Teaching Virtues and the Constitution: simple lessons for the elementary classroom

Constitution Day is September 17th. Classrooms across the country should celebrate this important day because it marks the foundation of our democracy. In my state, schools are required to teach about the Constitution on this day. Unfortunately, that is not the case everywhere.

Why does this matter? Because the Constitution is not just a political document. It is also a moral vision, built on principles that guide how people live together in community. Its framers drew from classical philosophy and Christian moral teaching, grounding their work in what have long been called the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. These virtues, thousands of years old, remain strikingly relevant to education today. They give us a framework not only for understanding our nation’s foundation but also for shaping the daily life of our classrooms.

The Virtues in Theory and Practice

Prudence: Making Wise Choices

Prudence is the ability to use reason to guide action. Aristotle described it as the virtue that helps us deliberate well, while the framers of the Constitution practiced prudence by building a system of checks and balances to prevent rash decisions. For children, prudence means learning to stop, think, and choose wisely.

Classroom link: Before solving a problem or reacting in conflict, teach students to ask: “What might happen if I choose this?”

Justice: Treating People Fairly

In The Federalist Papers, James Madison declared that justice is the “end of government.” The Preamble itself begins with the aim to “establish justice.” Justice means giving each person their due, respecting the rights of others, and ensuring fairness. In the classroom, justice emerges in how we share, include, and resolve conflicts.

Classroom link: Rotate jobs fairly, co-create a “Classroom Bill of Rights,” and use stories to spark discussion about fairness and equality.

Temperance: Practicing Self-Control

Temperance is moderation. It is the ability to govern desires and impulses. The Constitution itself is a temperate design: power is divided among branches of government to prevent excess. Children, too, need to learn balance... managing emotions, waiting their turn, and finding calm.

• Classroom link: Use brain breaks, mindful breathing, or calm-down corners to help students practice self-regulation.

Fortitude: Showing Courage and Perseverance

The framers needed fortitude to declare independence and craft a new government in the face of great risk. Fortitude is courage in difficulty and perseverance in the face of obstacles. For children, it means trying again after a mistake, standing up for a friend, or facing a new challenge.

Classroom link: Celebrate persistence, highlight stories of bravery, and remind students that mistakes are part of learning.

Why This Matters for Teachers

The Constitution is more than a historical document. It is a living guide to civic life, shaped by virtues that remain deeply relevant in education. When we teach prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude, we are not simply managing behavior. We are forming character.

This connects directly with whole child teaching, which emphasizes intellectual, social, emotional, and ethical growth. The virtues are the “glue” that holds these dimensions together:

• Prudence strengthens critical thinking and decision-making.
• Justice builds community and belonging.
• Temperance fosters emotional health and balance.
• Fortitude develops resilience and courage.

By weaving these virtues into daily classroom life during morning meetings, group work, story discussions, or even recess conflicts, we help students see that the habits of good classmates are also the habits of good citizens.

Teaching the virtues alongside the Constitution does not add more to a teacher’s already full plate. Instead, it reframes ordinary moments as opportunities for growth. When children practice wisdom, fairness, balance, and courage, they not only become stronger students but also take their first steps toward responsible citizenship in a democracy built on those very same virtues.

References & Further Reading

• Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics – Foundational text on the cardinal virtues.
• Federalist No. 51 – James Madison discusses the importance of justice in government.
• Thomas Aquinas on the Cardinal Virtues – Aquinas’s treatment of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
• ASCD’s Whole Child Framework – Promotes long-term development and success for all children.