Why I Wrote My Own Government Course

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #120, Why I Wrote My Own Government Course, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Why I Wrote My Own Government Course

In “Why I Wrote a Government Course,” Episode, #120, Meredith Curtis shares her homeschool journey in search a government course that would impart earnest wisdom into her children’s hearts and lives. She finally decided to design her own course, Government, God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda—a little bit textbook, a little bit unit study, and a little bit notebook. Her 1-credit high school government course has a fresh, innovative approach based on the truth revealed in God’s Word that all government derives from Him and that the Lord delegates authority and responsibility to the individual, family, church, and sovereign nations. We are in critical times, where preteens and teens need to learn about God’s heart and plan for ruling in all spheres of life!

Show Notes

Homeschooling since 1991, I have read many government textbooks! While many were excellent, they didn’t have everything I was looking for, so I wrote my own government textbook/unit study/notebook.

What I Want:

I want my children …

  • to understand how government, politics, and elections work in the United States and around the world. I want them to discover what the Bible has to say about authority/responsibility
  • to see how all authority belongs to God and He is the One who delegates it
  • to be interested in politics and current events; to pray powerful prayers that change history!
  • to discuss government and politics with others, at least in our family.
  • to read classics on law and government.
  • to have fun doing it! And remember what they learn.

I also want my teens to learn about state visits, jury trials, the military, and national revival. It would be nice to work on a campaign, to read classic law and government books, and to have some fun hands-on learning experiences.

The Problem:

I couldn’t find what I wanted. I found great government textbooks, but they didn’t talk about the family, the individual, and the church. I found many textbooks that were packed with great information, but were dry and frankly, a little boring.

The Solution:

I will write my own. It will be a little like a unit study, a little like a textbook, and a little like a notebook. So I wrote Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda!

Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda

How Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda is Unique

  • Text is written in conversational style like we were drinking coffee and talking
  • Course is written with a Christian worldview from a Conservative perspective
  • Amazing list of classic/modern living books to choose from each month
  • Hands-on/Fun learning: plan & host a state dinner, role-play, help with a political campaign, visit a jury trial, act out a jury trial, plan a political campaign, design promotional media for a political campaign
  • Current events worksheets and time to pray together about what’s going on in the world
  • 2 leaders/month highlighted to inspire my children to greatness
  • Incredible list of optional videos, including a few cartoons

How Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda is Set Up

Class/Family time 3 or 4 times a month to discuss, watch a video, and enjoy hands-on learning

Independent work weekly

  • Week 1: hero, current events, notebooking, start classic book
  • Week 2: Government reading, Self-government (manners) reading, notebooking,
  • Week 3: hero, current events, notebooking, finish classic book & fill in book report sheet
  • Week 4: Government reading, Self-government (manners) reading, notebooking

Family Field Trips: Help with political campaign, jury trial, courthouse, etc.

Who is This Book Written For?

Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda is written for teens, preteens, families, homeschool co-ops. It’s set up so that younger siblings can join in for family time each week.

The living book suggestions contain books at different reading levels from middle school to high school. This is a 1-credit high school course, but it’s written clearly enough for a middle school student to enjoy the course and learn everything!

What are Some of the Topics Covered in Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda?

  • The Source of Government
  • Self-Government/Manners
  • Jesus Christ
  • Kinds of Government
  • King Alfred
  • Slavery
  • Cicero
  • Law is King
  • State Visits & State Dinners
  • The Story of Liberty
  • Abolitionists
  • William Wilberforce
  • Story of Liberty in the USA
  • William Bradford
  • The USA Constitution
  • The Executive Branch
  • Legislative Branch
  • Justice
  • Judicial Branch
  • USA Constitution II
  • Diplomacy, Ambassadors, Spies
  • George Washington
  • State/Local/County Government
  • Calvin Coolidge
  • Immigration
  • Elections
  • Electoral College
  • Political Campaign
  • Ronald Reagan
  • Resolving Conflict
  • Military
  • Winston Churchill
  • How Do We Pay for Everything?
  • IRS
  • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Andrew Jackson
  • Wise Counsel
  • Robert Bork
  • The Media
  • Oliver Cromwell
  • John Bunyan
  • John Milton
  • Daniel Defoe
  • Leadership
  • Education
  • Noah Webster
  • Horace Mann
  • John Winthrop
  • Judgment and Revival
  • Billy Graham

How Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda Solved My Problem

Now, preteens and teens are not just learning about government, politics, and elections; they are being immersed in it.

