Participation in Government

Welcome to Participation in Government! I am looking forward to working with you during the 2021-2022 school year. I’m excited to get to know you all and embark on this journey with you.

Goals:

This course will provide students with a basic understanding of civic life, politics, and government. Students will be able to breakdown components of local, state, and national government. Formal instruction will provide a basis for understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a constitutional democracy and a framework for competent and responsible participation in the 21^st century. This course focuses on supplementing student understanding of government concepts with hands-on learning experiences, in both school and in the community.

Classroom Rules and Expectations:

• Discover how the government is and will be involved in your life.

• Actively participate in all class activities.

• Pay close attention to local, state, and national news.

• Use the projects to explore personal interests and the role government has and can have in your areas of interest.

• Have fun!

Grading

Your grade will be computed using a total points system. (Example: 450/490 points = 92%)

1st Quarter: 40%

2^nd Quarter: 40%

Final Exam: 20%

Class Structure:

This course will be primarily project based. Through a variety of projects, you will watch local government meetings, and propose ideas that will benefit your community. These projects will align with topics being covered in class. Please start to get used to reading the news if you don’t already. We will pay close attention to what is going on in our community, state, and nation. Current event articles will be due once a week.

Materials:

• Pens/Pencils

• Binder or Folder for handouts- while we are online materials will be given digitally, but if you prefer a hard copy a binder or folder is recommended to keep items organized

• Composition notebook- you will be expected to take notes during our discussions

Extra Help:

I am available every day from 2:20-2:45. I can be found in room 261 or the Social Studies office. I check my email regularly throughout the day so please don’t hesitate to reach out as I normally respond quickly.