Social Studies Curriculum
Grade 4 - Unit 2
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September - November
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December - February
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March - June
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Three Worlds Meet in New York (Geography and Native Americans)
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Colonial America and Revolutionary War
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Formation of our National and Local Government
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Industrial Revolution, Erie Canal and Immigration
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Themes, Understandings And Overarching Essential Questions For This Unit
Theme 4: Geography, Humans and the Environment
- Understanding: Where we live affects how we live.
- Essential Question: How does where someone lives affect how they live?
Theme 5: Development and Transformation of Social Structures
- Understanding: Some people and groups have more power than others.
- Essential Questions: How do individuals and groups influence socienty?
Theme 6: Power, Authority and Governance
- Understanding: American Government exists to help its citizens.
- Essential Questions: What is the role of Government?
Theme 8: Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems
- Understanding: Decisions are based on needs, wants and consequences.
- Essential Question: How do our needs and wants affect our decisions?
Theme 10: Global Connections and Exchange
- Understanding: Interactions between groups of people can benefit some, while harming others.
- Essential Question: How does trade influence relationships between cultures and nations?
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Specific Essential Questions For This Unit
Theme 4: Geography, Humans and the Environment
- How did the geography of the Americas influence the development unique regional cultures and identities?
Theme 5: Development and Transformation of Social Structures
- How did the relationship between England and the American colonies create a difference in political philosophy?
Theme 6: Power, Authority and Governance
- What can we learn about American political philosophy from the Declaration of Independence?
- Why did the colonies revolt?
Theme 8: Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems
- How did the economic and business relationship between England and the American colonies create conflict?
Theme 10: Global Connections and Exchange
- Why did colonists come to the Americas?
- Why did some colonists support independence, while others remained loyal to the British?
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By The End Of This Unit Students Should Know
Theme 4: Geography, Humans and the Environment
- Key ideas: The New England, Middle, and Southern colonies developed unique regional identities based on their geography and economies.
- Key Vocabulary: border, colonist, colony, landform, river, rural, settlement
- Key People and Places: New Amsterdam, New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant
Theme 5: Development and Transformation of Social Structures
- Key ideas: Many American colonists felt that they were being treated unfairly by the British. Many American colonists began to revolt against British economic and political policies..
- Key Vocabulary: Boston Tea Party, boycott, endowed, grievance, Intolerable Acts, liberty, parliament, rebel, repeal, Quarterly Act, Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Townsend Acts of 1767.
Theme 6: Power, Authority and Governance
- Key ideas: The Declaration of Independence stresses the important ideas of American political philosophy. American government is based on freedom, independence and equality.
- Key Vocabulary: American Revolution, consent, Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, declare, derive, document, excerpt, government, inalienable, independence, interdependence, peer, position, pursuit, retreat, self evident, significant, Sons of Liberty, surrender, turning,point
Theme 8: Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems
- Key ideas: Many American colonists felt that they were being treated unfairly by the British. Many American colonists began to revolt against British economic and political policies.
- Key Vocabulary: Boston Tea Party, boycott, endowed, grievance, Intolerable Acts, liberty, parliament, rebel, repeal, Quarterly Act, Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Townsend Acts of 1767.
Theme 10: Global Connections and Exchange
- Key ideas: Colonist came to the Americas seeking political freedom, religious freedom, and economic opportunity. Some colonists felt safe and loyal to the British Government, while others wanted more economic and political rights and freedoms than the British were giving them.
- Key Vocabulary: ally, French and Indian War, loyalist, militia, minutemen, Neutral, patriot, tory, tradition, viewpoint, whig
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By The End Of This Unit Students Should Be Able To
Theme 4: Geography, Humans and the Environment
- Identify the geographical features of the New England, Middle and Southern colonies using political and topographical maps.
- Explain using specific examples how geography affected the development of unique cultures in different colonial regions.
Theme 5: Development and Transformation of Social Structures
- Explain the relationship between a mother country and her colonies.
- Interpret primary and secondary sources to show British economic and political philosophy and American colonial responses to British policies.
Theme 6: Power, Authority and Governance
- Analyze the Declaration of Independence to identify American political ideals. Illustrate modern examples of the importance of freedom, independence and equality in America.
Theme 8: Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems
- Explain the relationship between a mother country and her colonies.
- Interpret primary and secondary sources to show British economic and political philosophy and American colonial responses to British policies.
Theme 10: Global Connections and Exchange
- Identify why colonist came to America and compare this to modern immigration.
- Evaluate the arguments of patriots and loyalists.
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Enrichment Resources
Suggested Books
- Andrejko, Joan et al. New
York State Activity Book Grade Four. New York: Harcourt Brace &
Company, 1993. (Out of Print)
- Banks, James A. et
al. New York Adventures in Time and Place. New York:
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, 1998.
- Benchley, Nathaniel. Small Wolf. USA:
Harper Trophy, 1994. An I Can Read Book, Level 3. (Level J)
- Bierhorst, John, ed. The Naked Bear: Folktales
of the Iroquois. (Out of Print)
New York: William Morrow & Co., 1987.
