| This American Government
curriculum includes a 240 page hardcover student textbook and a 24 page Teacher's Guide
book. American Government tells the story of how the United States Government came to be.
You may also purchase the student textbook or
the teacher guidebook separately. Students learn about all the branches of the
government and their many jobs. Students see how leaders are elected, and how each citizen
can make a difference. Students learn about the role of the United States government as
one nation among many. Students will see that our government is "of the people, by
the people, and for the people."
The end of the book presents two important
pieces of writing. The first, the Declaration of Independence, is presented to students as
the letter written to the King of England. The second, the Constitution of the United
States is presented as the group of laws that tell how our government is put together and
run.
The Teacher's Guide book presents teaching
strategies for each chapter in the student book. For each chapter, the teacher is given
the objective, new vocabulary words, vocabulary activities, reading words, review words,
pre-reading activities, post-reading activities, and discussion questions. The Teacher's
Guide also provides the Answer Key for all of the review questions presented at the end of
each chapter in the student textbook. The review questions include vocabulary,
comprehension, critical thinking, and skill building.
The 240 page student book presents five
complete units including 20 chapters, as listed below, providing an overview of American
Government. Recommended for 4th to 8th graders.
UNIT 1 - GOVERNMENT FOR A NEW
NATION
Chapter 1 - Building a New Nation
Chapter 2 - Early Governments in the United States
Chapter 3 - Writing the Constitution
People in Government - James Madison
Skill Builder - Reading a Line Graph
Chapter 4 - Understanding Our Constitution
Skill Builder - Reading a Chart
Chapter 5 - The Bill of Rights and Other Amendments
Focus on Government - "I have a dream..."
UNIT 2 - THREE BRANCHES OF FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT
Chapter 6 - Congress: The Lawmaking Branch
Chapter 7 - The President and the Executive Branch
Skill Builder - Understanding Political Cartoons
Chapter 8 - The Executive Branch at Work
Chapter 9 - Justice for All: The Judicial Branch
Chapter 10 - How A Bill Becomes Law
Skill Builder - Reading a Bar Graph
Focus on Government - Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education
UNIT 3 - STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
Chapter 11 - Federalism's Other Side
Skill Builder -Reading a Bar Graph
Chapter 12 - State Governments at Work
Chapter 13 - Thousands of Local Governments
Skill Builder - Reading a Circle Graph
People in Government - Harold Washington
Focus on Government - City Council Agenda
UNIT 4 - DEMOCRACY AT WORK
Chapter 14 - Political Parties and Voters
Skill Builder - Comparing Circle Graphs
Chapter 15 - Campaigns and Elections
People in Government - Peggy Noonan
Chapter 16 - PACs and Interest Groups
Skill Builder - Reviewing Line Graphs
Focus on Government - Senator Kassebaum's Campaign Schedule
UNIT 5 - GOVERNMENT IN ACTION
Chapter 17 - Paying for Government
Chapter 18 - Protecting the Nation
Chapter 19 - Other Forms of Government
Skill Builder - Reading A Chart
Chapter 20 - In the Global Community
Skill Builder - Reading a Political Cartoon
People in Government - Jimmy Carter
Focus on Government - The Inauguration Speech of President John F. Kennedy
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES
VOCABULARY LIST
INDEX |
