Grade 4 Social Studies
Regions of the United States Canada Mexico Ancient China
Regions of the United States Use map and globe skills to determine absolute locations (latitude and longitude) of places studied. (G) Interpret a map using information from its title, compass rose, scale, and legend. (G) Observe and describe national historic sites and describe their function and significance (e.g.. Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Museums, Library of Congress, White House, Capitol, Washington Monument, National Archives, Arlington National Cemetery, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Mount Vernon) (H,C) On a map of North America, locate the United States, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi and Rio Grande Rivers, the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and the Rocky and the Appalachian Mountain Ranges (G). Locate the current boundaries of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Locate the major regions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (G) Identify the states, state capitals, and major cities in each region. (G) Describe the climate, major physical features, and major natural resource in each region. (G) Identify and describe unique features of the United States (e.g. the Everglades, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the Redwood Forest, Yellowstone Park, and Yosemite National Park) (G) Identify the five different European countries (France, Spain, England, Russia, and the Netherlands) that influenced different regions of the present U.S. at the time the New World was being explored and describe how their influence can be traced to place names, architectural features, and language. (H,G)
Describe the diverse nature of the American people and the contributions to the American culture made by various ethnic groups in each region of the United States. (H, G) Resources Geography in Our World Travel Across America Series. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2002. Math in Our World Reference Book World Tour Section Lillis, Julie Seyfert. A Day in the Life of Washington, D.C. New York: Harcourt. Atlases, globes, wall maps Individual blank United States maps for each student. Massachusetts Standards Correlation Guide; Massachusetts Studies Weekly People and Places. Scott-Foresman Reading Series Leveled Readers Home on the Range (BL) 4.2.2 On a Ranch (A) 4.2.2 A World Tour of Culture (BL) 4.2.3 Geography Shapes Our World (A) 4.2.3 Lumberjacks (BL) 4.2.4 Florida Everglades (BL) 4.1.1 Price of a Pipeline (A) 4.3.5 Lewis and Clark (OL) 4.1.2 Two Great Rivers (A) 4.1.2 The Long Trip West (BL) 4.1.2 This Land is Our Land (BL) 4.1.5 The Amazing Geography of the West (OL) 4.1.5 Anthology Coyote School News 4.2.2 Lewis and Clark and Me 4.1.2 Letters Home from Yosemite 4.1.5 Because of Winn-Dixie 4.1.1
Grandfather s Journey 4.1.3 Marven of the Great Northern Woods 4.2.4 Websites Recommended: http://www.mrdonn.org/states.html#fifty www.weblessons.com www.sfsocialstudies.com/indextwo.html# Essential Questions 1. What are the major physical features of the regions of the United States? 2. What are the climate regions of the United States? 3. What are the fifty states? 4. What are the capitals and major cities of the United States? 5. What are the major monuments and historical sites in Washington, D.C.? 6. What contributions have immigrants made to the culture of America? 7. How does immigration contribute to the diverse nature of the American people? 8. How have the countries of France, Spain, England, Russia, and the Netherlands influenced different regions of the present United States? Assessment Given a teacher-created assessment, children will demonstrate their knowledge of the contributions made by various immigration groups in the pertinent regions of the United States. Given a blank map of the U.S., students will locate, identify, and label the states, capitals, and major cities. Given a blank map of the U.S., students will create a map key to illustrate the major physical features and climate regions of the United States. Given a major monument or historical site in Washington, D.C., students will research and report to classmates.
Canada On a map of North America, locate Canada, its provinces, and major cities. (G) Describe the climate, major physical characteristics, and major natural resources of Canada and explain their relationship to settlement, trade, and the Canadian money. (G,E) Describe the major ethnic and religious groups of modern Canada. (G, H, C, E) Identify when Canada became an independent nation and explain how independence was achieved. (H, G) Identify the location of at least two Native American tribes in Canada (e.g. Kwakiutl and Micmac) and the Inuit nation and describe their major features. Identify the major language groups in Canada, their geographic location, and the relations among them. (H,G) Resources Assorted DVDs Website: www.weblessons.com Essential Questions What are the provinces and major cities of Canada? What is the climate, major physical characteristics and major natural resources of Canada and explain their relationship to settlement, trade, and the Canadian economy?
