Class Descriptions

US Government

The purpose of this course is to gain a better understanding of our nation's complex system of government. Students will know the purposes, forms, and operations of government in general and in the United States. The students will focus on the United States’ founding principles and beliefs. Students will study the structure, functions, and powers of government at the national, state, and local levels. Ultimately, the goal of this course is to help each member of the class arrive at a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape American government and politics.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Students are required by the state of Ohio to take the US Government AIR/End of Course exam in order to graduate at the end of the course, usually in April or May. Please be aware that students are required to take this test and we will be preparing for the test ALL YEAR LONG!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: US Government class disclaimer-In a productive US Government class, we will learn about current events and at times controversial subjects such as political policy, political ideologies, political agendas, media and media bias, etc. These are topics that are in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Education Social Studies standards. Even though these topics are taught in a safe and respectful environment, people can at times misconstrue information or disagree with what is being taught. It is important to remember that everyone’s opinion counts and that it is ok to disagree with information and other opinions in a respectful manner. If there is a perceived problem about the information that is being discussed it is the students’ responsibility to come to the teacher to discuss the issue at hand in a respectful manner. Everyone’s opinion is important in my classroom and we are here to grow and learn, I as a teacher and you as a student.

Modern WOrld History

This course examines world events from 1600 to the present. It explores the impact of the democratic and industrial revolutions, the forces that led to world domination by European powers, the wars that changed empires, the ideas that led to independence movements and the effects of global interdependence. The concepts of historical thinking introduced in earlier grades continue to build with students locating and analyzing primary and secondary sources from multiple perspectives to draw conclusions.

Ohio's Learning Standards for Social Studies