Advanced Placement United States Government & Politics

Planned Instruction for Social Studies

Course:  Advanced Placement United States Government & Politics

National Standards:

NCSS 1: Culture
NCSS 2: Time, Continuity, and Change
NCSS 3: People, Places and Environment
NCSS 4: Individual Development and Identity
NCSS 5: Individual Groups and Institutions
NCSS 6: Power, Authority and Governance
NCSS 10: Civic Ideals and Practices

PA Core - Reading and Writing for History and Social Studies:

8.5 Reading Informational Text
8.6 Writing

Course Description:

The goal of the high school social studies program is to develop citizens who will be able to participate in a culturally diverse, democratic, global society. The social studies program provides an integrated study of history, geography, civics, economics, and related social studies disciplines.  The program emphasizes active learning strategies, research and inquiry skills, as well as critical thinking, reading, and writing. 

The Advanced Placement course in U.S. Government and Politics is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the foundations, functions and operations of the various layers of government of the United States of America.  The student will develop analytic perspectives for interpreting, understanding, and explaining past and current political events in the United States and, to some extent, the world community.  Students will also work to develop analytical and interpretive skills through college level reading, socratic seminars, and collaborative projects.  The course will also emphasize study skills, test-taking strategies, and writing practice to prepare for the Advanced Placement exam offered in May.  By taking this course, students satisfy the civic course requirement for graduation.

Prerequisite: Students interested in enrolling in AP U.S. Government & Politics must have already completed U.S. History I and World History II.  Students who wish to move from a Core Social Studies College Preparatory course to AP U.S. Government & Politics  must earn a final grade of 90% or higher and teacher recommendation from Core Social Studies Course.  Students who wish to move from a Core Social Studies Honors Course must earn a final grade of 85% or higher and teacher recommendation from Core Social Studies Course. 

Specific and measurable objectives directly related to the academic standards to be achieved by the students:

The specific objectives for this course are delineated in the Upper Moreland Township School District Social Studies Scope and Sequence based on the standards set forth in  Expectations of Excellence:  Curriculum Standards for Social Studies published by the National Council For The Social Studies (NCSS).  Specific objectives are also listed in the corresponding Pennsylvania State Standards for History, Geography, Economics, and Government and the AP U.S. Government and Politics Course Description.

Content to be used to reach objectives:

In order to provide a meaningful social studies education that encourages active and differentiated learning a variety of instructional strategies, activities, and materials will be utilized. 

 Materials:

Text & Digital Resources:

Wilson, J.Q., Dilulio, J.J., Bose, M., & Levendusky, M. (2017).  American Government: Institutions & Policies, AP® Version. 15th ed. Boston: Cengage.

Ancillary materials

Supplementary reading and media resources

Web based resources 

Cengage digital resources, including Mindtap and Fast Track to a 5


Instructional Activities:

In order to achieve the stated goals the following best practice strategies will be utilized:

  • opportunities to investigate topics in depth

  • opportunities to exercise choice and responsibility by choosing topics of inquiry

  • the exploration of open-ended questions that challenge thinking

  • active participation

  • modeling, scaffolding

  • Big6 research techniques

  • independent inquiry and cooperative learning

  • observing, discussing, and debating topics and issues

  • the use of written materials, primary and secondary source documents

  • audio-visual presentations

  • use of artifacts

  • effective use of technology to develop reading and writing to learn skills

Estimated Instructional time to be devoted to achieving objectives

Approximately 86 minutes per day, on an alternating  block schedule

Procedure for measurement of student progress on the stated objectives:

A variety of assessments will be used to measure student progress.  These include:

  • classroom discussions/participation

  • Before, During, and After (BDA) activities

  • FRQ (free response) assignments with accompanying rubrics

  • Written or oral analysis of  debates within the discipline

  • Preparation and participation in structured debates with accompanying rubrics

  • Entrance and Exit slips

  • Homework

  • Independent research

  • Current Events, applied in various ways, with accompanying rubrics

  • Individual and group projects with performance based rubrics

  • Journals

  • Formative and Summative tests and quizzes

  • Oral presentations with accompanying rubrics

  • Quick write activities

An explanation of how student grades will be determined:

A student’s grade will be determined through a variety of assessments per marking period.  All assessments will be designed to support students in preparing for the Advanced Placement exam, by emphasizing both content and analytical thinking.  However, in keeping with the idea that students learn in a variety of ways, these assessments will differ in structure and format to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning through tests, quizzes, projects, presentations, writing assignments, and discussion groups. Classwork and homework will be weighted 30% of the overall grade. Quizzes and tests will be weighted 70%.