The Social studies curriculum for fourth grade
UNIT I: Native Americans
This unit of study focuses on the development of the culture and lifestyle of indigenous peoples of North America. The unit begins with the study of the prehistoric people who traveled across the land bridge connecting Asia and North America thousands of years ago. The students will study how these people used pictographs to communicate with others and the observe the changes that took place with the development of written languages. We will then examine how the climate and available resources across the continent influenced the culture and customs of the Native Americans who lived in the Eastern Woodlands, Southwest, Great Plains and Northwest geographic regions.
UNIT II: European Explorers
Students will learn about the European explorers who came for their own goals – the desire to spread Christianity and to claim land for their sponsoring nation. We will study the effects that this had, and still has to this day, on the Native Americans who already called this land home. Everyone will research an assigned explorer and complete a short presentation about their explorers.
UNIT III: The Formation of the Thirteen Colonies
Students will learn about early European settlements in the Americas and the colonization of America. They will describe the cooperation and conflict that existed among the Native Americans and the new settlers and work to understand the political, religious, social, and economic institutions of the colonial era. Students will be expected to locate and identify the 13 colonies and explain how their location and natural environment influenced their development. Students will research a colonial trade and participate in the development of a Colonial Trade Day.
UNIT IV: The American Revolution
Our final unit of the year covers the causes and impact of Revolutionary War. Students will explain the causes of the American Revolution and how political, religious and economic ideas contributed to the Revolution. They will identify the people and events associated with the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence and understand the document’s significance. Students will also describe the course of events that took place in the American Revolution and will locate and identify major battles, campaigns, and turning points of the war. Lastly, the students will learn about the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution. They will describe the significance of the new Constitution of 1787, including the struggles over its ratification and the reasons for the Bill of Rights.
This unit of study focuses on the development of the culture and lifestyle of indigenous peoples of North America. The unit begins with the study of the prehistoric people who traveled across the land bridge connecting Asia and North America thousands of years ago. The students will study how these people used pictographs to communicate with others and the observe the changes that took place with the development of written languages. We will then examine how the climate and available resources across the continent influenced the culture and customs of the Native Americans who lived in the Eastern Woodlands, Southwest, Great Plains and Northwest geographic regions.
UNIT II: European Explorers
Students will learn about the European explorers who came for their own goals – the desire to spread Christianity and to claim land for their sponsoring nation. We will study the effects that this had, and still has to this day, on the Native Americans who already called this land home. Everyone will research an assigned explorer and complete a short presentation about their explorers.
UNIT III: The Formation of the Thirteen Colonies
Students will learn about early European settlements in the Americas and the colonization of America. They will describe the cooperation and conflict that existed among the Native Americans and the new settlers and work to understand the political, religious, social, and economic institutions of the colonial era. Students will be expected to locate and identify the 13 colonies and explain how their location and natural environment influenced their development. Students will research a colonial trade and participate in the development of a Colonial Trade Day.
UNIT IV: The American Revolution
Our final unit of the year covers the causes and impact of Revolutionary War. Students will explain the causes of the American Revolution and how political, religious and economic ideas contributed to the Revolution. They will identify the people and events associated with the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence and understand the document’s significance. Students will also describe the course of events that took place in the American Revolution and will locate and identify major battles, campaigns, and turning points of the war. Lastly, the students will learn about the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution. They will describe the significance of the new Constitution of 1787, including the struggles over its ratification and the reasons for the Bill of Rights.