What are the major ethnic and religious groups of modern Canada? How and when did Canada become an independent nation? What are the locations and the major social features of the Kwakiutl and Micmac tribes and the Inuit nation? What are the major language groups of Canada and their geographic location? Assessment Given a teacher-created assessment, children will demonstrate their knowledge of the geographic locations of the Canadian provinces and their capitals. Given a Canadian province, students will create travel brochures.
Mexico On a map of North America, locate Mexico and its major cities. (G)* Describe the climate, major physical characteristics, and major natural resources of Mexico and explain their relationship to the Mexican economy. (G) Identify the language, major religion, and peoples of Mexico. (H) Identify when Mexico became an independent nation and describe how independence was achieved (H,G) Resources Assorted DVDs Supples, Kevin. Mexico. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2002. Website: http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html www.weblessons.com Essential Questions Where is Mexico and where are its major cities? What are the climate, major landforms and major natural resources of Mexico? What is the national language of Mexico, and what is its major religion? How and when did Mexico become an independent nation?
Assessment Given a teacher-created assessment, students will demonstrate their knowledge of the geographic locations of the Mexican states and their capitals. Given a blank flipbook, students will demonstrate their knowledge of Mexican climate, major landforms, major natural resources, history, and major religion.
Ancient China On a map of Asia, locate China, the Huang He (Yellow) River and Chang Jiang (Yangtze) Rivers, and the Himalayan Mountains. (G) Describe the topography and climate of eastern Asia, including the importance of mountain ranges and deserts, and explain how geography influenced the growth of Chinese civilization. (G, E) Describe the ideographic writing system used by the Chinese (characters, which are symbols for concepts/ideas) and how it differs from an alphabetic writing system. (H) Describe important technologies of China such as bronze casting, silk manufacture, and gunpowder. (H, E) Identify who Confucius was and describe his writings on good government, codes of proper conduct, and relationships between parent and child, friend and friend, husband and wife, and subject and ruler. (H, C) Describe how the First Emperor unified China by subduing warring factions, seizing land, centralizing government, imposing strict rules, and creating with the use of slave labor large state building projects for irrigation, transportation, and defense (e.g., the Great Wall). (H, C, E) After visiting a museum, listening to a museum educator in school, or conducting research in the library, describe an animal, person, building, or design depicted in an ancient Chinese work of art. (H, G)
Resources Supples, Kevin. China. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2002. China Packet (compiled by Anne Sullivan) Assorted DVDs Website: www.weblessons.com Essential Questions Where are the Huang He (Yellow) River, Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River, and the Himalayan Mountains, located in the country of China? How has the topography and climate of eastern Asia influenced the growth of Chinese civilization? What is the writing system of China? What are some important technological contributions of China? (gunpowder, bronze casting, and silk manufacturing) Who was Confucius and why were his teachings important? What is the importance of the first Emperor of China? What is commonly depicted in ancient Chinese works of art? Assessment Given a blank map of China, students will locate and identify major physical features. Given a Venn diagram, students will compare/contrast the culture of Ancient China to today s culture. Given a blank scroll, students will create illustrations depicting typical images from ancient Chinese art. Given a Confucius saying, children will determine its significance.
FOURTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES WISH LIST Updated globes and wall maps Large blank maps of the U.S. for each student to color and label. National Geographic Travels Across America Classroom Set of 5 Regions National Geographic School Publishing National Geographic Civilizations Past to Present (China and Mexico) - National Geographic School Publishing Assorted literacy books TBA by literacy team Massachusetts Studies Weekly, People and Places weekly newspaper stressing the MA frameworks for fourth graders (student cost is $4.70 per year)