Homeschool Civics and Governance
How do you teach homeschool civics and government?
So many homeschooling families wish to guide their children to be discerning and to be critical thinkers, particularly within the realm of current affairs and citizenship, but they aren’t sure where to begin. The complexities of their system of government may be something they aren’t sure about, let alone feel confident enough to teach it to their own children. They worry about how they will answer questions that they simply don’t know the answer to. It is impossible to pick up a single book that teaches them all they need to know on the subject so often it is left to the side and leaves parents feeling discouraged and children ill-informed.
However, it doesn’t have to be like that in your homeschool! There are so many ways you can confidently teach your child about systems of government. Whether it is examining the different levels of government within your country, the qualities and characteristics of a good leader, ensuring they recognise flags and emblems to identify places and nations, or delve into the topics of current affairs of the day, there is so much scope within Civics and Governance to make this a dynamic subject in your homeschool.
How To Teach Homeschool Civics With Confidence
Civics and Governance is generally a theme within the subject of Social Studies, which offers a broad and exciting opportunity to teach students about places, people, diversity, history, economics and decision-making. Within the My Homeschool graded courses we approach this multi-faceted subject by examining the way a country is governed alongside learning about the geography of a place, its peoples and history. This is more than just memorising the leaders of our nations, this is fully understanding the mechanics of how countries are governed, teaching them how decisions are made, issues resolved, and how individual countries sit within the broader global community.
First Lessons In Homeschool Civics
Within the My Homeschool courses younger children start to learn the symbols of their nation. They will appreciate why countries have flags and anthems and understand that not all countries are governed in the same way. They will move into learning about the leaders of nations through well-written biographies that will engage your child.
Flag Lapbooks
Homeschool Civics For Middle School
For older students, they start to identify the processes and machinations of decision making and the intricacies of ruling a nation. Pinpointing the opportunities for individuals and groups to be involved in the decision making and seeing the ways citizens’ contributions are valued are key aspects of teaching your teenager about how they can be a good citizen too. But don’t just examine the characteristics of modern rule: dive deeper and see how learning about rulers and leaders of the past can enrichen their appreciation of the characteristics and qualities of a good leader. A key skill for emerging voters!
Understanding How Government Works
Your child will better understand what government does and what they are responsible for, who their elected members are, and what their roles and responsibilities include. They will also learn about court systems and how our legal systems operate: essential for any budding lawyers! Most importantly, they will see how all countries are involved on the global stage, how nations interact, support and trade with one another, and the contributions the United Nations make to better understand our broader global community.
Laying A Good Foundation
Teaching Civics and Governance well is crucial. All students need to know how things work. They also need to know that they have a voice and that governance isn’t just something that happens in Canberra, Australia or Washington DC in the USA.
Lessons In Leadership
When students know how leaders are chosen it makes it easier for them to participate in this process and help to choose the leaders they want to represent them. When students are guided to understand the qualities that make good leaders they themselves will discern, and vote for, those good leaders. When students are well informed they will make better decisions and participate in higher order discussions about the topics that matter to all citizens. By teaching Civics and Governance well your student will be able to recognise the hallmarks of a leader. They will know the process by which laws are passed or amended, and are then informed to know their rights and responsibilities but also how they too can encourage new laws or amendments to be made to better govern their nation. Voting, jury service, or passing legislation will no longer be a mystery to them and they can listen to the current affairs of the day as an informed citizen.
Our world needs well informed, active citizens
We need our children to know their rights and responsibilities. We want to encourage our children to lead in their chosen fields of expertise.
Don’t skimp on this part of education or short-change your child. Give them a proper civics education that teaches them how their government works and how the various branches of government work together. Teach them about the checks and balances within the system and watch them thrive as a citizen.
