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!