4th Grade

Grade Level Key Themes

Physical and Human Systems

Students in grade 4 use the features of maps and globes to construct and interpret maps of the United States and the world. They identify the geographic regions in the United States, as well as the states within each, and compare their distinguishing physical characteristics. They recognize how those differences have influenced colonial settlement patterns, local and regional economic development, internal immigration patterns, and economic imbalances among regions. Finally, students explain how the environment has been historically affected both by human factors (i.e., population growth, human migration, and technological advancements) and natural processes (i.e., coastal erosion, severe weather, and natural disasters).

Migration and Settlement

Students in grade 4 describe the reasons for European exploration (i.e., find alternative trade routes, increase national wealth, and spread of religion) and the risks they faced (i.e., disease, rebellion, and hunger). They explain the American Colonies’ process of economic and social development as well as the political, economic, and social forces behind the United States’ quest to fulfill its “manifest destiny.” Students make connections among each region’s diverse physical features, the migration of people to and through them, and the technological advances needed to facilitate that movement. They also describe the environmental and cultural impacts of that migration.

Economics and Trade

Students in grade 4 continue to explore basic economic terminology and the factors that impact economic decisions and then apply their understanding of these concepts to explain the economic decisions made by individuals and households (i.e., want fulfillment and budgets), businesses and jobs (i.e., profit, risk, and trade), banks (i.e., monetary exchanges), and governments (i.e., taxes and fees). They also describe how businesses and governments used labor, land, and capital resources to spur technological advancements and to encourage westward expansion and the Industrial Revolution.

Politics and Governance

Students in grade 4 explain the origins and evolution of American government. They identify the purpose of the Declaration of Independence, the key ideas embedded within it (i.e., equality among men, basic human rights, “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness,” and popular sovereignty), and the roots of those ideas. They also explain the purpose of government, as articulated by the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, and the roles and responsibilities of each branch of the federal government, as outlined in the Constitution. Finally, students make connections between the development of the United States and the ideas expressed in our nation’s founding documents, including how those documents have been amended to meet emerging social norms.

Society and Culture

Students in grade 4 explain how interactions between European and indigenous peoples through exploration, colonization, trade, and migration led to the spread of North American culture and social norms across the continent and the marginalization of Native American groups. Students also describe how changing immigration patterns in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries contributed to the rich cultural mosaic of the United States, which at times contained many cultures that remained distinct (“salad bowl”) and at other times contained many cultures blended into one uniquely American culture (“melting pot”).

Conflict and Compromise

Students in grade 4 explain the causes and consequences of conflicts brought on by the expansion of the American colonies from 1620 through 1776 and the American nation from 1776 through 1850. They summarize the causes and effects of the American Revolution (i.e., French and Indian war, British control, taxation, lack of representation in government, desire for independence) and the social conflicts that resulted from westward expansion/Manifest Destiny, industrialization, immigration, and the Civil Rights Movement

Continuity and Change

Students in grade 4 explain how technological innovations in communication, education, transportation, and manufacturing processes have impacted migration, settlement, economic development, and social values. They explain how government structures changed from the American colonies under British control to an independent democracy. They also describe how the ideas described in the Declaration of Independence and the rights guaranteed to citizens of the United States in the U.S. Constitution have changed over time through Constitutional amendments and the Civil Rights Movement.

Grade Level Standards

History

Standard 1 – Chronological and Historical Thinking

Students use chronological sequencing of key events and symbols to understand the movement of people and the expansion of boundaries in the United States.

4.1.1 Construct timelines of historical events
4.1.2 Use timelines to explain how changes over time have caused movement of people or expansion of boundaries in the United States
4.1.3 Use appropriate vocabulary of time
4.1.4 Produce clear and coherent writing to:
4.1.5 Explain the historical significance of U.S. political symbols
4.1.6 Define and distinguish between primary and secondary sources
4.1.7 Summarize primary resources and explain their historical importance

Standard 2 – People and Events

Students explain the historical significance of key people and events in order to examine the expansion of the boundaries and development of democracy in the United States.

