Constitution Day Is 17 Days Away: Your Complete Back-to-School Countdown Checklist

Seventeen days. That's how long you have between now and Constitution Day 2026 — September 17 — the first Constitution Day celebrated during America's 250th anniversary year. If you're an 8th-grade civics teacher, this is your moment. Here's exactly what todo between now and then.

WEEK 1 (Now — September 7): Lay the Foundation

• Order your free pocket Constitutions.

If you haven't already, this is your first and most important task. The 917 Society provides free 250th Anniversary Edition pocketConstitutions to 8th-grade classrooms in all 50 states — hand-delivered by a volunteer at no cost to you or your school. Go to 917society.org and request yours now.

• Introduce the Constitution on Day One (or Day Two).

Use the pocket Constitution as your opening tool. Start with a question. Read the Preamble together. Let students flip through it and share what surprises them.

• Preview the essay contest.

The 917 Society 2026 Essay Contest — "What America 250 Means to Me" — has a deadline of October 1. Introduce it this week sostudents have time to think.

WEEK 2 (September 7–14): Build Momentum

• Connect Labor Day to the Constitution.

Labor Day and Constitution Day are just ten days apart. Use Labor Day week to teach the First Amendment through the lens of the labor movement — freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to petition.

• Choose your Constitution Day anchor activity.

Options: Constitutional Debate, Amendment Walk, Preamble Rewrite, or Socratic Seminar: "Is the Constitution still relevant in 2026?"

• Check with your district about Constitution Day requirements.

Under federal law, all schools receiving federal funding are required to provide educational programming on Constitution Day.

CONSTITUTION DAY (September 17): Make It Count

• Hand out pocket Constitutions.

• Read the Preamble out loud together.

• Ask the big question: "What does it mean that this document — written 239 years ago — is still the law of the land today?"

• Remind students about the essay contest — deadline is October 1.