American Government

Description: This course will offer students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how the United States government operates. Students will be examining the decisions the “Founding Fathers” made to create the frameworks for the United States government and compare their ideas to current day operations both domestic and foreign.

Course Objective: Students will exhibit an understanding of opportunities for civic engagement and participation in the local, state, and federal government while demonstrating responsibility.

Class Requirements: Students are expected to be active participants in this course. Examples of required work are: Discussions, projects, reading, writing, quizzes and tests. A notebook will be a strong tool for keeping organized and will be assessed throughout the semester.

The Brentwood School Rules will be strictly enforced. Students must demonstrate respect for themselves, others, and all property. Students must take ownership of their learning and demonstrate investment in creating a classroom community that promotes safe learning.

Make Up Work: It is your responsibility to ask for make-up work. Work missed due to an excused absence can be completed for full credit within two days. Failure to do so will result in an earned grade of zero. When a student receives an ISA, class work will be completed for up to 80% credit. If a student receives an OSS, class work must be made up within two days of the suspension for 80% credit.

Grading: There are three methods for earning credit in the American Government course: Class Participation, Daily Assignments and Major Assignments. The weight for each type of credit is as follows:

20% Class Participation (marked daily)
40% Daily Assignments (in class assignments, discussions, quizzes)
40% Major Assignments (tests, projects, harkness discussions)

Student’s Learning:

Week 1 (2 days)
First Amendment SPPAR (Speech, Press, Petition, Assemble, Religion)
Word Up – An investigation into the power of word choice/use

Week 2 (4 days)
Foundations of American Government
Four Purposes of Government
Basic Government Vocabulary

Week 3 (5 days)
Venn Diagram (John Locke vs. Thomas Hobbes)
Formations of Government
Leadership Activity
Types of Government (ie. Democracy, Autocracy, Oligarchy)
Economic Systems (ie. Capitalism, Communism)

Week 4 (5 days)
Types of Government Vocabulary
Constitution Day Posters
Celebrities and their Political Parties
The Colonial Period and Government
Constitution Day Activities
Ideas for American Revolution
Clip of the American Revolution film
Analyzing the Boston Massacre and the propaganda behind it

Week 5 (5 days)
The American Revolution
American Revolution vocabulary
Declaration of Independence Activity

Week 6 (5 days)
Declaration of Independence Review
Comparing the Declaration of Independence to the thoughts of John Locke
Basic Constitution Crossword Activity #1
United States Citizen Test
Basic Constitution Crossword Activity #2

Week 7 (4 days)
Articles of Confederation study
Articles of Confederation review
Mapping the 13 colonies
Intermediate Constitution Crossword Activity #1
Intermediate Constitution Crossword Activity #2

Week 8 (4 days)
Constitutional Convention of 1787
Constitution Vocabulary Activities (2 days)
Articles of Confederation Vocabulary

Week 9 (5 days)
What If Question Sheet
Structure and Principles of the Constitution
Identifying the Distance travelled by the delegates
History of the Convention

Week 10 (5 days)
History of the Convention Continued
Expert Constitution Crossword Activity #1
Constitution Activity
Amending the Constitution
Register to Vote posters
History of Halloween Activity

Week 11 (5 days [Quarter 1 ends on 11/3])
Finish Constitution Activities
News Summary Sheet on the Election
Election Coverage
Presidential Speech Transcripts
Federalist Vocabulary Terms