. The single most memorable part of your visit is a real legal professional in the room — you don't have to be perfect, and you don't need to build anything from scratch. Every day is a good day to teach about the U.S. Constitution; Sept. 17 is simply where we start.


Want it all in one place?

This page breaks out the lesson planning guide into sections below (Plan, Visit, Choose, and Follow-Up) so you can easily find what you need as you go. If you'd rather have everything together — to print, save, or read offline — download the full guide, printable PDF version.



PLAN  │  VISIT  │  CHOOSE  │  FOLLOW-UP  │  ALL RESOURCES


Core Constitutional Ideas to Teach

Every visit should land at least two of these core constitutional ideas — the principles at the heart of what the Constitution is and means. Think of them as a starting point: pick ones that fit your grade band, then choose a lesson plan that brings them to life. Fewer ideas taught well, with room for discussion, beats a rushed survey of all six.


Constitution Day Core Ideas

 


These resources are designed to help you plan and run a K–12 classroom visit — public, private, or tribal. Questions? Contact the Lawyers in the Classroom program team at lawyersintheclassroom@courts.wa.gov.



You've connected with a school — nice work. Lock down a few logistics here, and this section will point you toward the right way to plan your visit.


Resources


A five-part agenda for a memorable class period — from your opening minutes to wrap-up and Q&A. Each part breaks out timing, goals, tips, and takeaways, so you can shape the visit to your style and navigate the room with confidence.


Resources


Ready-to-run lessons by grade band — pick one that lands at least two core constitutional ideas. Additional curriculum resources, activities, and video clips are grouped by what you need them to do.


Your visit doesn't end when you walk out of the classroom. Send a quick note to the teacher, connect with us about your experience, and share a post to mark the moment. Your feedback matters.



Resources

All Constitution Day Resources

TITLESECTIONFILE TYPESIZE
Full Lesson Planning Guide―PDF2.8 MB
Your Journey at a GlancePlanPDF184 KB
Before You Start, Quick ChecklistPlanPDF137 KB
Core Constitutional IdeasPlanPDF199 KB
Your Visit at-a-Glance, Navigating the ClassroomVisitPDF2.7 KB
Visit Agenda and TipsVisitPDF205 KB
Sample LessonsVisitPDF205 KB
Sample Lesson: The Constitution Belongs to You!, Grades 3–5ChoosePPT4.4 MB
Sample Lesson: State v. Mary Witch Mock Trial, Grades 3-5ChoosePDF2.8 MB
Lesson Building Toolkit: Elementary (K-5)
ChoosePDF168 KB
Lesson Building Toolkit: Middle School (6-8)ChoosePDF164 KB
Lesson Building Toolkit: High School (9-12)ChoosePDF156 KB
Comprehensive Curriculum LibraryChoosePDF633 KB
Additional ResourcesChoosePDF306 KB
Classroom Presenter Talking PointsChoosePDF177 KB
Classroom Presenter Cheat SheetChoosePDF119 KB
Template: Branded slide deck presentationChoosePPT4.4 MB
Program Support & FeedbackFollow-UpPDF130 KB