How Can You Create Your Own Government Course?

List everything you want to include:

  • Books
  • Videos
  • Topics
  • Hands-On Projects
  • News, Current Events
  • Field Trips

Then sort everything out over your semester or school year. Or use my course! 

Where Can I Purchase Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda?

Purchase Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda in print on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B08GFZKNXD

Purchase Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda E-book on PowerlineProd:powerlineprod.com/shop/government-gods-blueprint-mans-agenda/

Purchase Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda E-book on TeachersPayTeachers:teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Government-Gods-AgendaMans-Blueprint-5929296

Purchase Government: God’s Blueprint/Man’s Agenda E-book on PayHip: payhip.com/b/o2iZ

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Resources

HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century Middle School Workbook HIS Story of the 20th Century: High School Workbook by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century Cookbook by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette

More Podcasts You Might Find Helpful

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #107, 7 Steps to Create Your Own High School Classes with Living Books with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #096, How I Teach English in High School with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Learning with Little Ones Around, Podcast #051, with Meredith Curtis Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #025, Tips for Newbies with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network

Add Humanities to Your Home School

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #118, Add Humanities to Your Home School, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Add Humanities to Your Home School

In “Add Humanities to Your Home School,” episode #119, Meredith Curtis talks about humanities—art, music, literature, economics, government, philosophy, religion, architecture, and theology. Meredith shares how her family adds humanities to their history and geography studies. You can, too! The easiest way is through unit studies. You can also add history labs and geography labs to those classes. Broaden your horizons and have fun at the same time as you enrich your home school and bless your children and teens.

 

 

 


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Show Notes

Humanities and education

What are Humanities?

Art, music, literature, economics, government, philosophy, religion, architecture, and theology

Add Art

Art Appreciation

Creating Art in imitation

Add Music

Music Appreciation: List to audio/ Attend Concert

Play music from time period or country on piano, guitar

Sing Songs

Try dancing (e.g. Old English Country Dancing, Twist, Salsa)

Add Art

Art Appreciation

Creating Art in imitation

Add Economics

Exchange Rate from country to country

Economic philosophy/international trade (compare Phoenicians to Sparta)

Natural Resources (Gold in South Africa & Venezuela)

Companies/Businesses (Nestle, Lego, Paddington Bear, KLM, Aldi)

Add Government

Kind of Government: Dictatorship, Communist, Republic, Pure Democracy, Anarchy)

Excellent Government Leaders (King Alfred, Wilberforce)

Add Philosophy

How philosophers impact later generations (Marx, Freud, Locke, Bacon)

Add Religion

Religions in a Country

Response to the Gospel

Famous church leaders, missionaries, Christian businessmen

Holidays

Add Architecture

Build things

Look at Photos of Famous Architecture

Look for similar styles in your home town

Add Theology

Are there promises fulfilled?

How did God deal with people?

How did God show mercy and grace?

Popular theology at different times: indulgences, purgatory

Theologians like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Gregory the Great & what they Believed

Sign up for our Newsletter

100 Homeschool Hacks by Meredith CurtisSign up for our newsletter and get your copy of 100 Homeschool Hacks. You can sign up here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resources

Travel God's World Cookbook by Meredith Curtis Travel to London Unit Study by Meredith Curtis Celebrate Christmas in Germany Unit Study by Meredith Curtis Travel God's World Geography by Meredith Curtis
Let's Have Our Own Archaeological Dig by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Olympic Games Let's Have Our Own Luau by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Medieval Banquet by Meredith Curtis
Let's Have Our Own Victorian Tea by Meredith Curtis American History Cookbook Ancient History Cookbook Families Learning Together: American History Art Appreciation by Meredith Curtis Cover
HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century Middle School Workbook HIS Story of the 20th Century: High School Workbook by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century Cookbook by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette

More Podcasts You Might Find Helpful

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #020, Surprise! Economics is Fun! with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Radio Network, Podcast #39, Should I Major in Music at College? with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #043, Electives We Love with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network Finish Well Radio, Podcast #059, A Hero For All Times