Course Description
In this 12th grade class we will look at the development of our country from its infancy to its standing today. We will explore the origins and functions of government, the election process, the three branches of the U.S. government, as well as financial literacy. We will work with the new Common Core State Standards by analyzing primary and secondary sources, annotating, and doing a lot of persuasive writing. In addition, there will be one current events assignment each week called the Article of the Week to help students build background knowledge and stay up to date with the world around them.
Download the Course Syllabus
Download the Pacing Guide
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Do Nows
We will complete the "Do Now" every day when you arrive in class. Make sure to follow the directions so you know whether you are recording information in the vocabulary section of your folder, or answering a prompt.
First Quarter Do Nows
Do Nows 1-20
Foundations of US Government | |
File Size: | 5929 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Second Quarter Do Nows
Do Nows 21-50
Political Behavior | |
File Size: | 3921 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Do Nows 51-53
Legislative Branch | |
File Size: | 39 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Third Quarter Do Nows
Do Nows 1-23
Legislative Branch | |
File Size: | 67 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Do Nows 24-29
Executive Branch | |
File Size: | 43 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Fourth Quarter
Do Nows 30-?
executive_branch_ii.pptx | |
File Size: | 73 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Article of the Week
The Article of the Week is your weekly homework assignment. Homework is worth 10% of your grade. For instructions on how to complete the Article of the Week, and to download this week's article (or articles from previous weeks) click the link at the top of the page that says "Article of the Week".
Activities & Assignments
If you are missing any activities or assignments for this year so far you may download some of them here. Please note this is not all of the assignments we have done, as I do not have copies of everything on the computer in a downloadable format. If you are missing something that is not here please see me and I can give it to you. Activities and assignments are worth 30% of your grade.
First Quarter
Unit: Foundations of the US Government
Declaration of Independence DBQ - The ideals of the Declaration: Which is most important?
Declaration of Independence Rubric | |
File Size: | 60 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Constitution DBQ - How did the Constitution guard against tyranny?
Constitution DBQ | |
File Size: | 6815 kb |
File Type: |
Constitution Rubric | |
File Size: | 122 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Second Quarter
Unit: Political Behavior
Electoral College DBQ - Should the Electoral College be abolished?
Electoral College DBQ | |
File Size: | 6503 kb |
File Type: |
Electoral College Simulation - In class we will complete a simulation to help students understand how the Electoral College works.
Electoral College Simulation PPT | |
File Size: | 82 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Constructing a Complex Definition of Political Parties
Why Political Parties? | |
File Size: | 25 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Third Quarter
Unit: The Legislative Branch
Going Nowhere: A Gridlocked Congress - Should citizens care about the causes and effects of gridlock?
Going Nowhere Reading | |
File Size: | 1428 kb |
File Type: |
Going Nowhere Questions | |
File Size: | 48 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Going Nowhere Rubric | |
File Size: | 99 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Educating Non-Citizens - Should our democracy extend government support for higher education to immigrants who - as young people- have entered the country illegally?
Educating Non-Citizens | |
File Size: | 5019 kb |
File Type: |
Unit: The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch - Read the PowerPoint and answer the questions.
The Executive Branch PPT | |
File Size: | 183 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
The Executive Branch Questions | |
File Size: | 69 kb |
File Type: | docx |
The Selling of the President - Read and annotate the close read and answer the questions. Then write a paragraph defending the following claim:
In modern elections, image has become more important than policies and issues.
In modern elections, image has become more important than policies and issues.
The Selling of the President 1968 Reading | |
File Size: | 1218 kb |
File Type: |
The Selling of the President 1968 Questions | |
File Size: | 49 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Fourth Quarter
Unit: The Executive Branch
Term Limits DBQ - Do the constitutional term limits set for the president by the 22nd amendment violate the concept of democracy?
Term Limits DBQ | |
File Size: | 912 kb |
File Type: |
Country In-Depth Project
Country Worksheet | |
File Size: | 99 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Country Menu | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Unit: The Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch PPT - Read the PPT and answer the questions.
Judicial Branch PPT | |
File Size: | 269 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
Judicial Branch Notes | |
File Size: | 47 kb |
File Type: | docx |