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This
unit is ©Copyright 2004 by Cindy Downes. All
rights reserved. Permission
is given to homeschooling parents to use these units free
of charge in their own homeschool only. These units may not
be reprinted in any other form, for any other purpose (commercial
or otherwise) without permission from Cindy Downes. Contact
her at contact@oklahomahomeschool.com.
Index:
U.S.
Government, Constitution, Congress
Branches,
Departments & Cabinets of U.S. Government
Presidents/Elections
This
unit
can be customized to any length, depending upon how much material
you cover and how long you take to cover it.
Read over General Directions for
Cindy's Unit Studies for information on how to teach a
multi-level unit.
U.S.
Government, Constitution, Congress
Reading
Suggestions:
 Uncle
Sam and Old Glory: Symbols of America by Delno C.
West. 40 pgs, color, A nice addition to your home library.
(ISBN 0689820437), Copyright 2000. Grades 1-6+
 We
the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United
States by David Catrow. 28 pgs, color illustrations.
Copyright 2002. ISBN 0803725531. An illustrated preamble
to the Constitution of the United States. A nice addition
to your home library. Grades PreK - 5th+
Lives
of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence
by B. J.Lossing (reprint of 1848 original). 384 pgs. Fifty-six
brief biographies of each of the signers of the Declaration
of Independence. This is a reprint of the 1848 original
edition. ISBN 0925279455. Recommended for 9th-12th.
Faith
of Our Founding Fathers by
Tim LaHaye, faith of the men who drafted America’s
founding documents, 268 pgs
Christianity
and the Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers
by John Eidsmoe. 415 pgs, Explores the faith of our founding
fathers. 8th+
American
Political System by Robert Liston. 246 pgs, Very interesting
book about our political system (what’s good and
what’s bad) that is easy to understand. (1972),
Check libraries. 7th+
 The
Signers: The Fifty-Six Stories Behind the Declaration
of Independence. ISBN 0802788491. A shorter, easier
to read version of the above. A nice addition to your home
library. Recommended for Grades 4-6.
Heroes
of History: John Adams, Independence Forever by Janet
& Geoff Benge. Published by YWAM. A wonderful book
written from a Christian perspective to read to all your
children. A nice addition to your home library because
you'll want to read it again and again. ISBN 1883002516.
All ages will enjoy.
 The
Constitution by Hal Marcovitz. 2003. Discusses
the history of the United States Constitution, from events
leading up to its creation and ratification more than
200 years ago to some amendments that have been added
as recently as 1971. (Check your library, ISBN 1590840410.)
Grades 6-12.
If
You Were There When They Signed the Constitution by
Elizabeth Levy. A fun-to-read book with colorful illustrations
for kids in Grades 1-6. ISBN 0590451596.
Paying
Taxes by Sarah De Capua. A True Book. 48 pgs,
color, Copyright 2002. (Check your library, ISBN 0516223321),
Discusses what taxes are, why we pay taxes, and how the
government spends taxes. Grades 1-6+
American
Political System by Robert Liston. 246 pgs,
Very interesting book about our political system (what’s
good and what’s bad) that is easy to understand.
This book is out of print. (Check your library, ISBN
0819305715), 7th+
Animal
Farm
by George Orwell. 151 pgs. Fiction. (Check your library,
ISBN 0451526341), A satire on our political system. An
interesting read for grades 9-12.
Constitutional
Amendments by Barbara Feinberg. 80 pgs, few illus.
Explains the historical background and purpose of each
of the amendments. (Check your library, ISBN 0805046194),
7th+
Congress
by Mark Sanders. (Check your library, ISBN 0739817884),
An easy-to-read book about our congress. Color illustrations.
48 pgs. Copyright 2000. Grades 4 - 8.
How
a Bill is Passed by Mike Bonner. 64 pgs, some
color illustrations. (Check your library, ISBN 079105537X).
Explains how a bill, or proposed law, is created, debated,
and passed. Copyright 2000. Grades 4 - 8.
How the U.S. Government Works by Syl
Sobel. Explains the three branches of the federal government
- legislative, executive, and judicial - and how they
work. 48 pgs. Illustrated. (Check your library, ISBN 0764111116),
Grades 3-8.
Local
Government by Ernestine Giesecke. 32 pgs, color
illustrations. Copyright 2000. Introduces the purpose
and function of local governments, explores the three
branches of government at the city and county level, and
presents the relationships between city and suburban governments
and between various governments and schools. (Check your
library, ISBN 1575725126 ) Grades 3-5+
Worksheets
& Activity Suggestions:
American
History Games, 4-8, pgs. 53-56, Constitution game, ($12.95,
Scholastic)
Boy
Scout Merit Badge: Citizenship in the Community 8-12 (purchase
at Army Store, Broken Arrow)
Boy Scout Merit Badge: Citizenship in the Nation 8-12
(Army Store)
Boy Scout Merit Badge: Citizenship in the World 8-12 (Army
Store)
Multimedia Collection CD: United States Constitution (TCM),
all ages. This includes photos, video clips, sound clips
of speeches, maps, clip art, etc. to use in reports and
computer projects.
