Our fourth grade social studies curriculum is based on the Social Studies newspaper, California Studies Weekly, published through Scholastic, as well as through teacher-created resources. The program covers California history from its native peoples and its "discovery" by Western explorers through the Spanish missions, westward expansion, statehood, the Gold Rush, and into modern day. Our students learn about California's regions, resources, history, people, and government. Our studies are further enriched with novels such as Mr. Blue Jeans, where students learn about entrepreneur Levi Strauss.