Course Description:
1/2 High School Credit (75 hours)
U.S. Government will provide students an opportunity to develop a foundation for observing, analyzing, and understanding government and politics in the United States. Students will compare, examine and evaluate
- foundations of US Federal and State Governments
- institutions of US Federal and State Governments
- political parties and elections
- mass media
- political behavior
- public policy
- rights and liberties
Class Composition:
This course hinges upon hour-long classroom discussions at Five Rivers Coop, but requires additional work outside of class that is student/parent directed. Below is a guide of how to complete the required 75 hours. This is flexible (ex. some students are readers; some project learners; some auditory learners; etc.). Adjust and adapt your hours respectively.
- 12 hours of Lecture/Discussion (Five Rivers Coop Meetings)
- 14 hours of Video Lecture*
- 25 hours of Reading*
- 25 hours of Projects (traditional and extension activities)*
Recommended Reading List:
This list is by no means exhaustive or complete. Many teachers or professors will use textbooks and/or a different selection of books. A textbook will not be used for the classroom lecture/discussion. There are quality textbooks available, but this class will use primary sources. This list has been compiled to give a variety for students/parents to choose those that fit their homeschool.
The Law +
Many of the books are available at the library and the online versions (PDF's esp.) will be used as research (scan and choose the selections to read). A student is NOT expected to read ALL of the books on the list, but to choose a variety to help them grasp US Government.
*this book will be used in the lecture/discussion
+The Federalist Papers is available online for free
+The Law is available online for free
+Declaration of Independence is available online for free
+The Constitution of the United States of America is available online for free
