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.


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.


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.


Resources

Lesson Building Toolkit: Elementary (K–5)

Aug 18, 2026, 14:45 PM by Noel Brady
Download (pdf) 313 KB

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.


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