Arizona 250 Tool Kit
Celebrate the US Semiquincentennial through an AZ lens!
Arizona America250 Commission
The Arizona America250 commission is established to plan, develop, encourage and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of the citizens of this state on the nation's past, present and future.
Learn more here: https://azsos.gov/az250
For more information about all of the Arizona America250 events and how you can get involved, please contact America250AZ@azsos.gov
Also, learn about our Vote250 Voter Registration Program
ADE and Arizona America250
ADE is working closely with members of the commission, civics organizations, and national groups to provide resources and opportunities for in and out of the classroom. We this creates a one-stop-shop for all things Arizona America250! Our story is very different than that of the east coast states that were the colonies but it is just as important to the past 250 and to the 250 years to come.
Click on the image to the left or the link below to check out our community guide that was created summer of 2025.
Events for America250 and Civics
Teaching American History' Fall Online Seminar Series
Register Now!
Reading packets will be emailed to all registrants 1 week prior to the event.
Norms, Not Just Laws: The Unwritten Rules of Constitutional Government (Center for Civic Education)
SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
3:45 PM AZ/ 6:45 PM ET
Teaching250: Bringing America’s Founding to Life in the Classroom (Center for Civic Education)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
3:00 PM AZ/6:00 PM ET
Founding Principles in Modern Debate (Center for Civic Education)
November 5, 2026
5:00 PM AZ/7:00 PM ET
Examine how ideas about natural rights, liberty, consent, representation, and the role of government continue to shape contemporary constitutional debates. Participants will receive practical strategies for connecting foundational ideas with questions students encounter today.
Civic Parenting: A Special 10-Episode Podcast Series (National Constitution Center)
What does it mean to raise citizens in a constitutional democracy?
Join Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, Lindsey Cormack, author of How to Raise a Citizen, and Sarah Vacchiano of CivicEQ to explore how citizenship begins at home.
We often think of civic learning as a classroom activity, but we know that for the educators in our community, the role of “teacher” and “parent” often go hand-in-hand. We’ve designed this series to support you in both roles.
This 10-episode series explores how civic habits take shape in real life. From family routines to community experiences, Civic Parenting offers practical strategies for connecting everyday moments to our nation’s founding principles. It is a vital resource for anyone—educator, parent, or caregiver—dedicated to raising the next generation of informed citizens.
New episodes of Civic Parenting will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts. Episode 1 is available to stream now.
National Programs, Contests, Fellowships
Civics Stories from the National Constitution Center
FREE VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS!
The National Constitution Center’s free Civic Stories program is geared toward elementary and middle school students from across the country the opportunity to engage with the past through artifacts and the stories they tell. In this setting, students develop a deeper understanding of history and consider the ways in which artifacts humanize history through the individuals, communities, and cultures they represent. Through this practice, students begin to identify where they see themselves, their communities, and their surroundings in the broader scope of American history.
Civic Stories are free, 30-minute virtual learning experiences designed for learners in third through eighth grade. Sessions are facilitated by members of the Center’s Education team and are scheduled at times that work for teachers and their students. Whenever possible, classes are scheduled with other grade-level-appropriate groups from across the country to give students opportunities to engage with peers from diverse communities, perspectives, and backgrounds.
Arizona Specific Events, Contests, and Resources
Civics Matters Arizona
A civic engagement experience in partnership with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Cardinals.
Civics Matters Arizona is a year-round civic education initiative that helps students build civic understanding, leadership skills, and real-world experience through learning and action.
Get started by registering as a school or individual student and gaining access to the Civics Matters Learning Hub, where interactive modules guide participants through civic learning and unlock opportunities to engage in events, challenges, and leadership experiences.
Civics in a Year Podcast
Civics in a Year is a fast-paced podcast series that delivers essential civic knowledge in just 10 minutes per episode. To celebrate America 250, we’ll explore 250 key questions, from the founding documents and branches of government to civil liberties, elections, and public participation.
Rooted in the Civic Literacy Curriculum from the Center for American Civics at Arizona State University, this series is a collaborative project supported by the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Each episode is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen constitutional understanding, and encourage active citizenship.
Whether you're a student, educator, or lifelong learner, Civics in a Year will guide you through the building blocks of American democracy, one question at a time.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
Or visit Civics in a Year
Passport250: Celebrate and Explore Pass
Explore the Grand Canyon State your way with our Visit Arizona Passport!
