How to Get Free Pocket Constitutions for Your Classroom This Year

As trust in government hits a record low among young Americans, civics teachers across the country are finding new urgency in their mission. Teachers face accusations of bias when covering basic civics concepts, and students struggle with a pervasive sense of hopelessness about the nation's future. Yet educators share a profound conviction—that understanding the Constitution and how government actually works can transform a student's relationship with democracy.

This Constitution Day (September 17), you have an opportunity to put a free pocket constitution directly into your students' hands. Not just as a handout, but as a tangible symbol of their role as future citizens.

Why the Constitution Matters in 8th Grade

The Constitution isn't a relic. It's the operating manual for the country your students will inherit. When 8th graders hold a pocket constitution, they're holding proof that their rights, their voice, and their participation matter. The power of constitutional literacy isn't abstract—it's visceral.

For teachers, the pocket constitution becomes a teaching tool that levels the playing field. Whether you're teaching in a rural Ohio school, an urban classroom, or anywhere in between, every student gets the same document. No editorializing. No 'approved curriculum guide.' Just the words: 'We the People.'

The 917 Society partners with teachers and schools nationwide to put free pocket constitutions into 8th grade classrooms as part of our core mission. We believe constitutional literacy is foundational to civic engagement—and we make it free for the grade that matters most.

How to Request Your Free Pocket Constitutions for Classroom

Requesting a free pocket constitution for your classroom is simple. Visit 917society.org/order-constitutions and submit your classroom order request. Tell us your school name, the number of 8th graders you serve, and your preferred delivery timeline. The 917 Society handles the logistics. You handle the education.

Whether you teach in a public school, private school, or homeschool co-op, the process is the same. We supply the books. You inspire the citizens.

Creating a Constitution Day That Sticks

A single pocket constitution won't change everything—but it's a starting point. Pair it with a day of learning. Have students carry their pocket constitution to a civics lesson. Create a 'Constitution Day pledge' where students promise to read one clause aloud to their families. Host a mock court where students interpret actual constitutional language.

The National Constitution Center and America 250 initiative are highlighting similar efforts this year, recognizing that the country's 250th anniversary is the perfect moment to reignite civic curiosity in young people.

Your Students Need to See the Constitution

Many young Americans feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the country right now. But a civics class that engages students in real civic work gives them tools to process that overwhelm. A free pocket constitution for your classroom becomes part of that toolkit.

It tells your 8th graders: 'You are not too young to understand the rules of this country. You are not too young to be a citizen. You are not too young to matter.'

Getting Started Is Free

The 917 Society was founded on the conviction that constitutional literacy should never be a barrier to entry. That's why we make it free for 8th grade classrooms. No application fees. No shipping costs. No strings attached.

To request your free pocket constitutions, visit 917society.org/order-constitutions or consider supporting our mission with a donation at 917society.org/donate.

This Constitution Day, make the Constitution real for your students. It's free to start. Read it. Know it. Carry it.