Government
This course prepares students to become informed and active participants in civic life by exploring the foundations, structure, and functions of government at the local, state, and national levels. Students will engage in discussions about current events, civil liberties, and public policy, fostering critical thinking and debate. Emphasis is placed on understanding the responsibilities of citizenship, the importance of civic engagement, and the skills needed to advocate for change in a democratic society.
-
Unit 1 - Emergence of State Systems and Enlightenment Thinkers
-
Introduction to US Government - 1/27/25
Introduction to US Government Class
Course Syllabus Review
Introduction to Class
Government Questionnaire
-
Lesson 2: What is Government? Prehistoric and Ancient State Systems 1/28/25
What is Government? What is a State? What are some of the first examples of human beings organizing themselves into governments?
Watch the Crash Course Video
Go through the Class Slides
Complete the guided worksheet.
-
Lesson 3: Defining different types of Government - 1/29/25
What is Government? What is a State? What are some of the first examples of human beings organizing themselves into governments?
Review Big Ideas (What is a State and types of government)
Vocab Jigsaw
Vocab Game
-
Lesson 4: Medieval and Early Modern States - 1/31/25
Medieval and Early Modern States
Feudalism
Church & State
Absolutism
-
Lesson 5: Early State Systems + Why Government - 2/03/25
Early States Review + Why Government at all?
Station Scavenger Hunt
Why Government
Intro to Hobbes & Locke
-
Lesson 6: The Enlightenment + Early Political Theorists 2/7/25
The Enlightenment Lecture Guided Notes + Match the Quote Activity
Hobbes
Locke
Voltaire
Montesquieu
-
Lesson 7: Enlightenment Philosopher's Deep Dive - 2/10/2025
Jigsaw Video Activity on Enlightenment Thinkers
Hobbes
Locke
Voltaire
Montesquieu
-
Lesson 8: Putting it all Together & Open Notes Assessment
Emergence of State Systems and Enlightenment Thinkers
Review Kahoot
PowerSchool Review
Open Note Quiz
-
-
Unit 2 - Foundational US Documents and the Constitutional Convention
-
Lesson 1: US Foundational Documents 2-17-25
US Foundation
Declaration of Independence
Article of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
US Constitution
-
Lesson 2: Problems with the Articles of Confederation 2-18-25
Articles of Confederation Problems
Declaration of Independence Warm Up.
Problems with the Articles of Confederation
-
Lesson 3: Constitutional Convention - Mr. Larsen Sub Day 2-20-25
Constitutional Convention
Connecticut Compromise
3/5th Compromise & Balance of Power
Supremacy Clause
-
Lesson 4: Important Founding of the US Documents and Review 2/21/25 - 2/24/25
Major Ideas Review
Poster Creation of Major Terms
-
Lesson 5: Review Foundations of the United States 2/25/25
Review of Unit
US Foundations
Articles of Confederation and its weaknesses.
Constitutional Convention
-
-
Unit 3 - Constitution Ratification + Bill of Rights
-
Lesson 1: Ratification Debates of the Constitution 2-26-25 and 2-27-25
Finish Unit 2 Test
After you are done, complete the graphic organizer handout.
-
Lesson 2: Antifederalists vs Federalists 2-28-25
Anti-federalists vs Federalists
Intro to the Checks and Balances
Intro to the Bill of Rights
-
Lesson 3: Bill of Rights Introduction 3-03-25
Introduction to the Bill of Rights
-
-
Lesson 4: Bill of Rights Court Cases + Begin Pocketbook Project 3-4-25
Introduction to the Bill of Rights
-
Lesson 5: Creating our own Bill of Rights Pocketbook 3/6/25 - 3/7/25
Bill of Rights Pocketbook Project on Canva
-
Unit 4 - The Legislative Branch
-
Lesson 1: Intro to the Legislative Branch 3/10/25
Intro to Legislative Branch
Lecture 4.1
Exit Ticket
-
Lesson 2: Legislative Branch - How a Bill Becomes a Law. 3/12/25
Intro to Legislative Branch
Lecture 4.2
Exit Ticket
-
Lesson 3: Legislative Branch - How a Bill Becomes a Law. 3/12/25 -3/13/25
Intro to Legislative Branch
Lecture 4.2
Exit Ticket
-
Lesson 4: Legislative Branch - Legislative Branch WQ + Bill of Rights Test 3/14/25
Legislative Branch
Bill of Rights Quiz
Turnings Bills into Laws - icivics Webquest
-
Lesson 5: Legislative Branch - Congressional Leadership and Congressional Politics 3/17/25
Legislative Branch
Review Structure of Congress & Bill Making Process
Gerrymander Review
Congressional Leadership
-
Lesson 6: Legislative Branch - Filibusters 3/18/25
Legislative Branch
Filibuster Process
Media Framing
News Activity
-
Lesson 7: Legislative Branch - Infographic Review 3/31/25
Legislative Branch Infographic
Review the Legislative Branch
-
Lesson 8: Legislative Branch - Incumbency Bias and Re-Election 4/1/25
Legislative Branch - Incumbency
Background Slides
News Article
Reflection Questions
Worktime on Infographic
-
Lesson 9: Legislative Branch - Review Day 4/2, 4/3, and 4/5/25
Legislative Branch - Review
Stump the room game.