America250 AZ: Celebrate & Explore Pass
Rock the Mother Road, discover over 50 Arizona Park locations, find family-friendly attractions or explore the supernatural side of Arizona. Sign up below for instant access to each passport on your mobile device.
How it Works:
1. Sign Up: The mobile passports are curated attractions, retailers, restaurants, activities and more.
2. Access Pass: Your passport is delivered to your phone via text and email, ready to use immediately, with no apps required. Download the Visit Arizona app for a more convenient experience!
3. Check-In and Redeem: At a participating location, check in and show your phone to redeem offers.
Help us showcase the places that make Arizona unforgettable. Nominate iconic landmarks, hidden gems, favorite eateries, historic places, or must-see events that reflect the spirit, landscape, and people of Arizona. The submission form is open now at https://azsos.gov/passport250.
General Teaching Resources for America250, Civics, and the American Revolution
America 250: Holocaust Survivors Share What America Means to Them
Emotional Arrivals. Feeling at Home. Attending School.
In a new video series, Holocaust survivors reflect on what it was like to arrive in the United States after surviving the Holocaust. Watch as they share their deep appreciation for America’s freedoms.
Civics Inquiry Lesson Plans (Center for Civics Education)
Our Civics Inquiry series features ready-to-use, high-quality lessons rooted in the inquiry-based curriculum model. Inquiry is a learning process that engages students by making real-world connections through discovery, exploration, and high-level questioning. Inquiry encourages students to engage in problem-solving and experiential learning.
Our Civics Inquiry Lessons follow a 5E model as educators facilitate student-centered learning through activities that ask the young scholars to engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. Each lesson aligns with our We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum, the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies, and the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap.
At the heart of the Center’s inquiry approach is the recognition that inquiry is the primary mode of instruction in the civic education classroom and drives the most equitable practices. Civic education is not confined to the pages of a curriculum. It unfolds in dynamic spaces where students drive the questions. They investigate constitutional history, experience democratic principles firsthand, and engage in civil dialogue. They channel their new knowledge, skills, and dispositions toward informed engagement with the world around them.
America250 with C-SPAN
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, C-SPAN is proud to announce the launch of America 250: Exploring the American Story — an expansive, 18-month initiative commemorating this historic milestone.
C-SPAN’s America 250 coverage will run through the semiquincentennial year, delivering the most comprehensive and wide-ranging programming of any television network in marking this historic milestone. Through in-depth historical context, expert commentary and immersive storytelling, C-SPAN will bring viewers closer to the American story — past and present. Coverage will spotlight foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris and the Constitution; travel to key Revolutionary War-era sites; and feature vivid reenactments, panel discussions and educational segments.
America at 250 Toolkit from National Constitution Center
An essential guide for learners of all ages to engage with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and America’s founding principles. America at 250 Toolkit will offer a trusted, non-partisan framework—rooted in primary sources—to frame conversations at this crucial moment in America history.
America at 250 Toolkit explores key constitutional ideas and principles through a NEW Interactive Declaration of Independence, a complement to the Center’s highly acclaimed Interactive Constitution. The Interactive Declaration includes:
- Full text, annotated by legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar
- An audio version of the text
- Digitized images of the original document
- Professionally produced animated videos
- Essays from leading scholars and historians
- 89 biographies, written by historian Carol Berkin, of key members of the founding generation who signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
America at 250 Toolkit will be made available to schools, bookstores and libraries, civic organizations, national parks, museums, historic sites, and homes across America.
For more information, contact:
Julie Silverbrook | Vice President of Civic Education | JSilverbrook@constitutioncenter.org
Abby Nugent | Deputy Director of National Programs & Partnerships | ANugent@constitutioncenter.org
America's Field Trip Teacher Resource Material
America’s Field Trip takes learning beyond the classroom, giving students the chance to experience firsthand the places that have shaped our nation and build a deeper connection with America’s history and culture.
Below, educators will find standards-aligned lesson plans and ready-to-use classroom activities powered by Discovery Education’s award-winning platform. These resources provide instructional inspiration and are designed with multiple levels of inquiry and discovery — making them engaging for students and easy to integrate into the lesson cycle.
Teachers can find a video, companion guide, and classroom activities to help at every grade level connect the contest prompt, “What does America mean to you,” with standards frameworks while inspiring students to think deeply and creatively as they develop their contest submissions.
