Alas, Labor Day weekend has arrived. Finally, a three day weekend to refresh, recharge, and in some cases, catch up on all that has fallen behind since the school year started. A weekend to officially say goodbye to the stress, craze and hopefully hot and humid conditions of August and hello to the comfort of being adjusted to the routine of the school day, starting to know our students beyond their names and hopefully the cooler fall temperatures of September.
September has become quite a patriotic month in the state of Kansas. For starters, there's Labor Day. Since September 5, 1882, the first Monday in September is dedicated to paying tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers. "It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country" (U.S. Department of Labor). It's also apparently become one of the best weekends of the year for bargain shoppers, especially if one is in the market for outdoor furniture or a new mattress. If that's you, check out U.S. News and World Report's Best Labor Day Weekend Sales article.
Not only does the beginning of September honor America, but the middle of September pays tribute to the founding of America's government, particularly the ratification of the Constitution. September 17th is National Constitution Day. A day in which…‘‘[e]ach educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.’’ (Federal Register /Vol. 70, No. 99 /Tuesday, May 24, 2005).
As of May, 2013, In the state of Kansas, Constitution Day is now included as a part of Celebrate Freedom Week, which falls, you guessed it, in the middle of September; officially the full school week in September which contains September 17th or a full week as determined by the board of education of one's school district. All public schools in the state of Kansas are required to teach K-8th grade students the history of the founding of the United States. The law reads, “as part of the curriculum for grades kindergarten through eight on history and government concerning the original intent, meaning and importance of the declaration of independence and the United States constitution, including the bill of rights of the United States constitution, in their historical contexts. The religious references in the writings of the founding fathers shall not be censored when presented as part of such instruction. Such rules and regulations shall provide that the study of the declaration of independence include the study of the relationship of the ideas expressed in that document to subsequent American history, including the relationship of such ideas to the rich diversity of our people as a nation of immigrants, the American revolution, the formulation of the United States constitution and the abolitionist movement, which led to the emancipation proclamation and the women’s suffrage movement. Such instruction shall be taught during ‘‘celebrate freedom week,’’ established
under section 1, and amendments thereto, or during such other full school week as determined by the board of education of the school district" (HB 2261).
To assist in planning your Celebrate Freedom Week and Constitution Day lessons and activities, check out the compilations of resources listed below. Goodbye August and hello September! Have a great Laobr
Celebrate Freedom Week - K-8
Constitution Day - 9-12
September has become quite a patriotic month in the state of Kansas. For starters, there's Labor Day. Since September 5, 1882, the first Monday in September is dedicated to paying tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers. "It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country" (U.S. Department of Labor). It's also apparently become one of the best weekends of the year for bargain shoppers, especially if one is in the market for outdoor furniture or a new mattress. If that's you, check out U.S. News and World Report's Best Labor Day Weekend Sales article.
Not only does the beginning of September honor America, but the middle of September pays tribute to the founding of America's government, particularly the ratification of the Constitution. September 17th is National Constitution Day. A day in which…‘‘[e]ach educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.’’ (Federal Register /Vol. 70, No. 99 /Tuesday, May 24, 2005).
As of May, 2013, In the state of Kansas, Constitution Day is now included as a part of Celebrate Freedom Week, which falls, you guessed it, in the middle of September; officially the full school week in September which contains September 17th or a full week as determined by the board of education of one's school district. All public schools in the state of Kansas are required to teach K-8th grade students the history of the founding of the United States. The law reads, “as part of the curriculum for grades kindergarten through eight on history and government concerning the original intent, meaning and importance of the declaration of independence and the United States constitution, including the bill of rights of the United States constitution, in their historical contexts. The religious references in the writings of the founding fathers shall not be censored when presented as part of such instruction. Such rules and regulations shall provide that the study of the declaration of independence include the study of the relationship of the ideas expressed in that document to subsequent American history, including the relationship of such ideas to the rich diversity of our people as a nation of immigrants, the American revolution, the formulation of the United States constitution and the abolitionist movement, which led to the emancipation proclamation and the women’s suffrage movement. Such instruction shall be taught during ‘‘celebrate freedom week,’’ established
under section 1, and amendments thereto, or during such other full school week as determined by the board of education of the school district" (HB 2261).
To assist in planning your Celebrate Freedom Week and Constitution Day lessons and activities, check out the compilations of resources listed below. Goodbye August and hello September! Have a great Laobr
Celebrate Freedom Week - K-8
Constitution Day - 9-12