Civics

Grade 4

 

Overarching Question: Why do people want to become citizens of the United States?

 

Essential Questions:

 

¨       Why do people want to come to the United States and what does it offer?

¨       Why do U.S. historical sights become famous and what do they represent?

¨       What events or ideas do various U.S. historical sites represent?

¨       What do people gain by becoming U.S. citizens?

¨       What are the responsibilities of a citizen in the United States?

 

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

MA HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK (2003)

SAMPLE

ASSESSMENTS/LEARNING EXPERIENCES

 

The United States offers choices and “The American Dream” of prosperity.

 

Some of the major rights that immigrants acquire as citizens of the United States include:

The right to vote

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Religion

Freedom of Press

 

 

Vocabulary

 

Immigrants

Citizens

Generation

 

MA Learning Standards:

 

Give examples of the major rights that immigrants have acquired as citizens of the United States.

 

Give examples of the different ways immigrants can become citizens of the United States.

 

Observe and describe national historic sites and describe their function and significance.

 

Describe the major ethnic and religious groups of modern Canada.

 

Sample Assessments

 

Design questions to ask a person whose family is first or second generation immigrants. Include questions about why the family moved to the US, how life is different here, what is unique about life here, what do you miss about the old life? Conduct the interview and report to class.

 

Design a poster promoting the protection of some resource in the United States (the natural beauty, wildlife, civil rights, historical sites)

 

Research and report on a U.S. historical site, describing why it is famous and what it represents.

 

Sample Learning Experiences

 

Use a newspaper or other source to find current examples of people exhibiting responsible citizenship.

 

Groups research various historical monuments by topic (Presidential Monuments, War monuments, Monuments of Ancient/Past civilizations, Natural Parks, etc) Groups present how monuments are connected.