When should you teach civics? For public school teens, it may be a semester course in their senior year. They’re almost voting age, so that makes sense.
But what about homeschoolers?
It often happens when there is interest in learning more. Perhaps it’s a legislative bill that a teen is interested in. Or an election. It might become an excellent learning opportunity for the entire family. It’s always easier to learn when there is a reason. You can teach your child how to be a knowledgeable citizen by using real life instead of a textbook and you can learn right along with him!
Everything You Ever Needed to Know About California Government is a free download from California Homeschool Network. It’s a good place to start.
Learn More about California Government at These Sites:
Start with the California State Capitol Museum. You’ll learn about legislation, how to locate your representatives, and learn about legislation. There’s also an educational section for kids! In the Golden State, this is a gold mine of information! Then look at these links for more information:
Current California Legislative Information
Registering to Vote
If you’re registered to vote, let your children know. If you’re not, consider registering online with your children watching. AND, if you have a teen who is 16 or older, they can now pre-register to vote thanks to the new “pre-register at sixteen. vote at eighteen” early registration!
Learn About the US Government
After you’ve explored California government, it’s a good time to move on to US Government. Here are some free resources:
Khan Academy “Foundations of American Democracy” Videos
Center for Civic Education Lesson Plans
With so many resources and an important reason to learn, suddenly a subject that is dreaded by some becomes very important and fascinating!
Look for more links on CLA’s Civics Pinterest Board.
Karen Taylor’s always homeschooled son attended a local community college after graduating from homeschooling. He transferred to UC Berkeley as a junior, and received a PhD in neuroscience from UCSF. She shares homeschooling comments and links on Facebook, Pinterest, and this blog.
