Citizenship Together: Simplified Civics for Your Homeschool

Are you ready to make civics a fun and engaging part of your homeschool? Pam Barnhill and Meg Angelino discuss the new "Citizenship Together" curriculum, designed to bring government and citizenship concepts to life through detailed, engaging lessons. Meg, with her extensive background in history and education, shares practical tips for seamlessly integrating this curriculum into your homeschool, making planning easier and more efficient.

In this episode, Pam and Meg tackle the challenges of creating unbiased educational materials and explain how "Citizenship Together" can help your family have respectful political discussions. They highlight the importance of teaching kids about government functions, election processes, and their impact on everyday life. Tune in to learn how to foster closer family relationships while making learning about civics enjoyable and relevant for your children.

Resources and Links: 

• Citizenship Together Curriculum
• HSBT Community
• For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters by Jeff Foster

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the benefits of teaching citizenship and civics through a curriculum designed to be inclusive and manageable for homeschool families, reinforcing children's understanding of their roles and responsibilities in society.
• Learn about discerning accurate information on social media and the internet, and the importance of teaching young people to critically evaluate sources and understand government-related topics.
• Engage children in respectful political discussions, helping them understand that divergent opinions can be discussed civilly, and the importance of these discussions in fostering a healthy understanding of democratic processes.
• Explore the comprehensive unit that covers various aspects of government and elections, from the presidency to local elections, branches of government, special interest groups, and the supreme court, emphasizing their interconnectedness.
• Understand the significance of integrating primary sources like the Constitution and Bill of Rights into the curriculum, and how discussions and activities around these documents can deepen children's understanding of US government principles.
• Hear about practical ways to involve children in the political process, such as taking them to vote, visiting polling places, and participating in local community activities, making the experience educational and memorable.
• Recognize the importance of making learning feel personal and relatable by using the term "citizenship" over "civics," and how this approach helps children connect more deeply with the subject matter and their role in the community.

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt11

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