America 250 Resources

Join us in celebrating 250 years of American democracy!

Looking ahead to America’s Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, and beyond, Close Up is proud to be honoring our country’s 250th anniversary with a series of immersive civic education materials for high school and middle school classrooms. Scroll down the page to find interactive lesson plans, activities, and program opportunities—all centered around the foundational principles and political values of American democracy.  

Implement our entire four-week unit for grades 10-12 in your U.S. history, government, or civics class, or choose a component or two to introduce—the choice is yours. Help students grasp that most political conflict stems not from ignorance or bad faith but from genuine tensions between values Americans share. In this unit, students identify these values in historical and contemporary debates, evaluate competing arguments on their merits, and articulate their own informed positions while engaging respectfully with those who disagree.

These classroom-ready lesson plans ask middle and high school students to examine the Preamble to the Constitution, the idea of “We the People,” and how to create a “More Perfect Union.” These lessons are ideal for use around Constitution Day, ahead of America’s 250th birthday, or as a part of existing social studies units.   

What are the competing goals and values that animate American policy debates? What is the proper size and role of government? Help your high school students consider these enduring questions—and foundations—of American democracy.  

Make this year one to remember by augmenting your classroom teaching with an in-person Close Up experience. Join us in Washington, D.C., or a local community near you!