In 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 brave men who changed the course of history. Today, 230 years later, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) celebrates Constitution Week, continuing the legacy of the Founding Fathers and helping to develop habits of citizenship in a new generation of Americans.
While Constitution Week is an opportunity for focused classroom activities tied to this foundational document, study of the U.S. Constitution and the country’s other key documents is embedded in GCPS’ Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum throughout the year and in all grades.
Our youngest learners (K-2) develop a foundation for civic literacy with a study of democracy and America’s Founding Fathers as well as rules and laws in our world. Students in grades 3-5 learn the role, structure, function, and responsibility of government in our representative democracy. Middle schoolers study the past and how those lessons inform civic action today, from the rise of democratic ideals and how government was shaped throughout the world’s history to the history of our own state and country. In high school, young people explore civil liberties and the common good in a constitutional democracy, connecting the past to the present. Copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are on display in every school and in central office buildings.
Check out these Constitution Week resources:
- Visit the National Constitution Center online and download the Interactive Constitution app for your smartphone).
- Review the Charters of Freedom— America’s Founding Documents— on the National Archives website.
- Learn more about the Founding Fathers and the Constitution and its Amendments with Constitution Day.com.
Find out how the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement educates and equips students to become active and productive citizens.
Social Studies in GCPS
GCPS’ Social Studies program prepares students to participate as constructive citizens in a democratic society. Students understand their role and responsibility as citizens. They discover America’s heritage and its role and responsibility in the world. Students relate the past to the present. They learn the similarities and differences between nations, cultures, and peoples of the world. Students interpret maps and globes, process information, and solve problems. Themes of study include the following: beliefs and ideas influence decisions and laws, and beliefs determine decision-makers; conflict causes change; culture is the product of society; actions affect society; and the movement of ideas and people affects everyone. “Social Studies: What we do for the rest of our lives!”
Learn more about Social Studies in Gwinnett online, and review the Social Studies Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum for grades K-12.