American history AND government in one year?

[rwalizer]

I'm thinking this would be possible with two programs designed to be used one semester each. Any ideas for a pretty decent semester of American History and another of government? I am really terrible at putting my own curriculum together from library books and such, so I would really like to find some prepackaged textbook type materials to cover in one year of high school. Thanks.

[Gwen in VA]

Truthfully I can't imagine doing a decent job covering American history in one semester! American history is a meaty enough subject that it makes for a pretty full TWO semesters!

But the ladies on this board are an amazing lot, so I'm sure that someone will have some more helpful suggestions for you!

[Anna]

For a high school student, I would not attempt myself or suggest to others to put high school kids through American History in one semester. Government, yes, but not history. If you're not comfortable teaching Amer. History with whole books, there's nothing wrong with finding a decent text and going with it.

I can't post it right now but I have several main resources to use for both subjects. I'll try and post them later but if you don't see it by this evening, post me a reminder on the board.

[Christine]

Honestly, I think I'd do Am. History in a year.

Typically, Am. Gov't is a semester class.

So, I would take the Gov't and spread it out over the year -- still giving it the semester credit, but not over-burdening the child.

[Anna]

So, I would take the Gov't and spread it out over the year -- still giving it the semester credit, but not over-burdening the child.

I agree as long as your kid can spare a year to cover each of these.

A few good supplemental resources that I love, not to use as textbooks:

Stephen E. Ambrose, To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian

Edited my David Colbert, Eyewitness to America: 500 Years of American History in the Words of Those Who Saw it Happen

Sparknotes 101: U.S. History, 2 volumes

Sparknotes 101: American Government, 1 volume

[rwalizer]

Hmmm, I'm glad I asked about this. I won't be trying Am. History is a semester after all, then. I'm glad to see that government can be done in a semester, though. When I took it as a senior it was a whole year. Doing it along with history is a good idea. Thanks for the input.