Social Studies

Grade Four

 

Course Description:                                                              

 

The fourth grade social studies program encompasses the study of people, places, and events in the United States and New Jersey. The students will study the major strands of geography, history, government, economics, and citizenship in both New Jersey and the regions of the United States.  The general goal of the fourth grade program is to link the students more closely to history utilizing content, concepts, reading skills and geography through community and real life experiences. The program will develop the students’ understanding of their environment, culture, nation, and state and will foster patriotism and respect for diverse communities. 

 

Prerequisites:  None

 

 

Topic/Unit 1:  New Jersey’s Land and Early People       Approximate # of Weeks: 9

 

Essential Questions:

 

  1. How have people in New Jersey been influenced by their environment?
  2. Where is New Jersey located, and what are its natural regions and major cities?
  3. How did New Jersey’s natural regions form, and what are the physical characteristics in each region?
  4. How would you describe the climate and natural resources of New Jersey?
  5. Who were the Native American groups of New Jersey, and how did they live?

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

 

Civics:

  1. Explain that the world is divided into many nations consisting of territory and people, with their own government, languages, customs and laws. (6.2.E1)
  2. Identify aspects of culture and heritage presented in literature, art, music, sport, or the media. (6.2.E1)

 

United States and New Jersey History

  1. Discuss how families long ago expressed and transmitted their beliefs and values through oral tradition, literature, songs and celebrations. (6.4A1)
  2. Compare family life in a community of the present. (6.4A.2)
  3. Discuss the history of Glen Ridge. (6.4A4)
  4. Compare the major early culture of the Lenape that existed in the region that became New Jersey prior to contact with the Europeans. (6.4B1)
  5. Discuss the reasons why revolutionary leaders including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Governor William Livingston, fought for independence from England. (6.4B2)
  6. Discuss the value of the American national heritage. (6.4B8)

 

Economics

  1. Describe the products and services that are developed, manufactured or grown in New Jersey. (6.5B2)

 

Geography  

  1. Use physical and political maps to identify locations and spatial relationships of places within local and nearby communities.(6.6 A1)
  2. Identify the major cities of New Jersey, the United States and the world. (6.6A4)
  3. Locate time zones, latitude, longitude and the global grid.(6.6A6)
  4. Identify the physical and human characteristics of places and regions in New Jersey and the United States. (6.6B1)
  5. Explain changes in places and regions over time and the consequences of those changes (6.6B2)
  6. Describe the geography of New Jersey. (6.6B3)
  7. Discuss factors involved in the development of cities. (6.6B4)
  8. Describe the basic components of the Earth’s physical systems, including landforms, water, erosion, weather and climate, and discuss their impact on human development. (6.6C1)
  9. Describe the development of transportation and communication networks in New Jersey and the United States. (6.6D1, 8.2A3)
  10. Identify the distribution and characteristics for different regions of New Jersey and the United States. (6.6D2)
  11. Differentiate between living and non-living natural resources.(6.6E1)
  12. Explain the nature, characteristics and distribution of renewable and non-renewable resources.(6.6E2)

 

Suggested Activities/Ideas:

 

  • Read “Rainbow Crow, a Lenape Tale.”
  • Write a persuasive letter.
  • Make a poster of New Jersey’s regions.
  • Write a paragraph about natural resources that you use each day.
  • Make a mural that shows how the Lenape lived.
  • Write a description of each of New Jersey’s four natural regions.
  • Write a narrative from the point of view of a Lenape Indian.      
  • Draw an elevation map.
  • Make a table to categorize information about the people in a region past/present.
  • Create symbols to represent types of land in each region.

 

Suggested Project/Product Ideas:

 

  • Write an information report.
  • Make a New Jersey atlas
  • Complete a United States regions note-taking project, color-coding and organizing facts about the regions and researching to add extra facts.

 

Topic/Unit 2:   Exploration to Early Statehood                     Approximate # of Weeks: 9

 

Essential Questions:

 

  1. Why did Europeans come to North America?
  2. How was the New Jersey colony divided and settled?
  3. Why did the colonies want independence from Britain?
  4. Why and how was the new Constitution written?
  5. How did new forms of transportation change New Jersey?