4.2.1 Explain how early explorations affected the expansion of boundaries and development in the United States
4.2.2 Cite evidence to support the key contributions and influence of people in the history of the United States
4.2.3 Explain the voluntary migration of people and its significance in the development of the boundaries of the United States
4.2.4 Draw conclusions about the relationship of significant events in the history of the United States to the expansion of democracy in the United States
4.2.5 Use the concepts “melting pot,” “salad bowl,” and “cultural mosaic” to explain the impact of immigration on population growth and diversity in the United States

Standard 3 – People and Events

Students examine the impact of scientific and technological advances on the development of the United States.

4.3.1 Explain how inventions and new processes affected the lives of people, migration, and the economy of regions of the United States

Geography

Standard 4 – Maps and Globes

Students use map skills to construct and interpret geographical representations of the world.

4.4.1 Locate and label continents, oceans, the poles, hemispheres, and key parallels and meridians on a map and globe
4.4.2 Locate and label on a map the major physical features of each of the five regions of the United States and summarize how they affect the climate, economy, and population of each region
4.4.3 Identify the states of each of the five regions of the United States
4.4.4 Measure approximate distance on a map using scale to the nearest hundredth mile
4.4.5 Determine the approximate longitude and latitude coordinates of various locations in the United States
4.4.6 Interpret various types of maps using a key/legend, compass rose including cardinal and intermediate directions, latitude/longitude, and scale
4.4.7 Use mental mapping to construct a map of the United States regions and the world to include map elements (title, compass rose, legend/key, scale)

Standard 5 – People and Land

Students compare and contrast the physical and human characteristics of each United States region in order to understand their similarities and differences.

4.5.1 Compare and contrast the distinguishing physical characteristics of the five regions of the United States
4.5.2 Analyze how physical characteristics of a region shape its economic development
4.5.3 Identify and explain how the physical characteristics of a region influenced human settlement

Standard 6 – Environment

Students describe how natural and man-made processes change the geography of regions in the United States.

4.6.1 Illustrate how natural processes have created and/or changed the physical characteristics of places in the United States
4.6.2 Describe the human impact on the land and bodies of water of the five regions of the United States

Civics

Standard 7 – Government and Political Systems

Students explain the structure and purposes of government and the foundations of the United States’ democratic system using primary and secondary sources.

4.7.1 Identify and summarize significant changes that have been made to the United States Constitution through the amendment process
4.7.2 Explain the significance of key ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights
4.7.3 Identify and analyze the basic purposes and necessity of government as identified in the Preamble to the United States Constitution
4.7.4 Differentiate between the structure and function of the three branches of federal government

Standard 8 – Role of Citizen

Students examine the rights, responsibilities, and duties of a United States citizen in order to understand how individuals contribute to the democratic system of government.

4.8.1 Identify the key requirements to become a United States citizen
4.8.2 Differentiate between citizens’ rights, responsibilities, and duties
4.8.3 Describe the qualities of a good citizen and how good citizenship contributes to the United States’ democracy
4.8.4 Explain how good citizenship can solve a current issue

Economics

Standard 9 – Fundamental Economic Concepts

Students demonstrate knowledge of economic concepts.

4.9.1 Develop a logical argument to support the choice of a particular want after all needs are met
4.9.2 Identify examples of human, natural, and capital resources and explain how these resources are used to produce goods and provide services
4.9.3 Define the terms profit and risk and explain how they relate to each other
4.9.4 Investigate the relationship between supply, demand, and price
4.9.5 Describe how government pays for goods and services through taxes and fees
4.9.6 Summarize the roles of households, businesses, jobs, banks, and governments in the economy
4.9.7 Explain why individuals and businesses engage in barter and trade
4.9.8 Differentiate between money (currency), checks, debit cards, and credit cards and identify advantages and disadvantages of each type of monetary exchange
4.9.9 Define budget, income, and expense and explain the benefits of making and following a budget
4.9.10 Analyze the benefits of increasing skills