K-12 classrooms encouraged to make America 250 part of the curriculum

On July 4, 2026, South Dakotans will join the rest of the nation to commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. In the year leading up to that date, communities will come together to reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look toward the future.

The South Dakota Department of Education (DOE), along with the South Dakota State Historical Society (SDSHS) and the South Dakota State Library (SDSL), invite educators and students to be a part of the celebration throughout the 2025-26 school year.

“America 250 certainly has a place in the classroom,” said SDSHS director Ben Jones. “The founding of America, and how it has grown into the principles in the Declaration of Independence, is rich material for teachers to infuse into their curriculum, whether it be in social studies class, art, music, English language arts, or other subjects.”

Educators can lead students to commemorate the anniversary in a variety of ways. Consider some of the following opportunities – and feel free to come up with some of your own!

• South Dakota’s Largest Classroom is a massive field trip for students of all ages. Students and their teachers can visit the South Dakota State Fair in Huron to learn hands-on, as well as see exhibits that may not otherwise be available to individual school districts. This year, on Aug. 27-29, Secretary of Education Joe Graves and others will be at the Classroom to read to students. On Aug. 28 at 12:45 p.m., the SDSHS will have an event called “Declare Your Independence,” where students will be able to sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
• Enter the America’s Field Trip contest: Students in grades 3-12 are invited to share their perspective on what America means to them – with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks. Contest opens in fall of 2026.
• A Reading Adventure through America’s History: the South Dakota State Library invites students to join them for a self-paced, self-reported reading celebration. Readers can achieve milestones, read a title from the SDSL’s challenges, or just enjoy reading. This activity can be done as a class or individually.
• Walk 250: Sponsored by the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, this program encourages South Dakotans to track their miles as they walk through the varied landscapes of South Dakota. This activity can be done as a collective class project, or individually.
• Arrange for historical experts to visit classrooms to share their expertise in South Dakota history. Experts could come from local museums, colleges, libraries, or other institutions.

These are just some opportunities that are available for South Dakota students to participate in the celebration. TeachSD will have more information, with more ideas, as the school year progresses.

For more information about America 250, visit americas250th.sd.gov.