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

 

Social Studies Skills

  1. Explain how present events are connected to the past. (6.1A1)
  2. Apply terms related to time including years, decades, centuries and generations. (6.1A2)
  3. Locate sources for the same information. (6.1A3)
  4. Organize events on a timeline. (6.1A4)
  5. Distinguish between an eyewitness account and a secondary account of an event. (6.1A5)
  6. Distinguish fact from fiction. (6.1A6)

 

Civics 

  1. Differentiate between power and authority. (6.2A2, 9.2B2, 9.2D3)
  2. Describe the contributions of voluntary associations and organizations in helping government provide for its citizens. (6.2A5, 9.2D2)
  3. Identify the fundamental values and principles of American democracy expressed in the Pledge of Allegiance. (6.2B1, 9.2D2)
  4. Explain the significance of symbols of American values and beliefs, including the Statue of Liberty, the Statue of Justice, the American Flag and the national anthem. (6.2B2)
  5. Describe how American values and beliefs contribute to the continuation and improvement of American democracy. (6.2B3, 9.2D2)
  6. Evaluate the importance of traditions, values and beliefs, which form a common American heritage in an increasingly diverse American society. (6.2B4)
  7. Discuss how the Constitution describes how the United States government is organized and how it defines and limits the power of government. (6.2C1)

 

United States and New Jersey History

  1. Discuss how families long ago expressed and transmitted their beliefs and values through oral tradition, literature, songs and celebrations. (6.4A1)
  2. Discuss the reasons why various groups, voluntarily and involuntarily, immigrated to America and New Jersey, and describe the problems they encountered. (6.4A3)
  3. Discuss the history of Glen Ridge. (6.4A4)
  4. Compare the major early culture of the Lenape that existed in the region that became New Jersey prior to contact with the Europeans. (6.4B1)
  5. Discuss the reasons why revolutionary leaders including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Governor William Livingston, fought for independence from England. (6.4B2)
  6. Discuss New Jersey’s role during the American Revolution. (6.4B3)
  7. Identify major documents and symbols in New Jersey and American history. (6.4B4)
  8. Identify and discuss major scientific discoveries and inventions, the scientists and inventors who developed them and their impact on life today. (6.4B5)

Economics

  1. Explain that prices are the money values of goods and services and that prices change as a result of supply and demand. (6.5A5)

 

Geography

  1. Identify the physical and human characteristics of places and regions in New Jersey and the United States. (6.6B1)
  2. Explain changes in places and regions over time and the consequences of those changes. (6.6B2)
  3. Discuss factors involved in the development of cities. (6.6B4)
  4. Describe the development of transportation and communication networks in New Jersey and the United States. (6.6D1, 8.2A3)

 

Suggested Activities Ideas:

 

  • Character sketch of George Washington.
  • Journal entry: arriving in New Netherland.
  • Compare/contrast East Jersey and West Jersey.
  • As a patriot, write a letter to Parliament explaining how the Stamp Act has taken away freedoms.
  • Give a speech supporting the new Constitution.
  • Write a paragraph describing the growth of a New Jersey city in the early 1800’s.
  • Cause and effect.
  • Write a journal entry from the point of view of an early explorer of New Jersey.
  • Write a letter dated in the early 1800’s to someone who does not live in New Jersey explaining the changes and growth of the time.

 

Suggested Project/Product Ideas:

 

·        Write a narrative.

·        Publish a newspaper.

·        Draw a comic strip.

·        Write an editorial.

·        Write classified ads.

 

 

Topic/Unit 3:  Progress as a State:

Growth and Change                                                        Approximate # of Weeks: 9

 

Essential Questions:

 

  1. How did the issue of slavery affect New Jersey?
  2. How did New Jersey grow and change in the early twentieth century?
  3. How did New Jerseyans meet challenges during difficult times?
  4. How had New Jersey changed by the end of the 1900’s?