The American Revolution | A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, & David Schmidt
This twelve-hour series examines how thirteen colonies on the Atlantic Coast united in rebellion, won their independence, and established a republic that still endures. The film follows dozens of figures from a wide variety of backgrounds, drawing on thousands of images, maps, archival documents, as well as interviews with leading scholars of the Revolutionary era. It offers an expansive, evenhanded look at the virtues and the contradictions in the fight for independence and the birth of the United States.
Teacher and Classroom Resources:
Media Gallery (25), Video (3), Interactive (3) for Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Contact AZ PBS to learn more about this great digital library of FREE resources for PreK-12:
lisa.sepulveda@asu.edu
Civil Discourse: An American Legacy Toolkit (Center from Civic Education)
Since its founding, our republic has relied on civil discourse to further the goals of democracy and reinforce the principles enshrined in the Constitution. More than just a right, it is every generation citizens’ responsibility to strive for a “more perfect union” by engaging with differing perspectives, democratic values, and our shared history.
This website includes answers to big questions like what civil discourse is and what is the toolkit, modules on topics like principles of the Constitution, plus guidance on how to effectively use the toolkit in the classroom.
The Constitution EXPLAINED (Center for Civic Education)
Welcome to "The Constitution EXPLAINED"! This series of 35 videos was created by the Center for Civic Education in partnership with iCivics and constitutional scholar Linda R. Monk, JD, to explain key aspects of the U.S. Constitution in everyday language and make our nation's founding document accessible to everyone. Select a topic from the dropdown menu below or simply scroll down and explore!
You can also view our virtual launch event featuring constitutional scholar Linda R. Monk, Julie Silverbrook of iCivics, Christopher R. Riano of the Center for Civic Education, and moderator and award-winning civics teacher Shelina Warren.
"The Constitution EXPLAINED" was made possible by the generous support of Kenneth C. Griffin.
250th Anniversary of American Independence (National Park Service)
As the proud steward of America’s most sacred historical places, the National Park Service joins the nation in celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. From Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty to Revolutionary War battlefields, memorials to our nation’s founders, and places associated with hundreds of years of American history, national parks across the country will serve the American people through our mission to provide opportunities for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. Join us as we celebrate and commemorate the Declaration of Independence on its 250th anniversary.
Website includes Get Involved | Feature Events | Leaving a Legacy | Community Preservation Grants
Our Shared Future: 250 (Smithsonian)
In 2026, the United States of America turns 250 years old. We are tasked with not only celebrating this historic event but also making it a time of reflection. It reminds us of the ideals the nation was founded on, and how we might help the country live up to them. The Smithsonian will celebrate the nation’s successes, contemplate the consequences of our history, commemorate the sacrifices of those who have worked to uphold the nation’s ideals, and ask Americans to commit to advancing our democracy and preserving our shared future.
The Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 thanks Signature Supporter Lilly Endowment Inc., with additional support from Target. Learn more about additional opportunities for support through The Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future.
America250 Sons of the American Revolution
Welcome to the Resource Library of America250SAR.ORG , an important site that helps the Sons of the American Revolution brand their patriot organization while promoting many elements of the American Revolution, beginning with the Stamp Act through the Treaty of Paris. We manage a variety of projects that include programs and educational presentations and resources that SAR members and educators can download and use.
The Declaration's Journey (Museum of the American Revolution)
The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government.
Educating for American Democracy Educator Resources
Excellence in History and Civics for All Learners
A call to action to invest in strengthening history and civic learning, and to ensure that civic learning opportunities are delivered equitably throughout the country.
The American Revolution Experience
How were the lives of ordinary people affected by the events of the American Revolutionary War? As tensions mounted across the Thirteen Colonies, the entire Revolutionary Generation was faced with a difficult choice: to pledge loyalty to the Patriot cause and the prospect of a new nation, or remain loyal to the King as subjects of the British Empire. How would you choose?
Use this interactive map to learn more about the ordinary people of the American Revolution.
Revolutionary War (American Battlefield Trust)
The Revolutionary War was a war unlike any other — one of ideas and ideals, that shaped “the course of human events.” With 165 principal engagements from 1775-1783, the Revolutionary War was the catalyst for American independence. Our inalienable rights, as laid out in the Declaration of Independence, were secured by George Washington and his army at the Siege of Boston, the American victory at Princeton and the stunning British surrender at Yorktown. Explore the battlefields and personalities from this pivotal time in American history.
