History/Social Studies Curriculum Overview

Grade 4

 

North American Geography

 

     In grade 4 students study the geography and people of the United States today.  Students learn geography by addressing standards that emphasize political and physical      geography and embed five major concepts: location, place, human interaction with the environment, movement, and regions,  In addition, they learn about the geography and people of contemporary Mexico and Canada. (MA History and Social Science Curriculum Framework 2003)

 

Civics

Geography

History

Economics

Overarching Question:

 

Why do people choose to become citizens of the United States?

 

Enduring Understandings:

 

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

 

Citizens of the United States are  guaranteed certain rights by the Constitution including;

The right to vote

Freedom of speech

Freedom of religion

Freedom of press

 

Several National Historic Sites commemorate important individuals and events in our history

 

 

Overarching Question:

 

How does where you live affect how you live?

 

Enduring Understandings:

 

North America is a continent made up of many countries.  The three largest are Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

 

The U.S. encompasses several different geographic regions.

 

Location, topography, and climate are what define a region.

 

The world has political and physical geographic boundaries.

 

Land, economy, and culture are interconnected.

 

Maps are useful tools for locating and identifying areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overarching Question:

 

Why do people migrate?

 

Enduring Understandings:

 

People immigrate to different parts of the world in search of a better life.

 

The United States is a nation of immigrants who came from all over the world.

 

Some immigrants were brought to the United States against their will as slaves.

 

Canada and Mexico are large independent North American nations that achieved their independence in different ways.

 

 

 

 

Overarching Question:

 

How do the resources of a region affect its development?

 

Enduring Understandings:

 

The United States has a rich variety of

 natural resources.

 

Scarcity of resources compels people and

 communities to make choices about goods

 and services.

 

The interaction of buyers and sellers

influences the prices of goods and services in markets.