Constitutional Understanding: New Education Materials Provide Activities to Develop Student Understanding of U.S. Constitution

Washington (PRWEB) September 15, 2005

As the people of Iraq wait to read and vote on the newly printed Iraqi Constitution, American educational institutions are looking for ways to commemorate the September 17, 1787 signing of the United States Constitution.

The 2005 school year will mark the first time that all educational institutions receiving federal aid will be required by law to provide programs on the United States Constitution.

National History Day, Inc. has teamed with Newsweek and Oxford University Press to provide teachers with a variety of classroom activities and resources to meet the Constitution Day federal mandate and place our nation’s blueprint in historical context.

The materials are available online by visiting http://www.NHD.org and clicking on “Constitution Day.”

“The United States Constitution reflects our nation’s diversity, our unity, and with 27 amendments it stands as a testament to our continued work of forming ‘a more perfect union’,” said National History Day Executive Director, Cathy Gorn. “I believe that the Constitution Day materials we are providing will encourage students and teachers to engage in a dialogue about what it means to be a citizen.”

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., introduced the federal legislation requiring education and government institutions to commemorate Constitution Day and President Bush signed the bill into law in December of 2004. When Sen. Byrd introduced the legislation, he stated his hopes that the bill will foster a deeper reverence for and a better understanding of the United States Constitution.

218 years after the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting, the United States Constitution stands as the world’s oldest written blueprint for government.

National History Day, Inc. is a yearlong history education organization that is transforming the way history is taught and learned. National History Day help teachers meet educational standards; disseminates high quality curriculum materials; and sponsors challenging contests that teach students critical skills for the 21st century. National History Day improves education EVERY day and is the only history education organization providing information on Constitution Day that will help students to place the U.S. Constitution in historical context.

The Newsweek Education Program is a highly respected producer of educational materials that supports using Newsweek to teach current events in high school and college classrooms. The program aims to engage students with the issues of the day to prepare them for their future as active citizens in our democracy.

Oxford University Press believes strongly that curriculum materials must not simply convey information; they must also involve students in the subject matter so that they become active and eager participants. As the world’s oldest university press, Oxford remains committed to providing students with the highest quality scholarship. Every book in the Oxford School Social Studies Program draws on the expertise not only of the individual scholar-authors, but also a range of other scholars to whom Oxford University Press has unrivaled access. It is our goal to equip all students with the analytical and literary skills that will enable them to succeed in their continuing education and future careers and ultimately to become the informed and involved citizens that a strong democracy requires.

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