Social Studies: Fourth Gradev. 2016-2017

Social Studies: Fourth Grade

This course focuses on the similarities and differences across Pennsylvania and the regions of the United States to promote geographic and historical awareness and civic competency. Students will use geographic tools to identify, describe, and compare the physical and human characteristics of Pennsylvania and the regions of the United States.

Course Information:

Frequency & Duration: Averaging 30 minutes; 5 days per week; full year

Text: My World: Regions of Our Country - Pearson

Content: Geographic Tools/Physical and Human Characteristics of Regions / Duration: August/September (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / How does geography affect the way we live?
Skill: /

Organize and interpret information based on geographic tools
Identify, define, describe, and locate physical and human features
Identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions
Identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community

Assessment: /

Students will be able to identify and describe how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places and environment.
Students will be able to identify, describe, and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
Students will be able to identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the human characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 1; pages 1-33
Optional-Leveled Reader
Standards: / 7.1.3.A. Identify how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places and environment.
7.1.4.A. (5.A) Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environment.
7.1.3.B.Identify and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features
7.1.4.B.(5B) Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
7.2.3.A. (4.A) Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.
7.2.5.A. Describe the characteristics of places and regions.
7.2.3.B.(4B; 5B) Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.
7.3.3.A.(4A; 5A) Identify the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria: Population, Culture, Settlement, Economic activities, Political activities
7.4.3.A. (4A) Identify the effect of the physical systems on people within a community.
7.4.3.B.(4B; 5B) Identify the effect of people on the physical systems within a community.
Vocabulary: / Absolute Location-a definite location to locate a place, such as longitude and latitude or street address; Environment-the surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant lives; Human Features-how humans adapt to and modify the environment; map-representation of an area of land; Movement- ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication migrate across the planet; Physical Features- land features and bodies of water of the environment; Place-the physical and human characteristics of a location; Region-an area defined by its common features; Relative Location-a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places

Comments:

Content: States and Government / Duration: October (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / What is special about American government?
Skill: /

Explain rules and laws for the state
Identify State Symbols
Describe the roles of leaders/ public services
Identify the role of the Three Branches of Government
Describe how state laws are made
Identify services performed by state governments
Identify positions of authority at the state level
Explain the voting process
Explain actions as just or unjust
Explain different perspectives that cause conflict
Examine different ways conflicts can be resolved

Assessment: /

Given a state law/ rule students are able to explain what it means.
Given a state the students will be able to identify its symbols.
Students will be able to describe the roles of leaders/ public services at the state level.
Given a branch of the government students will identify its roles.
Students will recognize how elected representatives create state laws.
Identify services performed by state governments.
Identify positions of authority at the state level.
The students will be able to explain the voting process.
Given an action students will be able to describe if it is just or unjust.
Students will explain how different perspectives can led to conflict.
Students will examine different ways conflicts can be resolved.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 3; pages 57-75
Optional: Leveled Readers
Standards: / 5.1.4.B. Explain rules and laws for the classroom, school, community, and state.
5.1.4.F. Identify state symbols, national symbols, and national holidays.
5.2.4.C. Describe the roles of leadership and public service in school, community, state, and nation.
5.3.4.A. Identify the roles of the three branches of government.
5.3.4.B. Describe how the elected representative bodies function in making local and state law
5.3.4.C. Identify the services performed by local and state governments.
5.3.4.D. Identify positions of authority at the local and state, and national level.
5.3.4.E. Explain the voting process.
5.3.3.F. Explain how an action may be just or unjust.
5.3.4.F. Explain how different perspectives can lead to conflict.
5.3.5.F. Examine different ways conflicts can be resolved.
Vocabulary: / Government- the system that makes the rules and laws that guide our country; State- organized political community under one system of government

Comments:

Content: Northeast Region of the United States / Duration: November/ December (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / How does where we live affect who we are?
Skill: /

Organize and interpret information based on geographic tools
Identify, define, describe, and locate physical and human features
Identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions
Identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community

Assessment: /

Students will be able to identify and describe how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environment.
Students will be able to identify, describe, and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
Students will be able to identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the human characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 5; pages 103-175
Optional: Leveled Reader
Standards: / 7.1.3.A.; 7.1.4.A. (5.A); 7.1.3.B.; 7.1.4.B.(5B); 7.2.3.A. (4.A); 7.2.5.A.; 7.2.3.B.(4B; 5B); 7.3.3.A.(4A; 5A); 7.4.3.A. (4A); 7.4.3.B.(4B; 5B)
Vocabulary: / Absolute Location- a definite location to locate a place, such as longitude and latitude or street address; Environment- the surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant lives; Human Features- how humans adapt to and modify the environment; Map- representation of an area of land; Movement- ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication migrate across the planet; Physical Features- land features and bodies of water of the environment; Place- the physical and human characteristics of a location; Region- an area defined by its common features; Relative Location- a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places

Comments:

Content: Southeast Region of the United States / Duration: December/January (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / How does where we live affect who we are?
Skill: /

Organize and interpret information based on geographic tools
Identify, define, describe, and locate physical and human features
Identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions
Identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community

Assessment: /

Students will be able to identify and describe how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places and environment.
Students will be able to identify, describe, and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
Students will be able to identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the human characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 6; pages 176-215
Standards: / 7.1.3.A.; 7.1.4.A. (5.A); 7.1.3.B.; 7.1.4.B.(5B); 7.2.3.A. (4.A); 7.2.5.A.; 7.2.3.B.(4B; 5B); 7.3.3.A.(4A; 5A); 7.4.3.A. (4A); 7.4.3.B.(4B; 5B)
Vocabulary: / Absolute Location- a definite location to locate a place, such as longitude and latitude or street address; Environment- the surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant lives; Human Features- how humans adapt to and modify the environment; Map- representation of an area of land; Movement- ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication migrate across the planet; Physical Features- land features and bodies of water of the environment; Place- the physical and human characteristics of a location; Region- an area defined by its common features; Relative Location- a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places