You
Decide, Contitutional Amendments (Critical Thinking),
7-12
Our
Living Constitution, Then and Now
by Jerry Aten. Grades 5-12, ISBN 0866533869. Check Amazon
for used copies or obtain from local educational store.
Read
through the Declaration of Independence and annotations,
pgs. 3 - 10 and complete pg. 11, Remembering Key Phrases.
and pg. 13, Our Basic Human Rights.
Read,
The Road to Change, pg. 15 - 20 and complete pg. 21
- 26 worksheet.
Read
pgs. 28 - 31 and complete pgs. 32 - 35 worksheet.
Read
pgs. 36 - 38 and complete pgs. 38 - 39 worksheet.
Read
pgs. 41 - 44 and complete pg. 45, How a Bill Becomes
Law, and pg. 46 worksheet.
Read
pgs. 47 - 49, Powers of Congress and complete pg. 50
worksheet.
Read
pg. 51, Implied Power and complete worksheet pg. 52.
Read
pgs. 53 - 55, What Congress Cannot Do and worksheet,
pg. 56.
Read
pgs. 57 - 72 and complete worksheets on the Executive
Department.
Read
pgs. 73 - 80 and complete worksheets on the Judicial
Department.
Read
pgs. 81 - 84 and complete worksheets on Checks and Balances.
Read
pgs. 85 - 87 and complete worksheets on States Rights.
Read
pgs. 88 - 89 and complete worksheets on Amending the
Constitution.
Read
pgs. 90 - 94 and complete worksheets on General Provisions
and Ratification.
Read
pgs. 95 - 105 and complete worksheets on The Bill of
Rights.
Read
pgs. 109 - 141 and complete worksheets on the Amendments
to the Constitution.
Complete
review on pgs. 145 - 147.
GoverNet
by Gary M. Garfield. Internet Activities for Grades 4 -8.
(ISBN 0673592502).
Visit the House of Rep. pg. 78 and complete pg. 79.
Visit
the Senate, pg. 80 and complete
pg. 81.
Composition
Suggestions
Research
the government in different countries, make a chart comparing
them or write a compare and contrast report.
Research
the legal system in different countries, make a
chart comparing them or write a compare and contrast report.
Video
Suggestions:
History
of American Government, The. Learn the history behind America's
progression from being ruled by the English monarchy to
becoming a democracy. Explore the government of colonial
America, George Washington, and the American Revolution,
and learn why the Founding Fathers thought it important
to divide and share powers as they established the American
government. (J Video, Tulsa library), K-4+
Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington. (Video), all ages.
Internet
Suggestions:
Lesson
Plan: Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington. 6-8+
National
Budget Simulation Game.
Bill
of Rights Golf Game.
Constitution
Trivia Quiz.
Our
National Debt.
Computer
Activities:
 Powerpoint
Simple Projects, Intermediate, ISBN 1576904415. 3-6+
pg. 53-56, American Government Structure
Powerpoint
Simple Projects, Intermediate, pg. 38-41, National Symbols
Back
to Top
Branches,
Departments, Cabinets of US Government:
Reading
Suggestions:
The
Cabinet and How It Grew by Nance Winslow Parker.
A wonderful book for your home library. It is out of print.
Check Addall.com
for used copies. ISBN 0060216182. Recommended for PreK -
6th.
The
Cabinet by Sam Wellman. 64 pgs, color, Copyright
2001. Check your library, ISBN 0791059936. Grade 5+
Department
of Commerce by Robert J. Griffin, Jr. 102 pgs,
Others in this series cover all the departments of the US.
Check your library, ISBN 0791008851. Grade 6th+
The
Central Intelligence Agency by Tara Baukus Mello.
64 pgs, Check your library, ISBN 0791055310. Copyright 2000.
Grade 5+
The
U.S. Mint by Paul Wolman. 92 pgs,b/w. Check your
library, ISBN 0877548293. Copyright 1987. Grade 6+
US
Postal Service booklet published by Calliope,
Grade 5+ (Cobblestone
#COB8505)
Worksheets
& Activity Suggestions:
GoverNet
by Gary M. Garfield. Grades 4 -8+. ISBN 0673592502.
Visit
the US Dept of Treasury, pg 74 and complete #1 &
3 of Extensions pg. 75.
Composition
Suggestions
none
Video
Suggestions:
Three
Branches of Government, The. (Tulsa library, J Video), 2002,
All ages.
Inside the U.S. Mint. 51 min. Discovery Channel, 2000. (Tulsa
library, Video), All ages.
Internet
Suggestions:
Branches
of Government. 5-8+
National
Budget Simulation Game.
CIA’s
Homepage for Kids.
History
of the U.S. Mint.
U.S.
Mint for Kids.
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