WCSD SOCIAL STUDIES SCOPE AND SEQUENCE: U.S. GOVERNMENT
UNIT OF
STUDY
(1ST
Semester)
Foundations
STANDARDS
TIME
FRAME
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S)
MOST IMPORTANT IDEAS TO KNOW IN
THIS UNIT
APPROX
WEEKS
C13.1-4,6&9
C14.4-9
C16.1
5-6
Who has the ultimate
power to choose & decide?
(Type of Government,
Structure, Processes, etc.)
What is the proper balance
between liberty and order
& security?
Examine and analyze the purpose of
government (Preamble, Natural Right,
State of Nature, Welfare state).
The basic ideals and principles that
characterize American democracy.
How is power distributed in the United
States?
COMMON CORE CONNECTIONS
(Close Reads, Argumentative Writing,
DBQ’s, and Research Based Discussions)
DBQ Project: “The Ideals of the Declaration.
Which is most important?”
DBQ Project: “How did the Constitution
Guard against Tyranny?”
DBQ Project: “What type of Citizen does a
Democracy need?”
Edmodo Close Read: “Federalist #10”
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion: “Federalism,
the 10th Amendment, and Medical
Marijuana Laws.”
Political
Behavior
C13.7-8
C15.1-6
G7.1&8
5-6
Who has the ultimate
power to choose & decide?
(Parties in Power, Interest
Groups, Media, etc.)
What is the proper balance
between liberty and order
& security?
How do linkage institutions (political
parties, interest groups, media, etc.)
influence U.S. democracy?
DBQ Project: “Campaign Propaganda. Which
strategies would you use?”
DBQ Project: “Should the Electoral College
be abolished?”
DBQ Project: “Should Americans be
Required to Vote?”
Edmodo Close Read: “Americas Missing
Constitutional Link.”
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion: The Daily
effect on American Politics and Political
Culture.
WCSD SOCIAL STUDIES SCOPE AND SEQUENCE: U.S. GOVERNMENT
Legislative
Branch
C14.1-3
C14.10
G8.6
4-5
Who has the ultimate
power to choose & decide?
(Laws that are made, Rules
of the Legislature, etc.)
What are the structures, powers and
processes of Congress and how does it
perform its duties?
STANDARDS
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S)
MOST IMPORTANT IDEAS TO KNOW IN
THIS UNIT
APPROX
WEEKS
C14.11
C16.2-4
Executive
Branch
TIME
FRAME
6-7
Who has the ultimate
power to choose & decide?
(Who leads the country,
what is enforced, where the
money goes, Who are our
allies, etc.)
What is the proper balance
between liberty and order
& security?
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion: The Dream
Act and the American Dream.
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion: Does the
Defense of Marriage Act Promote the
Health, Safety, Morals and General Welfare
of the Public.
What is the proper balance
between liberty and order
& security?
UNIT OF
STUDY
(2nd
Semester)
Edmodo Close Read: “Going Nowhere: A
Gridlocked Congress”
COMMON CORE CONNECTIONS
(Close Reads, Argumentative Writing,
DBQ’s, and Research Based Discussions
with hot links)
The implementation of policy through the
Executive Branch.
DBQ Project: “The Preamble and the
Federal Budget?”
Examine the budgetary process.
Edmodo Close Read: “The Selling of a
President.”
Explain the evolution of the executive’s
power.
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion: War
Powers Act and the Constitution.
What is the role of the United States in the
world?
Nixon v. US: (Coming Soon)
Iron Triangles: Eisenhower’s farewell
address and the military industrial
complex. (Coming Soon)
WCSD SOCIAL STUDIES SCOPE AND SEQUENCE: U.S. GOVERNMENT
C13.5-6
Judicial Branch C14.12&13
& Civil Rights
and Liberties
6-7
Who has the ultimate
power to choose & decide?
(The constitutional
interpretation of laws,
What rights are protected
and limited, etc.)
Examine the structure and jurisdiction of
the American court system (Federal and
State).
How has the court’s interpretation of
liberties and rights changed over time?
What is the proper balance
between liberty and order
& security?
DBQ Project: “Is the American Jury
System still a good idea?”
DBQ Project: “Search and Seizure: Did
the Government go too far?”
DBQ Project: “Should Schools be
Allowed to Limit Student Online
Speech?”
Edmodo Close Read: “Griswold v.
Connecticut.”
Edmodo Close Read: “Security v. Civil
Liberties.”
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion:
“Citizenship and the 14th Amendment.”
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion: Berghuis
v. Thomkins: Is this the will of the
people.
Project T.A.H.O.E. Discussion: “School
Uniforms: A Freedom of Expression
Violation.”
Federalist #78 (Coming Soon)
Financial
Literacy
E9.3-5
E10.2-9,11-5
E11.1,6,8-9
E12.1,3,4
2-3
How can a budget help
someone reach long term
goals?
What is the proper use of
credit?
Analyzing markets using the concepts of
supply and demand.
Understanding the government’s
involvement in the economy.
The United States role in the global
economy.
Edmodo Close Read: “Economic Fight of
the Century.”