4th Grade Social Studies

Google My Maps can be used throughout the year to embed content (e.g., shapes, lines, text, pictures, videos) on a Google map. This example map has layers for the regions of California, Native American tribal areas, European explorers, Missions, and Gold Rush sites. Here is a list of resources for this project:

• Google My Maps tutorials and examples

• Google My Maps 4th Grade example

Google Earth is great for studying California's dynamic geography and regions. Here are some resources:

• Google Earth tutorial

• Google Earth California Regions activity

• Google Street View Treks of California State Parks

Google Drawings is a diagramming/drawing app available in Google Suite. Using Google Drawings, students can display their knowledge of rancho life by drawing their own rancho map.

• Google Drawings tutorials and resources

• Rancho Project doc

• Rancho brand drawing

Adobe Express and WeVideo can be used to create mini-documentaries about the European explorers. Here are some tutorials and resources:

• Adobe Express tutorials

• WeVideo tutorials

• Cabrillo research/script example

• Explorer movie lesson plan

• Explorer movie assignment template

Seesaw can be used to study the Gold Rush. Check out these Activity links and resources:

• Seesaw tutorials and resources

• Gold Rush Migration

Google Slides can be used to create interactive books like the old Choose Your Own Adventure series ("Go to page 5 if you choose to open the door. Go to page 11 if you choose to walk down the hall."). 

• Google Slides tutorials and examples

• Gold Rush Adventure Interactive Books

Iron Chef is an activity developed in which students use slide templates to work collaboratively on a project. It is a basic jig saw type activity adapted for a digital classroom. The teacher controls the content by limiting students to the links provided in the slide deck.

• Google Slides tutorials and examples

• Iron Chef Sacramento slidedeck

• Iron Chef Sacramento lesson plan 

Google Sites is a great format for informational writing. Students can insert Google Docs of their writing, customized Google My Maps to show the geographic context of their topic, Google Slides for image galleries––even Google Forms quizzes!

• Google Sites tutorials and examples

• Gold Rush website

Google Slides is a great format for creating newspaper templates. Using the Slide-->Edit Master feature, you can customize newspaper templates to fit your project. 

• Google Slides tutorials and examples

• Newspaper Template

• Glorietta News example

• How to create master slide templates

Pecha Kucha is a presentation style in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each. The format, which keeps presentations concise and fast-paced, prevents students from reading their presentations from text-heavy slides. Because Pecha Kucha presentations are programmed to advance every 20 seconds, the presenter really needs to know their stuff!

• How to make a Pecha Kucha presentation document

• Pecha Kucha blank template

• Creating a Pecha Kucha video tutorial

• Pecha Kucha Gold Rush example video

• Pecha Kucha Gold Rush slide deck