I want to teach my kids US history, government, citizenship.
I don’t want the US government curriculum to be nationalist, fundamentalist, or evangelical.
I’m not sure when many Americans began equating white Republican Jesus with the white male president, right wing government officials, and media, with removing or reducing social programs, but that’s not my religion.
I want unbiased materials and we’re leaning more and more towards secular curriculum to get the true picture of history.
On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the most influential document in American history, the United States Constitution.
As we approach Constitution Week, September 17-23, here are some fun educational materials available at no cost to homeschoolers.
A More or Less Perfect Union is a three-part PBS series hosted by Senior Federal Appeals DC Circuit Court Judge Douglas Ginsburg. The series features 17 Constitutional experts weighing in on hot button topics around the document that governs those who govern us. It aired earlier this year and is schedule to re-air on public television on Sept. 13 at 9 p.m. ET. It is also available on Amazon Prime and PBS.org, if you are a member. It can be watched for free now. It is best suited for high school level students.
Imagine having a discussion with George Washington and Ben Franklin today. Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg sat down with each historic figure to discuss the Constitution, what succeeded and what failed, slavery, education, and even air conditioning and deodorant! Meet the Framers are fascinating, educational and entertaining conversations that shouldn’t be missed.
Judge Ginsburg worked with izzit.org, an online teacher resource, to develop civics educational materials to teach about the Constitution. The materials include a week-long course on The U.S. Constitution & Black History, a 16-minute teaching unit, Becoming Equal Under the Law, and a number of Teachable Moments (short video clips designed to encourage discussions).
For younger students, the Pups of Liberty series (The Boston T-Bone Party and The Dog-claration of Independence) are delightful.
A new teaching unit on the First Amendment is recently released.
This is all available to educators at no cost!
Constitution and Government Resources
- Zinn Education Project
- Bookshark Constitution unit study (must input an email address to receive)
- Sonlight Election Day Unit Study (must input an email address to receive)
- Election Unit Study from My Little Poppies
- US Constitution Unit Study from The Homeschool Mom
- Constitution Unit Study from HEAV
- Constitution Lesson Plan from Homeschool Lessons
- Constitution Day Unit from DIY Homeschooler
- Constitution Week Lessons from Homeschool.com
- Constitution Copywork and Printable Activities from Homeschool Creations
- Preamble to the Constitution Copywork from Cynce’s Place
- Preamble to the Constitution File Folder Game from The Wise Nest
- US Constitution Lapbook from Homeschool Helper
- Constitution Writing Activities from In All You Do
- US Constitution Lesson Plans from The Clever Teacher
- Celebrating the Constitution from Hip Homeschool Moms
- ConstitutionFacts.com
- iCivics
- US Government Unit Study from Our Journey Westward
- Unit Study: American Government & Elections from Home Schoolroom
- United States resources from The Homeschool Den
- My 4th of July unit
- My Revolutionary War unit
- Liberty’s Kids
- Schoolhouse Rock!
- Schoolhouse Rock!: Election Collection
- This is America, Charlie Brown
- Animaniacs: Season 3, Episode 75 (The Presidents Song)
- Elmo the Musical: First Monster President
Favorite US History Books
- A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
- A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki
- An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz
- A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross
- An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
- A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nielsen
- A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski
- Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen
- A History of US: Eleven-Volume Set by Joy Hakim
- Life: Our Century In Pictures by Richard B. Stolley
- The Century for Young People by Peter Jennings
Should we revise or rewrite our constitution to better suit our society?
Thanks for the great resources! I teach high school history and government to Native American students and have never used a traditional textbook.
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Thanks for this list. Many people on social media are quoting the Constitution, but don’t seem to have read it. I think adults need this list as much as kids and teens.
Thanks for this great list of resources on the Constitution and government. As a homeschooling mom, I’m always looking for free unit studies or ideas to help me put together my own unit studies.
Thanks for linking up with us on the Homestead Blog Hop!
-Cherelle