Core 400

Unearth the heritage and history of the U.S. Government

• Trace the living Constitution from its creation to modern interpretations.
• Discover the roots and underlying issues of modern political battles.
• Enjoy classics of American literature. Prepare for college and solidify writing skills that help students succeed.
• Appreciate the complexities of governing this "One Nation under God."

The how and why of our government

Many Americans think our government is pretty complicated ... and it is! But don't worry: Core 400 gives you a clear picture of not only how our government works, but why it works as it does.

This upper-level Civics and American Government course looks at the fundamental questions and development of our government from a historical perspective.

My husband John and I developed Core 400 for 17- and 18-year-old students and advanced 16-year-olds. It is designed primarily as an independent study. Students who have used other upper-level Sonlight Cores will be best equipped for the rigors of Core 400.

What you'll study

With Core 400, you learn what any standard American Government/Civics course should teach, but you also gain valuable historical perspective that many courses leave out in favor of a purely theoretical study.

Your study begins with the cultural and historical background that led to the U.S. Constitution as written. You'll get a guided examination of the Constitution itself. You will then see how the historical events and social currents of the two centuries have altered Americans' understanding of this document, such as the first president who approved unconstitutional conduct to achieve what he believed was best for the country.

Goals for Core 400

We created Core 400 to help your students understand the country in which they live and know their rights and duties as citizens.

Students will identify the key events, movements, people and ideas that helped establish the U.S. government as it is today. Students learn to recognize the historical antecedents and consequences of those events; articulate their interrelationships; and evaluate them on the basis of a Biblically-based ethic.

Students will discuss foundational political issues, but our desire is not to join the shouting matches between modern political parties. Instead, we seek to present different sides of issues fairly and help students see beyond surface rhetoric. We want your students to avoid blindly adopting the viewpoints of any particular group. We want them to know how to think for themselves and evaluate issues.

Core 400 teaches students to step back and ask key questions behind the issues. If we lived in the days of the Boston Tea Party, we would ask the question everyone else was asking (Which side are you on?) but also ask the ethical question: Is this destruction of property wise, necessary and appropriate?

As we present a broad picture of American politics, your students will learn some uncomfortable truths about our government. We look at the actual history of what our government has done--good and bad.

We do this because we want students to see the disparity that often exists between the values our government and political parties claim to uphold and the actions they actually take.

Finally, our goal is to help your students employ Scriptural values when evaluating governmental policies and actions. We then help students theorize about how they think the government ought to function.

Through all of this, we never preach the answer. But we do raise the key questions Americans must ask if they want to understand and engage their government.

Beyond the Government, Civics and History focus, Core 400 also provides a topnotch American Literature course, a complete Language Arts program and a challenging course in Bible and Theology.

Core 400 gives excellent preparation for college. Your students will work hard, read a lot, refine their study skills, learn to evaluate opposing positions fairly and be prepared for the rigors and questions college will bring.

Your Core 400 package includes:

Instructor's Guide

The Core 400 curriculum is designed as an independent study. As such, the Student Guide will chart students' paths and keep them on track each day. Your Parent Guide helps you monitor their progress and follow along; it also provides a few answers to questions in the Student Guide.

We reformatted the Core 400 guide this year to make it much easier to use. Click here for more about the improvements. Request the first three weeks of this guide for free.

History / Civics

Your primary text, Basic American Government, provides an excellent overview of the background to the Constitution, the Constitution itself and what has happened historically to bring its interpretation to its current state.

The other books in your History/Civics component exemplify our commitment to present multiple sides of the story. They let proponents of opposing views on American government put forth their best arguments. The notes and assignments in your Instructor's Guide help you evaluate these conflicting voices. You will:

• Judge arguments about the unique role (or absence thereof) of Christianity in the founding of our nation.
• Dive into the politics of the Civil War and see how Lincoln inaugurated the move toward a massive federal government.
• Uncover historical truths we often ignore because they remind us not only of our nation's greatness, but also of our missteps.

Bible / Theology

Should religious truth influence civil government? The politically correct answer is no. The Core 400 Bible and Theology program challenges that answer.

Two thought-provoking books challenge assumptions and serve as your guide to examine civil government through the lens of the Bible. This program helps you interact with Scripture in an ambitious new way.

American Literature

Core 400 is our last chance to hit the highlights of great American Literature. Students read the authors they should know before leaving high school. These include classics from John Steinbeck, Willa Cather, O. Henry, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain and more. I've interspersed easier, gripping books like The Giver and The View From Saturday to give breaks from more difficult reading.

Biographies & Historical Fiction

This component includes more of the classic stories students should know, including:

• The classic autobiography of strong Christian and former slave Booker T. Washington.
• The 1905 novel that inspired a government investigation into squalid working conditions in Chicago.
• The true story of Jim Elliot, a man who lived and died for the Gospel of Christ.

Practical Life Skills

The counter-cultural view presented in Dating With Integrity challenges your children to stop and think about how they view dating. It provides a great opportunity for you to talk with your children about interacting with members of the opposite sex.

Language Arts

This complete language arts program is fully integrated with your Core 400 literature and history studies. Continue developing key skills like literary analysis, creative writing, and academic research.

Prepare for a lifetime of citizenship

Help your students live as engaged, upright citizens with this well-rounded Core. Enjoy the lively conversations and fascinating discoveries sure to come your way.