The American Revolution: Nine Views (Ithaca College)
Students analyze conflicting interpretations of the American Revolution for messages about how identity and historical context shape interpretations of events.
Middle and High School Level with Supplemental Materials
From Subjects to Citizens (Lou Frey Institute/Florida Citizen)
Through the creation of birthday-themed lessons, proven pedagogies will be employed for students to analyze primary and secondary sources. To assist teachers in augmenting instruction around designated monthly observances celebrating the contributions of various generations, these themed lessons target the necessary skills (such as contextualization, comparison, evaluation, and analysis) students need to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities associated with the Declaration of Independence.
There will also be monthly professional learning webinars for educators to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives below. Webinar links are available at the bottom of the page.
Teaching and Learning Resources on Civics and U.S. History
From the United States Capitol Historical Society
Find teaching and learning resources, educational videos, educator forum, and tools for educators.
MyCivicsLife Civics Education Platform
MyCivicsLife – Civics Education for Digital Citizens
Looking for a new way to engage students in civics education?
MyCivicsLife is a free, educational social media tool that prepares middle-level students to be responsible citizens in the digital age -- in a safe and engaging practice space!
National Mall Gateway: America's 250th Tour
Trace the nation’s journey from revolution to today—discover the bold visionaries who shaped its founding, and explore landmarks created in 1970s to honor the Bicentennial. This Semiquincentennial, celebrate 250 years of stories, struggles, and triumphs that continue to define the American spirit.
Take a virtual stroll through the America's 250th Tour!
Educational materials and reflection questions included.
What the Founders Meant by Happiness: A Journey Through Virtue and Character (ASU + National Constitution Center)
This course provides learners of all ages with a deeper understanding of what the Founders meant by happiness and why they considered it essential to both personal fulfillment and self-government. Drawing on the lives and writings of the Founders and their successors, classical Greek and Roman philosophy, and Enlightenment thought, learners will explore how happiness was understood as the pursuit of virtue, character, and self-mastery rather than pleasure or comfort.
Through close engagement with primary source texts, letters, speeches, and philosophical works, participants will examine how key figures of American history, such as Benjamin Franklin, John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, and Abraham Lincoln grappled with the virtues—and vices—that shaped their private lives and public actions. Learners will also develop the skills to think historically and philosophically, analyzing how ideas about virtue, reason, and moral responsibility informed the American experiment in self-government.
Each module includes primary source readings, interpretive essays, and guided reflection activities designed to connect historical ideas to contemporary questions about citizenship, character, and the common good. This course is entirely self-paced, allowing learners to progress on their own schedule.
C-SPAN America 250 Timeline Poster
C-SPAN is excited to announce that we have updated and revamped our famous American Presidents Timeline Poster!
Our new America 250 Timeline Poster still includes all of your favorites - the lives and public service careers of every U.S. president and key historical events, Supreme Court cases, Constitutional Amendments, and technology milestones throughout history - but now also features a special section on America250 and the country’s founding!
The 4.5’ poster is FREE of charge (*limit one poster per person, and only available to members residing in the U.S. and territories). Please note: each poster request is granted one (1) poster. If you need additional posters for your colleagues, please encourage each colleague to submit his/her own poster request.
REQUEST YOUR FREE POSTER TODAY: Request Form
Please allow up to 4-6 weeks for delivery.
Teach the 250: Engage Students in Our Shared Story (TCI)
As the nation observes 250 years, TCI is here to help educators bring history alive in meaningful ways. Explore lessons, activities, and resources that build civic understanding.
Free Mini Lessons & Resources
Access ready-to-teach lessons that explore the nation’s founding documents, pivotal moments in U.S. history, and citizens’ role in government.
Learn more: https://www.teachtci.com/america-teach-250/
Collecting250 from the Decorative Arts Trust
The Decorative Arts Trust is thrilled to offer four complimentary educator guides featuring lesson plans related to our Collecting250 resource. In commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial, this free website features 250 objects representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each guide features a one-pager, worksheet, information on common core and other standards, and ideas for lesson extensions. These guides were created for educators who teach history or art to middle and high school students, but we welcome all teachers, program leaders, and family members to consider utilizing these educational activities. Explore below ad feel free to contact us with questions or examples of how you used Collecting250 in your classroom.
