Fourth Grade Social Studies
Course Description
In fourth grade, students engage in the study of events early in United States history ranging from indigenous peoples here prior to colonization through the American Revolution. An emphasis is placed on analyzing and evaluating a variety of documents, sources, and perspectives. The survey of early American history requires that students consider questions such as the essential questions listed below.
Grade Level: Fourth Grade
Related Priority Standards (State &/or National): Missouri Learning Standards for Social Studies (K-5)
KSD Priority Standards for 4th Grade Social Studies
- Construct and interpret historical and current maps, using geography to interpret the past and predict the future consequences as appropriate to topics or eras discussed (4.EG.5.A/G)
- Identify and compare diverse physical and human geographic characteristics of specific regions within the nation and analyze how their characteristics affect people who live there (4.EG.5)
- Examine roles, cultural interactions, and conflicts among Native Americans, Immigrants, African Americans, women, and others from early migration to 1800 (4.RI.6.H.3)
- Describe the causes and consequences of the discovery, exploration, and early settlement of America by Europeans as they pertain to reasons the African peoples were enslaved and brought to the Americas, the migrations of Native Americans, and westward expansion (4.H.3.A/F)
- Explain the causes of the American Revolution, including perspectives of the patriots, loyalists, Native Americans, African Americans, and European allies (4.H.3)
- Explain how the purpose and roles of government were debated in early settlements and analyze the resolutions of these disputes by courts or other legitimate authorities in US history (4.GS.2/3)
- Examine ways by which citizens have effectively voiced opinions, monitored government, and brought about change both past and present (4.PC.1)
- Explain the important principles, historical contexts, and major purposes of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights, and how each document affected people in the United States (4.H.3)
- Examine ways by which citizens have effectively voiced opinions, monitored government, and brought about change both past and present (4.PC.1)
Essential Questions
- What geographic factors contribute to how we live in each region of North America?
- Why do people migrate and how does that impact a region?
- What causes two sides to engage in conflict?
- How does the American Revolution compare to present-day conflicts?
- What was the impact of the American Revolution?
- What are the consequences of war?
Course-Level Scope & Sequence (Units &/or Skills)
Unit 1: Early North America
In this unit, students will explore geographic factors that contribute to how we live in each region of North America. Students will:
- Examine ways by which citizens have effectively voiced opinions, monitored government, and brought about change both past and present
- Distinguish among natural, capital, and human resources
- Identify and compare the physical characteristics of specific regions within the nation
- Identify different regions in the US and analyze how their characteristics affect people who live there
- Construct and interpret historical and current maps
- Use geography to interpret the past and predict the future consequences as appropriate to topics or eras discussed
Unit 2: Migration in America
In this unit, students will explore reasons people migrate and how migration impacts a region. Students will:
- Explain how the purposes and roles of government were debated c. early settlements to 1800
- Describe the migrations of native Americans prior to 1800
- Describe the reasons African peoples were enslaved and brought to the Americas prior to 1800
- Describe the discovery, exploration and early settlement of America by Europeans prior to 1800
- Examine the cultural interactions and conflict among Native Americans, Immigrants from Europe, and enslaved and free Africans and African Americans prior to 1800
- Investigate the causes and consequences of westward expansion prior to 1800
- Use geography to interpret the past and predict future consequences as appropriate to topics or eras discussed
- Conduct a public cost-benefit analysis
- Compare cultural characteristics across historical time periods in U.S. history prior to c. 1800 such as language, celebrations, customs, holidays, artistic expression, food, dress, & traditions
- Examine roles among Native Americans, Immigrants, African Americans, women and others from early migrations to 1800
Unit 3: The American Revolution
In this unit, students will explore what causes two sides to engage in conflict and examine how the causes of the American Revolution compare and contrast to present-day conflicts. Students will:
- With assistance, read and analyze the text of the Declaration of Independence to determine important principles that it contains including inalienable rights, government by the consent of the governed and the redress of grievances
- Examine ways by which citizens have effectively voiced opinions, monitored government, and brought about change, both past and present
- Examine cultural interactions and conflicts among Native Americans, Immigrants from Europe and enslaved and free Africans and African Americans prior to 1800
- Explain the causes of the American Revolution including the perspectives of patriots, loyalists, Native Americans, and European Allies
- Explain how the government utilizes taxes to provide goods and services
- Examine roles among Native Americans, Immigrants, African Americans, women, and others from early migration to 1800
Unit 4: Consequences of War (Past & Present)
In this unit, students will explore the impact on the American Revolution and the consequences of war. Students will:
- Explain the major purposes of the U.S. Constitution
- Explain how the purpose and roles of government were debated c. early settlements to 1800
- Analyze peaceful resolution of disputes by courts or other legitimate authorities in U.S. history from early settlement to c. 1800
- Describe the historical context for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
- Examine ways by which citizens have effectively voiced opinions, monitored government, and brought about change both past and present
- Explain the causes of the American Revolution, including the perspectives of patriots, loyalists, Native Americans, African Americans and European allies
- Explain how the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights affected people in the United States prior to c. 1800
- Analyze how changes in communication and transportation technologies affect people’s lives
- Examine roles among Native Americans, immigrants, African Americans, women and others from early migrations to c. 1800.
Course Resources & Materials: A variety of resources are used to support instruction of this curriculum, including primary source documents, maps, atlases, articles, trade books, and videos from Brainpop, Flocabulary, iCivics, and other online resources. As a reference, teachers may also use Everything Your Need to Ace American History in One Big Fat Notebook. In addition, two books on Paul Revere’s Ride and Pushes & Pulls: Why Do People Migrate were purchased in support of the fourth grade curriculum.
Date Last Revised/Approved: 2019