Sarah Eliason

Sarah grew up in Utah and has spent most of her life in Utah Valley. She began her teaching career in the Salt Lake area, where she taught for four years before moving with her family to Kentucky for a year. After teaching there, Sarah and her husband relocated to Southern Utah, where she continues to pursue her passion for education. Over the past 10 years, she has taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades and loves being able to guide her students through all subjects while building a strong classroom community. Sarah is passionate about helping students find their voice and develop perseverance through learning. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling to national parks, crafting, spending time outdoors, and making memories with her husband and their two daughters.

Click Here to see Sarah’s Winning Lesson Plan!

Our Interview With Sarah

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
Yes, this is my first time entering!

How did you hear about the contest?
Constituting America has come to visit and present in my classroom for the last two school years. When they came to visit in May, they told me about the lesson plan contest, and I figured it’d be worth a shot!

What inspired your work?
Teaching subjects like the Constitution has often been considered a “boring” topic to teach and to learn. I wanted to create a more engaging and fun way for students to connect with it. As a fifth-grade teacher, I’m always looking for creative, hands-on ways to help kids make sense of big ideas. My lesson was designed to help them see that the Constitution isn’t just a document from history—it’s something that shapes their lives every single day.

What did you learn about the U.S. Constitution while creating your entry?
Whenever I write lesson plans and dive deeper into content to make things more fun and engaging for my students, I always gain a deeper understanding myself—and this lesson plan was no different. Even as an adult, the nuances of those primary documents can be challenging to interpret. Taking the time to dig in and make sense of the Constitution helped me develop a greater appreciation for its meaning and importance in our lives today.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
I spread the word through my lessons with my students as well as through collaboration with my team teachers. I value sharing ideas and helping other educators find meaningful ways to lead instruction. When we support one another, we create classrooms where students can connect deeply with the importance of the Constitution and civic learning.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
I would love to do a tour of major Revolutionary War sites and explore the places where our nation’s history truly began. If I had to choose one area, it would be Virginia—visiting Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the Yorktown Battlefield. There’s something so powerful about walking through the same places where the Founding Fathers lived, worked, and helped shape the future of our country.

What are your career plans?
I am currently working on my Instructional Coaching endorsement so I can coach other educators and support learning on a bigger scale. I love helping teachers grow in their practice and finding new ways to make learning meaningful for students. My long-term goal is to move into instructional coaching or curriculum design, where I can continue to create lessons that inspire both teachers and students.

How do you spend your free time?
I spend most of my free time with my family—whether that’s hiking outdoors or just having a cozy movie night at home. I love spending time with my two girls and my husband. I also really enjoy anything crafty and creative, like crocheting, doing diamond art, or making fun projects with my Cricut.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution remains relevant because it ensures that every person has a voice and that power is shared, not concentrated in one place. It protects our rights and sets up a system where leaders are accountable to the people. Even as our country grows and changes, the Constitution continues to provide the framework that keeps our government fair, balanced, and focused on serving its citizens.

PRINT ARTICLE