Social Studies Curriculum

Elementary (K-6) Frameworks

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Content by Grade: Grade 4

The fourth grade social studies program begins with work in geography concepts and skill development. Key civic concepts of authority, justice, privacy, and responsibility are developed during the school year. These foundations are used to provide an awareness of ancient world civilizations during the first semester. Half of the school year focuses upon exploration, contact between cultures, and colonization as the program begins the study of United States history, civics, and geography.

In fourth grade, students will:

Identify physical, cultural, social, political, and economic characteristics of selected ancient world civilizations, during the age of exploration, and settlement of the colonies up to 1776.

Explain cultural characteristics of Native Americans and others who immigrated or were forcibly moved to the Americas before 1776.

Apply map, globe, graphing, timeline, and problem solving skills to historical studies.

Compare and contrast life in selected civilizations and cultures.

Identify examples of how the present has been impacted by the past.

Identify important individuals and events in U.S. history up to 1776.

Identify examples of movement, human, environment relationships, authority, justice, privacy, responsibility, participation, conflict, cooperation, freedom, property, and diversity evident in early American history.

4th Grade Social Studies Adopted Materials
(World Geography, Early Civilizations, Exploration/Encounters, Colonization)

*Bass, Herbert. 1993. Our Country. Morristown, NJ & Needham, MA. Silver Burdett.

Braverman, M., Croddy, M., Hirsch, E., Rosen, J., Taylor, M. Law in a Free Society, Privacy. Level III. Calabasas, CA. Center for Civic Education.

Geography Tutor. 1991. Marina Del Rey, CA. TMY Sales Company.

Hakim, J. 1993. Making Thirteen Colonies. Lexington, MA. D.C. Heath or New York, NY. Oxford University Press.

Hakim, J. 1993. First Americans. Lexington, MA. D.C. Heath or New York, NY. Oxford University Press.

K-6 Geography - Themes, Key Ideas, & Learning Opportunities. 1987. Skokie, IL NCGE

Law in a Free Society. Authority, Level III. Calabasas, CA. Center for Civic Education.

Our Country, Teacher Support System. (1993). Morristown, NJ & Needham, MA. Silver Burdett/Ginn.

Quigley, C. Law in a Free Society, Justice, Level III. Calabasas, CA. Center for Civic Education.

Sterling, M. (1992). Explorers. Huntington Beach, CA. Teacher Created Materials, Inc. (TCM).

*Core materials with copies for each student are marked with an asterisk

Core materials such as literature or kits for each classroom or school which are available for every classroom do not have an asterisk. The use of these materials ranges from one copy of the material or kit per classroom to classroom sets for schools.

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