Why study US government?
One goal of education, especially the social sciences, is to prepare students to become productive members of a pluralistic, democratic society. This would be nigh impossible if students had no understanding of the American government. When I was in high school, I never really gained a strong sense of our government and the institutions it consisted of. Educating students on these facets of our society and the roles that they play is crucial in preparing them for the real world. The aim of this Digital Unit Plan is to teach students the basics of our American government and give them a better understanding of how each branch interacts with the others. It also aims to give students the knowledge they need to understand the current events and political issues that our country grapples with today.
Understanding the basics of our American government is important, however, understanding how each part interacts with the others is crucial in helping students understand the democratic society we live in. The three-branch system is a testament to the democratic values America holds so dear. By educating students on these branches and their individual roles and responsibilities, they will better understand the inner workings of American government and its processes. By analyzing the system of checks and balances, students will also gain a better picture of how the government functions as a whole. Students will learn how this system prevents any branch from holding too much power.
It is also important that students understand the development of the American government since colonial days. Many of the institutions today stem from the ideas and values of thinkers and philosophers from the past. Introducing students to these thinkers will allow them to appreciate the founding origins of America and the original themes that these thinkers intended to last for a lifetime.
Our government today is always under the scrutiny of the American people. It seems that every other day some news story is popping up in the media involving political issues on both foreign and domestic soils. Giving students the knowledge they need to understand these issues is essential because it allows them to formulate opinions on the matters and play an active role in society. In high school, I rarely ever listened to the news or read up on important current events. I realize now just how important understanding these events is because in essence, they represent the history of tomorrow.
Learning about American government is a crucial piece of students’ education. Stressing the importance of current events and political issues is also important because it gives students a sense of buy in within their communities. Not only does it educate them on the history of the nation, but also prepares them to become productive members of our democratic society.
Understanding the basics of our American government is important, however, understanding how each part interacts with the others is crucial in helping students understand the democratic society we live in. The three-branch system is a testament to the democratic values America holds so dear. By educating students on these branches and their individual roles and responsibilities, they will better understand the inner workings of American government and its processes. By analyzing the system of checks and balances, students will also gain a better picture of how the government functions as a whole. Students will learn how this system prevents any branch from holding too much power.
It is also important that students understand the development of the American government since colonial days. Many of the institutions today stem from the ideas and values of thinkers and philosophers from the past. Introducing students to these thinkers will allow them to appreciate the founding origins of America and the original themes that these thinkers intended to last for a lifetime.
Our government today is always under the scrutiny of the American people. It seems that every other day some news story is popping up in the media involving political issues on both foreign and domestic soils. Giving students the knowledge they need to understand these issues is essential because it allows them to formulate opinions on the matters and play an active role in society. In high school, I rarely ever listened to the news or read up on important current events. I realize now just how important understanding these events is because in essence, they represent the history of tomorrow.
Learning about American government is a crucial piece of students’ education. Stressing the importance of current events and political issues is also important because it gives students a sense of buy in within their communities. Not only does it educate them on the history of the nation, but also prepares them to become productive members of our democratic society.