This year, our social studies curriculum will be focused on Massachusetts and New England. We will be exploring the history of our state, from its earliest inhabitants to the present day, using engaging questions to guide our learning.
Massachusetts Cities & Towns: Present & Past ๐๏ธ
We'll start by getting to know our own community. Students will learn to use maps to find and describe our city or town, its landmarks, and how to use tools like a map legend and scale.
Community History: We'll research the history of our town, including the Native Peoples who originally lived here and the different groups of people who have settled and built our community over time.
Government & Civics: We'll explore why we have governments in our schools and towns, how local government works in Massachusetts, and how citizens can get involved.
Geography & Native Peoples of Massachusetts ๐
This unit will help students understand the geographical landscape of the Northeast and the diverse cultures of the Native Peoples who have lived here for centuries.
Mapping the Region: Students will use maps to locate the New England states and key geographical features like rivers and mountains.
Celebrating Diversity: We will learn about the rich and varied cultures of the Native Peoples who have lived, and still live, in Massachusetts and New England.
European Explorers & Native Peoples โต
We'll explore the first encounters between European explorers and the Native Peoples of the Northeast.
Voyages of Discovery: Students will trace the journeys of explorers like John Cabot and John Smith on a map and learn why they sailed across the Atlantic.
Different Perspectives: We will read accounts from explorers and compare their early maps of New England with a current map to see how perspectives and knowledge of the land have changed.
The Pilgrims & Plymouth Colony ๐
Finally, we will study the story of the Pilgrims and the early years of the Plymouth Colony, focusing on the challenges they faced and their relationships with the Native communities already living there.
A New Life: Students will learn who the Pilgrims were, why they left Europe, and the details of their journey to establish the Plymouth Colony.
Interactions with Native Communities: We will analyze the relationships between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag and Abenaki/Wabanaki people, understanding the complexities of their interactions.