Collecting250 Educator's Guides
The Functions of Objects: An American Collection
Collecting: Uncovering America through its Objects
In Pursuit: Lessons from the American Experiment
In Pursuit is a new initiative of More Perfect and led by the country’s most insightful and respected students of history, to review America’s first 250 years and distill its most timeless lessons to inspire and inform our future.
The United States is a living, evolving experiment in democracy. Its story is never static; each generation reinterprets the nation’s founding ideals in the context of new challenges. By “debriefing” America for its 250th anniversary, we gain the tools to strengthen our institutions, renew civic trust, and ensure that the nation’s next chapter reflects the best of its enduring principles. Throughout 2026, we will surface these lessons week by week following the American story chronologically.
America250 Resources from C-SPAN
America250 - Resources Celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial
Bell Ringers
Video Clips
Lesson Plans
Divided into categories relating to America250!
250 & Beyond from National Museum and Center for Service and Independent Sector
Celebrating 250 years of service & beyond
The spirit of service has always been fundamental to our national character and essential to our democracy. In 2026, America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, providing an ideal opportunity to celebrate the American spirit of service — a spirit so powerfully expressed in the closing words of the Declaration of Independence itself.
250 & Beyond is a national initiative, led by a coalition of leading service organizations, to create inspiring, inclusive, and enduring exhibitions to honor service in ALL its forms in communities, schools, libraries, and museums all across the country. It is a call to action, honoring our past, celebrating our present and inspiring our future, helping us respect our differences and transcend our divisions. If our nation is to last another 250 years, we must renew and sustain the American spirit of service among all our people and institutions. Your organization, school, community or you as an individual can be part of this. Sign up to learn how.
Create a local museum of service
Share a story of what the culture of service looks like in your community
WETA/The American revolution Spirit of Service Toolkit
We have partnered with WETA to support the national release of PBS’ The American Revolution. The online resource center includes discussion guides and community engagement activities exploring the ethos of service in our nation’s founding and democracy.
Sphere Education Initiatives America's 250th - Resources and Lessons
Through our 250th collection, Sphere, in collaboration with ProHuman Foundation is excited to offer Women in the American Revolution—a new unit focusing on the stories of five women who, through courage, grit, humanity, curiosity, and compassion, shaped the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Each lesson is interdisciplinary and engages students in learning activities that foster viewpoint diversity and civil discourse while developing key skills in literacy. These ready-made resources encourage students to not only learn about the capacity for strong character in others, but to take opportunities to cultivate these traits in themselves.
Looking to continue exploring America's 250th with your students? Begin with these ideas from Sphere Education:
• Co-create discussion norms with our Class Norms Template and Sentence Frames for students to have on hand during discussion.
• Share your class norms, along with the 250th topics you will be covering, with parents and guardians to build a strong home-to-school connection using our Parent Letter Template.
• Use our detailed explainer, The Principles and Argument of the American Founding, to explore the core principles of the Declaration of Independence with students to build foundational knowledge.
• Build historical background knowledge and break down language barriers with Teaching the Declaration of Independence by engaging students in guided activities that help them examine and reinterpret this important primary document.
Build off these foundational lessons and dive more deeply into the American Founding by accessing Sphere's new resources!
FREE Harvard Course: US Constitution
As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, it’s the right moment to heighten your understanding of the Constitution. Harvard is offering a must-watch. It’s a free, six-part (30 minutes each), nonpartisan course on the nation’s founding document:
https://www.edx.org/learn/government/harvard-university-american-government-constitutional-foundations (Select “Audit” to access free version.)
Teaching 250 Years of Foreign Policy (CFR)
Trace key events from the nation's founding to the present, alongside five in-depth collections that single out pivotal moments in American foreign policy for deeper engagement.
Each collection contains a brief historical overview, a curated set of primary source documents, a short reading on the aftermath and legacy of the event, and a classroom discussion activity in which learners can synthesize their knowledge.
A250 Collection from RetroReport
The videos and resources from our new trilogy, “Founding History,” are now available in our America 250 Collection. In this series, students will learn about the Revolutionary era and the creation of the Constitution through the eyes of historians, primary source documents and the words of people who lived through this time period.
This Collection also highlights “Politicking”, our five-part series that revisits presidential campaigns from the 19th century. Bookmark this page and save your favorite resources to your Educator Account so that you can find them as school begins in the fall.
Studies Weekly America250 Resources
To help you celebrate this historic milestone, we've compiled a collection of FREE social studies resources in Studies Weekly Online, that make planning engaging lessons easier than ever.