What We're Learning in Fourth Grade

These are the units we will be learning this year along with a few of the activities we will participate in to develop our understanding.

The third grade social studies units can be found here.

First Trimester

Presidents

A project-based unit in which students utilize print and electronic resources to research a president of choice. Students will discover presidential, i.e. party affiliation, world events during term in office, and personal information, such as occupation before president, as well as American life during the president’s term(s), i.e. how he traveled and communicated with friends. Fourth graders will present their knowledge in the form of a wax figure, time capsule, or interactive exhibit in our culminating presidential “museum.”

We will write a class constitution and celebrate Constitution Day on September 14th. Students will learn how the constitution protects the rights of citizens and outlines the structure and purpose of our government.

Presidential Election

Fourth graders will determine their own leadership abilities before analyzing presidential requirements while creating “Perfect President” job descriptions in small groups. An extensive political parties simulation is the highlight of this unit. During the simulation, students will discuss public issues that impact the daily lives of citizens and support their stance on these issues. By the end of the unit, students will be able to identify ways citizens work together to influence government and help solve problems.

Second Trimester 

America's Five Regions

A geography-emphasized unit which begins with students creating and explaining a bird’s-eye view map of their home divided into regions. Fourth graders will also differentiate between relative and exact location, transfer their knowledge of map symbols into producing a classroom map, and demonstrate using a map scale.We will explore special-purpose maps and evaluate the effect of population density on the lives of Americans in urban and rural communities.

Students will apply their map skills to indicate the route of their unique cross-country “trip” on a U.S. map. Fourth graders will learn about the economy, geography, history, people, and government of each of America’s regions. Some highlights of the trip include deciding the pros and cons of mass production through a Hershey, Pennsylvania assembly line simulation and discussing difficulties that colonists faced in Jamestown, Virginia after playing a survival board game. The trip also consists of comparing southeastern musical traditions and planning a midwestern shopping mall based on knowledge of the region. There will be a culminating project on each student’s region of choice for which they will try to persuade others to visit their region by highlighting its remarkable attributes.

Third Trimester 

Florida

Fourth graders will begin this unit by using print and electronic resources to research one of the five main Native American tribes of Florida. They will then create an artifact that represents the tribe’s culture. We will partake in a discovering The Fountain of Youth mapping and scavenger hunt experience as we identify the motivations of explorers who came to Florida.

Students will learn about the effects of European colonization in and Spanish rule of Florida. Fourth graders will explore daily life on missions. A Cracker Country field trip will wrap-up our learning about pioneer life in Florida. The year will conclude with researching the geography, government, people, history, or economics of Florida. Students will design a game, create a Prezi, or make an interactive map (by hand of digitally).

What We're Learning in Third Grade

Here are the big units we will be learning this year along with a few of the activities we will participate in to build our understanding.

First Trimester

U.S. Government

The year begins with a unit during which students will learn to justify the purpose of government. Third graders will design a model that explains the three branches of government, write a class constitution, and celebrate constitution day on September 14^th.  As a culminating project, students will decide the importance of a constitution, three branches, and levels of government while developing a school government.

  

Presidential Election

Third graders will learn to understand the role of citizens in the USA as they are taught democratic values. An extensive political parties simulation is the highlight of this unit. During the simulation, students will distinguish between facts and opinions, decide America’s most important issues, and support their stance on these issues. By the end of the unit, students will be able to infer how government gains its power from the people. 

Second Trimester

Our Community and Beyond

Inflatable globes, interactive Smartboard maps, and Google Earth are some of the tools that will help students will locate Earth’s key geographic features. Creating their own mnemonic devices for “North, South, East, West” and practicing cardinal and intermediate directions with our classroom will ensure students can determine directions. Large floor maps, “Stack the States” iPad app, and constructing U.S. maps with cut-outs of the states are some of the ways third graders will practice identifying the states.

Students will learn about the physical geography, climate, and natural resources of the United States. The Giving Tree will be used to introduce natural resources. We will compare rural communities, suburban communities, and cities. Third graders will choose between creating a 3D physical features community map or 3D product “made from” a community’s natural resources.

     

Third Trimester

Economics 

A literature-based unit which includes selecting natural, human, and capital resources needed to start a business of choice and deciding our school's top 10 capital resources. Students will also take part in a supply and demand simulation and research imports and exports.

America's Neighbors 

We will finish the year learning about Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Students will discover the physical features, climate, natural resources, landmarks, and culture of one of the countries or islands of their choice. A postcard or commercial project with related souvenirs will wrap-up the unit.