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

 

Social Studies Skills

  1. Locate sources for the same information. (6.1A3)
  2. Organize events on a timeline. (6.1A4)
  3. Distinguish fact from fiction. (6.1A6)

 

Civics

  1. Describe the characteristics of an effective rule or law. (6.2A1)
  2. Recognize national, state and local legislators and government officials and explain how to contact them for help or to express an opinion. (6.2A4)
  3. Identify the fundamental values and principles of American democracy expressed in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the first New Jersey Constitution. (6.2B1)
  4. Describe the significant characteristics of an effective citizen and discuss ways to influence public policy. (6.2D2, 9.2D2)
  5. Describe the process by which immigrants can become United States citizens. (6.2D3)
  6. Define stereotyping and discuss how it impacts self image and interpersonal relationships. (6.2E11)

 

United States and New Jersey History

  1. Discuss the reasons why various groups, voluntarily and involuntarily, immigrated to America and New Jersey, and describe the problems they encountered. (6.4A3)
  2. Discuss the history of Glen Ridge. (6.4A4)
  3. Identify major documents and symbols in New Jersey and American history. (6.4B4)
  4. Identify and discuss major scientific discoveries and inventions, the scientists and inventors who developed them and their impact on life today. (6.4B5, 8.2A3)
  5. Discuss the experience of immigrants who came to the United States and New Jersey, including reasons for immigrating, experiences at Ellis Island, and working and living conditions in America. (6.4B6)
  6. Describe the population shift from the farm to the city in New Jersey. (6.4B7)
  7. Discuss the value of the American national heritage. (6.4B8)

 

Geography

  1. Explain changes in places and regions over time and the consequences of those changes. (6.6B2)

 

Suggested Activities/Ideas:

 

  • Make a map showing Underground Railroad stations in New Jersey.
  • Write newspaper headlines for New Jersey in the early 1900’s
  • Make a poster to inspire people to overcome challenging times of WWI, WWII or the Great Depression.
  • Write a letter persuading someone that the Civil Rights Movement is important.
  • Write a short report about New Jersey’s participation in the Civil War.
  • Summarize the changes in New Jersey’s population since the Civil War.

 

Suggested Project/Product Ideas:

 

·        Write an essay that explains how New Jersey has grown and changed from 1800 to today, including inventions and population growth.

·        Make a New Jersey timeline from 1800’s to today.

·        Paint a portrait of a person who played an important role in New Jersey history.

·        Make a table by decades to compare events from 1800 – present.

·        Make a map of the United States in 1861 and identify Union and Confederate states.

________________________________________________________

 

Topic/Unit 4: New Jersey Today                             Approximate # of Weeks: 9

 

Essential Questions:

 

  1. What are the roles of the three branches of the United States government?
  2. How are New Jersey’s state and local governments organized?
  3. What makes New Jersey a diverse state?

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

 

Civics

  1. Recognize that the government exists at the community, county, state and federal levels. (6.2A3)
  2. Describe the contributions of voluntary organizations in helping government provide for its citizens. (6.2A5)
  3. Identify the fundamental values and principles of American democracy expressed in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the first New Jersey Constitution. (6.2B1, 9.2D2)
  4. Explain the significance of symbols of American values and beliefs, including the Statue of Liberty, the Statue of Justice, the American Flag and the national anthem. (6.2B2)
  5. Describe how American values and beliefs contribute to the continuation and improvement of American democracy. (6.2B3, 9.2D2)
  6. Evaluate the importance of traditions, values and beliefs, which form a common American heritage in an increasingly diverse American society. (6.2B4)
  7. Discuss how the Constitution describes how the United States government is organized and how it defines and limits the power of government. (6.2C1)
  8. Discuss how governmental bodies make decisions and explain the impact of those decisions on school and community life. (6.2C2)
  9. Identify major services provided by state and local government. (6.2C3)
  10. Delineate the respective roles of the three branches of the federal and state governments. (6.2C4)
  11. Explain that a citizen is a legally recognized member of the United States with rights and responsibilities, such as voting in elections and serving on juries. (6.2D1, 9.2D2)
  12. Describe the significant characteristics of an effective citizen and discuss ways to influence public policy. (6.2D2, 9.2D2)
  13. Discuss how the United States interacts with other nations of the world through trade, treaties and agreements, diplomacy, cultural contacts and sometimes through the use of military force. (6.2 E2, 9.2C2)
  14. Explain why it is important for nations to communicate and resolve disagreements through peaceful means. (6.2 E3, 9.2C1)
  15. Outline the purposes of the United Nations. (6.2E4)
  16. Identify current issues that may have a global impact and discuss ways to address them. (6.2E5)
  17. Explain why it is important to understand diverse peoples, ideas and cultures. (6.2E6)
  18. Explain that even within a culture, diversity may be affected by race, religion or class. (6.2E7)