Constitution Day Lesson Planning Starts Now — Get Free Pocket Constitutions for Your Classroom

It's July 26, 2026. Constitution Day is 74 days away.

That might sound like plenty of time. For most teachers, it is. But if you want to do Constitution Day right — if you want your students to actually read the Constitution instead of watching a video about it — the planning window is closing.

Here's the honest truth: when September 17 rolls around, classrooms across America will scramble. Some teachers will print PDFs. Some will assign readings. Some will skip it entirely because they don't have materials ready.

But the best Constitution Day lessons happen when students hold the Constitution in their hands.

And if that's what you want for your classroom, the time to request free pocket Constitutions is now.

CONSTITUTION DAY: THE DEADLINE NOBODY REMEMBERS UNTIL IT'S HERE

Congress established Constitution Day in 2004. On September 17 every year, all schools that receive federal funding are required to provide some form of civics education to their students. It's a federal mandate — but it's also remarkably flexible about what "civics education" actually means.

Some schools host assemblies. Some show documentaries. Some hand out Constitution Day Fun Facts worksheets.

But the schools that see real learning? The ones where students actually understand what the Constitution says and why it matters? Those are the schools where students hold the document and read it for themselves.

A recent survey by the University of Virginia Center for Politics found that 70% of Americans believe the Founding principles remain relevant today. But too many students graduate without ever reading the document themselves.

That changes when you give a student a pocket Constitution. It becomes real. Tangible. Theirs.

WHY ORDER NOW (NOT IN SEPTEMBER)

Here's what happens at 95% of schools that want to do Constitution Day right:

1. June-July: Quiet planning phase. Teachers think about what they want to teach. (This is where you are right now.) 2. August: Back-to-school crunch. Lesson planning accelerates. Teachers realize they need materials. 3. September 1-10: Material shortage. Orders spike. Shipping delays start. Quantities run low. 4. September 17: Constitution Day happens. Some classrooms have materials. Some don't.

If you order through The 917 Society now (while we're in the quiet planning phase), your Constitutions arrive by mid-August. You have them ready. Your students get the real document on the real day.

Schools that wait until September 1 may not get materials in time for the 17th.

WHAT YOU'LL GET (FREE)

The 917 Society distributes free pocket Constitutions to 8th grade classrooms in all 50 states. Here's what's included:

The full text of the Constitution — not a summary, not an interpretation, but the real document. The Bill of Rights and all 27 Amendments — so students see the whole story. The Declaration of Independence — because both founding documents matter. Durable pocket-size format — fits in a backpack, written in at, dog-eared by October (that's the point). Free shipping directly to your school — we handle everything. No cost. No catch. No strings attached.

Each student gets a copy to take home. Some will carry it for years. Some will lose it. Some will read it and never forget what "We the People" actually says.

All of those outcomes beat having nothing.

HOW TO REQUEST YOUR FREE CONSTITUTIONS

It's simple:

1. Go to 917society.org/order-constitutions 2. Tell us your school, grade level, and how many students you're teaching 3. We'll confirm availability and shipping timeline 4. Your Constitutions arrive by mid-August 5. You're ready for Constitution Day

The entire process takes two minutes.

You don't need approval from a principal. You don't need to fill out grant applications. You don't need to justify the purchase. Just fill out the form, and we'll send them.

Request your free Constitutions here: 917society.org/order-constitutions

MAKE CONSTITUTION DAY THE DAY STUDENTS ACTUALLY HOLD THE CONSTITUTION

Constitution Day can be a checkbox — "We did civics today because the law requires it."

Or it can be the moment a student first reads "We the People" and realizes the Constitution is about them.

That second version only happens if you have materials. Real materials. Not videos. Not worksheets. The actual document.

The 917 Society has been doing this work since 2010. We've distributed millions of free pocket Constitutions to 8th graders in all 50 states. Teachers come back year after year because they see the impact: students who read the Constitution actually understand it.

This Constitution Day, make it count.

Order your free Constitutions now: 917society.org/order-constitutions

Questions? Visit 917society.org

READ IT. KNOW IT. CARRY IT.

The 917 Society is a Nashville-based nonprofit dedicated to putting a free pocket Constitution in the hands of every 8th grader in America. Since 2010, we've distributed millions of Constitutions to classrooms in all 50 states. Learn more at 917society.org.