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 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, PDF version here.



PLAN  │  VISIT  │  CHOOSE  │  FOLLOW UP


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.



PLAN


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.


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.


CHOOSE


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.


FOLLOW UP


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