Comments:

Content: Midwest Region of the United States / Duration: January/February (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / How does where we live affect who we are?
Skill: /

Organize and interpret information based on geographic tools
Identify, define, describe, and locate physical and human features
Identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions
Identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community

Assessment: /

Students will be able to identify and describe how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places and environment.
Students will be able to identify, describe, and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
Students will be able to identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the human characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 7; pages 216-249
Optional: Leveled Reader
Standards: / 7.1.3.A.; 7.1.4.A. (5.A); 7.1.3.B.; 7.1.4.B.(5B); 7.2.3.A. (4.A); 7.2.5.A.; 7.2.3.B.(4B; 5B); 7.3.3.A.(4A; 5A); 7.4.3.A. (4A); 7.4.3.B.(4B; 5B)
Vocabulary: / Absolute Location- a definite location to locate a place, such as longitude and latitude or street address; Environment- the surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant lives; Human Features- how humans adapt to and modify the environment; Map- representation of an area of land; Movement- ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication migrate across the planet; Physical Features- land features and bodies of water of the environment; Place- the physical and human characteristics of a location; Region- an area defined by its common features; Relative Location- a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places

Comments:

Content: Southwest Region of the United States / Duration: February/March (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / How does where we live affect who we are?
Skill: /

Organize and interpret information based on geographic tools
Identify, define, describe, and locate physical and human features
Identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions
Identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community

Assessment: /

Students will be able to identify and describe how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places and environment.
Students will be able to identify, describe, and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
Students will be able to identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the human characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 8; pages 250-289
Optional: Leveled Readers
Standards: / 7.1.3.A.; 7.1.4.A. (5.A); 7.1.3.B.; 7.1.4.B.(5B); 7.2.3.A. (4.A); 7.2.5.A.; 7.2.3.B.(4B; 5B); 7.3.3.A.(4A; 5A); 7.4.3.A. (4A); 7.4.3.B.(4B; 5B)
Vocabulary: / Absolute Location- a definite location to locate a place, such as longitude and latitude or street address; Environment- the surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant lives; Human Features- how humans adapt to and modify the environment; Map- representation of an area of land; Movement- ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication migrate across the planet; Physical Features- land features and bodies of water of the environment; Place- the physical and human characteristics of a location; Region- an area defined by its common features; Relative Location- a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places

Comments

Content: West Region of the United States / Duration: March/April (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / How does where we live affect who we are?
Skill: /

Organize and interpret information based on geographic tools
Identify, define, describe, and locate physical and human features
Identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions
Identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community

Assessment: /

Students will be able to identify and describe how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places and environment.
Students will be able to identify, describe, and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
Students will be able to identify and describe the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the human characteristics of places and regions.
Students will be able to identify the effect of the physical systems and people within a community.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 9; pages 290-327
Optional: Leveled Readers
Standards: / 7.1.3.A.; 7.1.4.A. (5.A); 7.1.3.B.; 7.1.4.B.(5B); 7.2.3.A. (4.A); 7.2.5.A.; 7.2.3.B.(4B; 5B); 7.3.3.A.(4A; 5A); 7.4.3.A. (4A); 7.4.3.B.(4B; 5B)
Vocabulary: / Absolute Location- a definite location to locate a place, such as longitude and latitude or street address; Environment- the surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant lives; Human Features- how humans adapt to and modify the environment; Map- representation of an area of land; Movement- ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication migrate across the planet; Physical Features- land features and bodies of water of the environment; Place- the physical and human characteristics of a location; Region- an area defined by its common features; Relative Location- a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places

Comments:

Content: Pennsylvania / Duration: April/June (8 weeks)
Essential Question: / In what ways is Pennsylvania special?
Skill: /

Identify key ideas about government
Identify the individual rights guaranteed by PA Constitution
Identify Individual Rights and Needs
Identify social, political, cultural, and economic contributions in PA
Differentiate common characteristics of social, political, cultural, and economic groups in PA
Compare and contrast common characteristics of social, political, cultural, and economic groups in PA

Assessment: /

The students will be able to identify key ideas of the PA Constitution.
Given the PA Constitution students will identify guaranteed individual rights.
Students will be able to name individual rights and needs and rights and needs of others in the state.
Students will identify the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups from Pennsylvania.
Students will differentiate common characteristics of social, political, cultural, and economic groups in PA.
Students will compare and contrast common characteristics of social, political, cultural, and economic groups in PA.

Resources: / Textbook Chapter 10-11, pages 330-397
Optional: Leveled Readers
Standards: / 5.1.4.D. Identify key ideas about government found in significant documents:
5.1.5.E. Identify the individual rights guaranteed by the P A Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.
5.2.5.A. Identify individual rights and needs and the rights and needs of others in the classroom, school, community, state, and nation.
8.2.3.A. Identify the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups from Pennsylvania.
8.2.4.A. Differentiate common characteristics of the social, political, cultural, and economic groups from Pennsylvania.
8.2.5.A. Compare and contrast common characteristics of the social, political, cultural, and economic groups from Pennsylvania.
Vocabulary: / Commonwealth- state; Constitution-a plan of government; Culture-a way of life for a group of people; Economy- the way a place uses its resources to produce goods and services

Comments