I can not believe I am about to write these words, but September is here. I grew up in the Northeast, so September always feels like it should be the end to summer and a gateway to fall, my favorite time of year. One magical day you open your eyes and realize that a pumpkin spiced life, leaf-peeping, and apple cider donuts are all back, it’s magical, to say the least. With fall comes the return of students to campus, a new FAFSA, reporting deadlines, and who could forget Constitution Day? If most of you are like me, Constitution Day in the past has been a passing thought where a blown-up poster board copy of the Constitution was pulled out of the deepest darkest part of your storage closet and put on an easel to recognize Constitution Day, September 17. It allowed me to check the necessary box and ensure, as an institution of higher education we met the requirement to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution on September 17 of each year.
Well, as with everything else, this year things will be different. As we have all learned, holding any education program is not as easy as it used to be. With this in mind, here are some ideas on what you can do to celebrate at your school:
Livestream It:
And no, I am not just suggesting that you move a reading of the Constitution to Zoom. Instead, I recommend using YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram to livestream a reading of the constitution. Livestream on your most popular channel and extra points if the reader is in a period-appropriate costume.
Trivia Time:
Host a trivia contest about the Constitution and its contents. You could have prizes for top performers to encourage student involvement. There are plenty of free platforms for those who are still remote where this can be accomplished like Kahoot. Or you could take to Twitter or Instagram. If you need help coming up with trivia questions, check out these facts about the Constitution.
Scavenger Hunt:
Constitution scavenger hunt, but make it #instahunt. What is an InstaHunt? It is a mobile photography based scavenger hunt. So many options here, but putting together a scavenger hunt where students participate on their preferred platform — Instagram — would be a great way to get them involved. Start the day by giving your followers a list of clues or challenges that they need to find and snap a picture of to enter the hunt. Make sure to ask your students to tag you, so you can re-share and add #ConstitutionDay to celebrate the day. Want to learn more, check what ChicagoParent did this summer.
TikTok:
Okay hear me out — your school may not be on TikTok, but your students most certainly are used to creating and watching TikTok videos. Encourage them to create a video on their favorite video creation platform to share with you. Offer ideas for content and simple guidelines to participate. Any video submissions you receive can be shared on your social media platforms or stitched together for a fun, celebratory video.
Have a better idea?
I would love to hear and see what you will do to celebrate and do so much more than just check the box this year.
