ACS — Students across Alabaster City Schools completed an immersive journey into the foundations of American democracy following a system-wide Constitution Week event. From September 14–18, the district partnered with the American Village to host a hands-on experience that brought the nation's founding document off the page and into the classroom.
The initiative spanned every grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade. Driven by 65 custom lesson plans designed by American Village educators, the week featured costumed historical drop-ins, artifact-packed traveling trunks, live performances, and individual pocket Constitutions for students.
"We were excited to partner with the American Village to bring such an extraordinary, immersive learning experience to Alabaster City Schools," said ACS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers. "This collaboration provided our teachers with world-class resources and gave our students across all grade levels a dynamic, memorable look at our nation’s founding principles. By bringing history to life in our classrooms, we helped shape the next generation of informed, responsible citizens."
The program's curriculum was tailored to match each age group's learning style:
Creek View and Meadow View: K-3 students started each day with "Founding Friends: Patriots of Early America," a five-part video series introducing historical figures such as Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Eliza Hamilton, Salem Poor, and Martha Washington. In addition, living history interpreters greeted students during morning drop-off at select elementary schools.
Thompson Intermediate: Intermediate students engaged in tactile learning using hands-on educational trunks. Fourth graders studied the Bill of Rights, while fifth graders explored Amendments 11 through 27. Learning kits featured real-world objects tied to constitutional rights—such as a suffragette sash and voter button for the 19th Amendment, a petition and microphone for the First Amendment, and reproductions of James Madison’s original notes for the Ninth Amendment.
TMS/THS: Secondary students participated in live, onsite presentations hosted by American Village historical interpreters, connecting historic constitutional debates directly to modern civic life.
District leadership and educators emphasized the lasting impact of giving students a dynamic, hands-on connection to history. ACS Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Dr. Amanda Wilbanks, worked with educators district-wide to organize the week's events.
"This partnership gave our students the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of the Constitution through experiences that were engaging, relevant, and memorable," said Dr. Wilbanks. "By connecting classroom learning with the people, documents, and ideas that shaped our government, we helped students see not only how our government was formed, but why those ideas still matter in their lives today."
Dr. Ashley Riner, a social studies teacher at Thompson High School, noted the value for all students, especially at the secondary level.
"We were excited for our high school students to learn from the American Village representatives and see that history is not simply something we study—it continues to shape the world they live in today," Dr. Riner said.
Celebrated each year nationally to mark the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, Constitution Week serves as a reminder of the nation's shared civic principles.
See more photos and content from ACS Constitution Week.
For more information on educational programming, visit the American Village website.