The U.S. Constitution and Newspapers

Here are several resources to use in conjunction with Constitution Day (also known as Citizenship Day) on Sept. 17, 2011. These resources can also be used at other times in the year.

Ways to use the newspaper for Constitution Day

Focusing on Strengthening Democracy by the North Carolina Center for Civic Education

The Bill of Rights (five-part series)

The U.S. Constitution in Today's Newspaper (teacher's guide)

Citizens Together (five-part ad series)

Saluting the Constitution (informative ad series with student activities)

Constitution (essays and activities)

Weighing our First Amendment rights (activities from The Newseum)

George Washington visits North Carolina (story and questions)

Stamps offer history lessons. The nine in-paper features suggest ways to include current newspapers, and one asks students to develop a stamp based on a current event or person in the news. Columns by the late Jack Dempsey, written for North Carolina's Outer Banks Sentinel, offers a brief history lesson and a look into the world of stamps. Reprinted with permission. Available at no cost to North Carolina newspapers for publication in print and online and for distribution to teachers through email.

George Washington

The Crossing: While enemy parties, Washington leads triumphant Christmas raid

Your Newspaper, Your Town Hall

Another valuable resource for connecting newspapers with exercises in democracy, this teachers guide focuses on local government. Download the guide.