Exploring Government is a one-semester curriculum that teaches high school students about U.S. government. You can use it in 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, or 12th grade.
Watch this video walkthrough with author Ray Notgrass to see how it works.
The purpose of Exploring Government is to educate and inspire your student concerning the government of the United States as well as the governments of the individual states and our local communities. We want to help your student be well equipped as a Christian citizen after studying this material.
Exploring Government teaches students how federal, state, and local governments work and explores contemporary issues in government. It places special emphasis on the Biblical basis for government and on the U.S. Constitution. Each of the 15 units is intended to be studied for one week.
Exploring Government is divided into 15 units with five lessons each. Your student can complete the curriculum in one semester by doing one lesson per day for 75 days. What the student is to do each week and each day is clearly outlined. The Unit Introduction page gives a brief overview of the unit, the lessons in that unit, and suggestions for a project that is relevant to that unit.
Your student can read the daily lessons and follow the instructions independently. You as the parent can be involved as much or as little as you desire.
Reading one lesson will take about 20 minutes per day. At the end of each lesson is a list of assignments. Students using the course for both economics and English credit may need another 60-90 minutes to complete the additional readings and work on the weekly project. If your student is not completing the English credit, the total time needed per day will be about 45-60 minutes.
If you use the course as written, your student can earn one half year of high school credit in government and one half year of credit in English (literature and composition). However, the course is flexible, so you can adjust the assignments as needed to fit your student's schedule and needs.
We recommend four biographies that complement the lessons in Exploring Government. These books are not essential for understanding the lessons, but each one adds a valuable perspective on topics discussed in the lessons.
Reading the literature is part of earning the English credit. If your student has already read one of the assigned books, or you want to choose a different book for any reason, you can substitute a different book.
- Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough (Units 1-4)
- The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge by Calvin Coolidge (Units 5-6)
- Born Again by Charles Colson (Units 7-11)
- God and Ronald Reagan by Paul Kengor (Units 12-15)
If you already have the curriculum, our Quick Start Guide will launch you to success in using the literature, suggested supplements, and bonus downloads.