Glance through the material on the Constitution Day and National History Day sites (www.constitutionday.com, www.nationalhistoryday.org) and think about how events like Constitution Day and National History Day might enrich the curriculum and stimulate increased student interest in history and government. What kind of activities would you be most likely to use for a Constitution Day celebration? What would be the advantages/disadvantages of having your students prepare History Day projects?
It is hit and miss, but you are right: the Constitution doesn't get taught as thoroughly as it once was. Part of the problem is the division of U.S. history typical now in most districts. High schools focus only on the the 1877-on period, so the Constitution is included only in government class, not so much in the high-school level U.S. history class.
ReplyDeleteThe National History Day website was way better than the Constitution Day website, which I found odd considering NHD was a .org ran by a not-for-profit and the Constitution Day website was a private .com. I liked the classroom connection area on NHD; it gave great ideas for the classroom. The project sounds like a large undertaking, but on a secondary school level, and a yearlong project, it would be doable. It sounds like something I would have been interested in during high school. The drawback would be how long it takes and keeping the students interested.
ReplyDeleteMy Constitution Day project would be to turn my students into the founding fathers and have them debate ratification of the “New Cafeteria Rules.” They could debate who has veto power over the menu, who has the power to raise revenue…I think it could work. Give them each 2 minutes at a podium to convince their fellow delegated.
Regardless of the websites content, the spirit of these “holidays” raises awareness, gives talking points, and they makes history a current event which is always good. I see these days as something I could really rally around, highlighting them and their historical significance might inspire the next generation of historians.
Well, the History Day idea doesn't mean one focuses on history only that day: quite the reverse. Students may focus for weeks on their project. It's only the competition part that merits the history "day" idea.
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