Quizizz Resource
Review Resources
-
-
Unit 5 - The Executive Branch
-
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Executive Branch - 4/8/2025
Intro to the Executive Branch
Quiz on Legislative Branch
Introduction to the Executive Branch Background Reading + Worksheet
-
Lesson 2: Powers & Roles of the President 4/9/25 - 4/10/25
Intro to the Executive Branch
Article II of the Constitution
Guided Notes + Lecture on the role of the President
Assignment “Why President”
-
Lesson 3: The Roles of the President and Washington's Precedents 4-11-25
Executive Branch
Article II of the Constitution Powers
Washington’s Precedents for the President
Federalist 80
-
Lesson 4: The Presidential Office in Action 4-14-25/4-15-25
Executive Branch
Six Roles of the President
The Presidential Cabinet
Pardon Power
-
Lesson 5: Being President a Day in the Life (4-16-25 & 4-17-25)
Article II Unique Powers of the Executive
Complete Guided Notes
Webquest - Being President
-
Lesson 6: The Election Process and The Electoral Collage 4-18-25 & 4-21-25
Election Process
Electoral Collage
Party Politics
-
Lesson 7: Executive Branch Review and Assessment 4-22-25, 4-23-25, and 4-25-25.
Election Process
Gather Review Materials
Full Class Jeopardy Review Game
Worktime on Studyguide
-
-
Unit 6 - The Judicial Branch
-
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Judicial Branch 4-25-25
Introduction to the Judicial Branch
Short Video
Background Reading + Questions
-
Lesson 2: The Judicial Branch and Powers 4-28-25
Introduction to the Judicial Branch
Lecutre 6.1
Assignment 6.1
-
Lesson 3: Judicial Branch in Action 4-29-25, 4-30-25, 5-01-25
Key Players in The Courtroom
Mock Trial
-
Lesson 4: Shaping of Judicial Power 5-2-25
The Judicial Branch
Shaping the Powers of the Supreme Court
Important Supreme Court Cases
-
Lesson 5: Imporant Supreme Court Cases 5-5-25 and 5-6-25
Important Supreme Court Cases
Gimkit Review
Supreme Court Cases assignment.
-
Lesson 6: Review-Judicial Branch 5/7/25, 5/8/25, and 5/12/2025
Review Judicial Branch Big Ideas
Warm up Quiz Check In
Full Class Study Guide
Gimkit Review
-
-
Unit 7 - State and Local Government
-
Lesson 1: What States Do 5/14/25
Introduction to State and Local Government
Introduction to State Government
What States Do Background Reading + Questions
-
Lesson 2: Oregon's Government Webquest 5/16/25
Oregon’s State Government
State Vocab
Webquest iCivics
-
Lesson 3: Oregon's Government - County Level 5/19/25
County Level Government
County Works
Jackson County, OR
-
Lesson 4: Oregon's Government - County Level 5/20/25
County Level Government
County Works
Jackson County, OR
-
Lesson 5: Oregon's Government - Municipal Level 5/21/25 and 5/22/25
City Level Government
How Municipal Governments Work
City Level Problems and Solutions
-
Lesson 6: State and Local Government Review 5-27-25
Local Governments
City Government
Williston, ND Case Study
-
Lesson 7: Tribal Government in the United States - 5/28/25 & 5/29/25
Review State and Local Government
Municipal Government Problems - Williston, ND
Catch up Worktime
-
Lesson 8: Creating your own Government (State & City)
Creating Your Own Goverment
-
Last Day: Seniors 2025
Last Day Letters to Ourselves
-
-
Unit 8 - American Political Parties
-
US Citizenship