Bring the fun and excitement of a field trip right to your classroom. Students can tune in to our live (and lively) virtual tours and civic stories, joining our museum educators as we explore popular topics form Constitution History.
Scholar Talk: The Constitutional Convention Featuring Dr. Stuart Leibiger
Sunday, September 17 | 12 p.m. ET
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Join professor Stuart Leibiger for fun facts about the Constitutional Convention, followed by a discussion about prominent Convention delegates and the conflicts and compromises that led to the framing of the U.S. Constitution during the summer of 1787. Stuart Leibiger is a professor and chair of the History Department at La Salle University and the author of Founding Friendship: George Washington, James Madison, and the Creation of the American Republic.
Virtual Preamble Reading
Monday, September 18 | 8:30 a.m. ET
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Happy Constitution Day! Join the staff of the Constitution Center, live from iconic spots inside the museum, as we read the Preamble to the Constitution and explore the core principles at the heart of our democracy.
Watch Live: Constitution Day Naturalization Ceremony
Monday, September 18 | 9:30 a.m. ET
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Every September we celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, a holiday meant to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens. In recognition of this special observance the National Constitution Center hosts an annual Naturalization Ceremony as part of our Constitution Day celebrations, during which 50 immigrants from across the globe will take the Oath of Allegiance to officially become citizens of the United States. The Honorable John R. Padova, senior judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will preside over the ceremony. National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen will offer remarks.
Watch Live: Judges on Judging Program
Monday, September 18 | 11 a.m. ET
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Judges Marjorie Rendell, Cheryl Ann Krause, and Stephanos Bibas, judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, join the National Constitution Center’s Constitution Day celebrations to discuss how judges approach cases, reviewing the seven different methodologies of constitutional interpretation, using historic cases involving the First Amendment as examples. The judges will also explain how the federal courts of appeal work and their role in the federal court system. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Watch Live: Kids Town Hall: The Constitution and the First Amendment
Monday, September 18, | 11:30 a.m. ET
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The Constitution may have been written in 1787 by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, but it has also been impacted by many people and events over the last 236 years. One of our best tools to facilitate change is through the First Amendment. During this special program, visitors will have the opportunity to “meet” famous figures who used the First Amendment to ensure “We, the People” includes all the people.
Historic figures will be portrayed by Reenactors
Watch Live: Student Town Hall with Simon Tam
Monday, September 18, | 12 p.m. ET
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Students will join a discussion with musician Simon Tam, who, along with his bandmate, was originally denied a trademark for his band’s name. The trademark office determined that the band’s name, The Slants, contained a racial slur. The band appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and won. Tam’s story is highlighted in the Center’s new exhibit, The First Amendment.
Virtual Student Town Hall with Mary Beth Tinker
Monday, September 18 | 1 p.m. ET
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Students will join a discussion with Mary Beth Tinker. In 1969, at the age of 13-years-old, Tinker wore a black armband to school to protest the Vietnam War. A few other students, including her brother, joined her. The students were suspended for their actions; however, they believed their protest was a form of free speech. They took their case at the Supreme Court—and won. Tinker's story is highlighted in the Center’s new exhibit, The First Amendment.
Virtual Scholar Exchange: The Constitutional Convention
Monday, September 18 | 2 p.m. ET
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A group of notable Center scholars including William Allen, Colleen Sheehan, and Jonathan Gienapp join National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion of the issues and events in early America that led to the Constitutional Convention. They’ll explore the major debates at the Convention and how those discussions shaped the future of the United States. Panelists will also discuss their careers as writers and historians, as well as answer questions from participants.
Virtual First Amendment Reading
Monday, September 18 | 3:30 p.m. ET
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Happy Constitution Day! We’ll wrap up the day with a reading of the First Amendment to the Constitution, live from museum.
Live from the Museum: Signers’ Hall
Tuesday, September 19 | Noon ET
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Virtual audiences can join a National Constitution Center museum educator for a tour of Signers’ Hall, the iconic exhibit featuring life-size statues of the 42 men who gathered in Philadelphia for the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. We’ll guide you through that historic year as we explore the events that led up to the Constitutional Convention, the debates between the delegates, and the compromises that led to the Constitution that was signed on September 17. Our educator will also spotlight some of the famous figures in Signers’ Hall, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and others, sharing facts about the men themselves and behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of this one-of-a-kind exhibit.
Civic Story: Battles of the Branches
Wednesday, September 20 | Noon ET
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Experience a crash course on the U.S. government! Students learn the importance of checks and balances and the responsibilities of each branch of government, then assume the powers of the presidency, Congress, and the judiciary, and work together to pass a law!
Civic Story: Constitution Trivia
Thursday, September 21 | Noon ET
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Students are invited to test their constitutional knowledge during our interactive game of Constitution trivia! We’ll take a look at the Constitutional Convention, famous figures, and the amendments.
Live from the Museum: The First Amendment
Friday, September 22 | Noon ET
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Students can join a museum educator for a virtual tour of the National Constitution Center’s newest gallery, The First Amendment. Protecting some of our most cherished freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to p
etition—the First Amendment is a pillar of democracy and the American way of life. The gallery offers a fresh perspective on the history of the First Amendment and how it affects us today.
Live from the Museum: Signers’ Hall
Tuesday, September 26 | Noon ET
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Virtual audiences join a National Constitution Center museum educator for a tour of Signers’ Hall, the iconic exhibit featuring life-size statues of the 42 men who gathered in Philadelphia for the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. We’ll guide you through that historic year as we explore the events that led up to the Constitutional Convention, the debates between the delegates, and the compromises that led to the Constitution that was signed on September 17. Our educator will also spotlight some of the famous figures in Signers’ Hall, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and others, sharing facts about the men themselves and behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of this one-of-a-kind exhibit.
Civic Story: What’s Your 28th Amendment?
Friday, September 29 | Noon ET
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It’s been over 30 years since the last amendment to the Constitution was added—the 27th Amendment, which limits when changes to congressional compensation can take effect. Students can join us for a quick overview of the 27 Amendments before sharing their own ideas for amendments. What do you think the 28th Amendment will be?
Learn about the text, history, and meaning of the U.S. Constitution from leading scholars of diverse legal and philosophical perspectives.
