Units

Citizenship 

How does someone become a citizen in the United States? What responsibilities and duties do citizens have? And what does the first amendment have to do with my rights as a US citizen? These questions and more will be explored in this unit.

Becoming a Citizen

Learn about the Naturalization Process

Take the Naturalization Citizenship Exam

Check out this Immigration Timeline

Play these citizenship games:  Immigration Nation & Responsibility Launcher

Foundations of American Government

In this unit, we will examine the founding documents and historical events that led up to the creation of the US Government. We will look at how these events and documents shaped the US into the country it is today.


Practice your first 10 amendment rights given to you by the Constitution by playing the Bill of Rights Game
Play a game that looks at how the Constitution was created; The Constitutional Convention

Review the unit by playing Foundations Soccer Shootout, Walk the Plank, Preamble Mix-Up

The Political Process

The Political Process is all about how people run for government office- from local elections like Mayor and town council, to large elections like the Presidential and US Congress elections. How can you become a politician and what can you do to influence politics? Check out this unit to find out! 


Political Ideology (Beliefs) Survey

Campaign Finance Webquest Links:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/index.php
http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/contriblimits.shtml
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/superpacs.php?cycle=2012

Review Games: 
Political Parties: Walk the Plank, Soccer Shoot-Out, Hoops 
Elections and Media: Walk the Plank, Soccer Shoot-Out

Cast Your Vote
Win the White House 

National Government

The founding fathers divided powers of government between different layers- national and state powers. In this unit, we will look at the three branches of the national government- the Executive (President), Legislative (US Congress), and Judicial (Courts) branches will be explored, with emphasis on the first two branches.

Review Games:
Checks and Balances
Three Branches of Government
Separation of Powers

Legislative Branch Quiz

Games:
Branches of Power
Law Craft
Executive Command


State and Local Government

What is the difference between national, state, and local laws? Who makes them and who enforces them on each of the levels? Can Virginia write a law that conflicts with a national law? Can Harrisonburg declare independence from Virginia? In this unit, we will look at Virginia's and Harrisonburg's governments.


Review Games:
Federalism Shootout
State and Local Gov. Fling the Teacher
Federalism Battleship

Games: Power Play
Counties Work

The Judicial System

This unit is all about the court systems- National and State courts and criminal and civil court cases. We will look at what happens when someone breaks the law or what happens when someone feels they have not been treated fairly. Be ready to answer the question: "What is justice, and is our Judicial System just?" 

Activities: 
State Courts
Federal Courts

Federal and State Court Quiz
Court System BrainPop

Review Games:
Judicial Hoops
Judicial Fling the Teacher

Games:
Court Quest
Supreme Decision
We the Jury

Public Policy 

Can you influence laws that are made? Yes! Even though you can't vote until you are 18, there are a lot of ways you can influence Public Policy (laws) without voting. You will practice some of them in this unit.
http://congress.indiana.edu/e-learning-module-the-importance-civic-participation
DoSomething.org

Games:
Represent Me
Activate

Economics

In this set of 3 units, we will look at how money is made and spent in the United States. Throughout our studies, we will look at different types of businesses and see that it can be risky to start your own, but it can pay off really well. We will also examine the role the government plays in the US economy. 

      Economics Marketplace
Review Games:
Marketplace Millionaire
Economics Vocab. Hoops

      Business Organization

      Government Role in the Economy

           Games: Peoples Pie

Personal Finance

Can you balance a budget? How do you decide what to spend your money on? What about when you are older and have to pay for a car, house, insurance, kids??? I know it seems like your day of independence from your family will never come, but soon enough you will be on your own and will need to provide for yourself without going in to debt. Can you do it?

Review

Time to put everything we learned throughout the year together and study for the SOL. We will review with different games in class, but use this page to study yourself as well.