- Brundin, Judith A. The Native People of the
Northeast Woodlands: An Educational Resources Publication. New York:
Museum of the American Indian, 1990. (Out of Print)
- Cohlene, Terri. Little Firefly: An Algonquian
Legend. USA: Troll Associates, 1990. (Level P)
- Doherty, Craig A. and Katherine M. The Iroquois.
New York: Franklin Watts, 1991.
- Dominic, Gloria. Song of the Hermit Thrush: An
Iroquois Legend. USA: Troll Associates, 1996.
- Duvall, Jill. The Tuscarora. Chicago,
Illinois: Childrens Press, 1991.
- Duvall, Jill. The Seneca. Chicago,
Illinois: Childrens Press, 1991. (Also has titles of other tribes.) (Out
of Print)
- Freed, Stanley A. “Lacrosse: Yesterday and Today.”
Cobblestone (Nov. 1994), pp 32-35. (Out of Print)
- Gaines, Richard M., Gray-Kanatiiosh, Barbara A., Algonquin.
Checkerboard Books, 2000. (Out of Print)
- Holling, Holling Clancy. Paddle to the Sea.
Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1969.
- Horizons. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2004. (Out of
Print)
- Killoran, James et al. Learning About New York
State. Lake Ronkonkoma, NY: Jarrett Publishing Co., 2000. (Out of
Print)
- Killoran, James et al. New York: Its Land and
People. Lake Ronkonkoma, NY: Jarrett Publishing Co., 1997. (Out of
Print)
- Larkin, F. Daniel et al. New York Yesterday and
Today. Morristown, NJ: Silver-Burdett & Ginn, 1990. (Out of Print)
- Levine, Ellen. If You
Lived With the Iroquois. New York,
Scholastic, 1998. (Level M)
- Maestro, Betsy and Guilio. Discovery of America.
New York, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1991.
- Ney, Marian W. Indian America: A Geography of
North American Indians. Cherokee, NC: Cherokee Publications, 1977.
- Quiri, Patricia Ryon. The Algonquians. New
York: Franklin Watts, 1992
- Ridington, Jillian and Robin. People of the
Longhouse. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre, 1982.
- Robbins, Mari Lu. Native American: Tales and
Activities. Huntington Beach, CA: Teacher Created Materials, 1996.
- Rubins, Diane Teitel. Native Americans:
Project, Games, and Activities. USA: Troll Associates, 1994. (Out of
Print)
- Seabury, Debra and Peeples, Susan. Ready-to-Use
Social Studies Activities For the Elementary Classroom. West Nyack,
NY: The Center for Applied Research in Education, 1989.
- Sesso, Gloria and Charles
Welles Feder. The New York State Story.
Austin, TX:Steck-Vaughn Company, 2002.
- Shaw, Maura. Pedro’s Journal. Shawangunk
Press: 1994. (Out of Print)
- Spizzirri, Linda, ed. An Educational Read and
Color Book of the Northeast Indians. Rapid City, SD: Spizzirri
Publishing Co., 1982. (Out of Print)
- Siegel, Beatrice. Indians of the Northeast
Woodlands. New York: Walker & Co., 1992.
- Shenandoah, Joanne and George, Douglas, M. Skywoman:
Legends of the Iroquois. Santa Fe, NM: Clear Light Publishers, 1998.
(Q)
- Tehanetorens. Tales of the Iroquois.
Rooseveltown, NY: Akwesasne Notes, 1976.
Internet Resources
Welker, Glen. American Indian Resource Directory. 13 July 2004. The purpose of Resource Directory is to provide general administrative Tribal contacts, unique cultural information and links to additional locations that provide information about American Indian tribes and their resources. Two legends at this site are:
Stone E Productions. 11 November 2004. "Chipmunk and Bear Legend." http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/lore56.html A collection of Native American legends.
"Sky Woman, Mohawk Creation Story. 10 July 2011. Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. http://www.pequotmuseum.org/ExhibitGalleries/ArrivalofthePeople/SkyWoman.htm Tells the Native American legend of Sky Woman.
Native American Lore Index Page. StoneE Productions. 13 July 2004. www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/loreindx.html Links to stories of Native American lore. Iroquois Nation. 13 July 2004. www.crystalinks.com/iroquois.html A wealth of factual information, artifacts, pictures and legends.
A Mohawk Iroquois Village: An Exhibit at the New York State Museum. 13 July 2004 www.nysm.nysed.gov/IroquoisVillage/ The site includes an area on an Iroquois Village, The Three Sisters, Iroquois Longhouse, Building a Longhouse Model, a Mohawk Iroquois Village circa 1600, some Iroquois artifacts, and eyewitness accounts.
Elementary Test Prep Center. Oswego School District. 13 July 2004. http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss4.cfm The school district has posted lessons, practice, interactive games, Constructed Response Questions, teacher resources, and literature connections devised by its teaching staff.
Hall of Explorers. Virtualology. 13 July 2004. www.virtualology.com/virtualmuseumofhistory/hallofexplorers/ Contains pictures and a biography of most world explorers.
A Mohawk Iroquois Village. New York State Museum. 3 October 2010. http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/IroquoisVillage/constructiontwo.html This is a lengthy article about longhouses: how they are built, their structure, and purpose.
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