Social Studies

Fourth Grade Year at a Glance

Thinking Like a Geographer In this unit, students will apply geographic concepts and skills to examine the physical and human geography of Texas in contemporary times. They will use those concepts and skills to describe the physical and economic landscape of Texas. The concepts and skills taught in this unit have been taught in previous grades to explain the geography of local communities. Students will continue to build on those concepts and skills to prepare them to better understand the impact of geography on events in Texas history, past and present.

Celebrate Freedom Week Texas Education Code §29.907 CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK. (a) To educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values on which this country was founded, the week in which November 11 falls is designated as Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools. For purposes of this subsection, Sunday is considered the first day of the week.

Constitution Day – September 17 Public Law 108-447, Section 111 Each educational institution that receives federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution." While there is no funding attached to this requirement, statute requires that Constitution Day be held on September 17 of each year, commemorating the September 17,1787, signing of the Constitution. However, when September 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week.

American Indians in Early Texas Prior to this unit, students should be able to describe the physical and human geographic characteristics of Texas. During this unit, students will explain how geography impacts a group’s culture by examining the lives of American Indian groups in Texas before European exploration. Students will compare the similarities and differences of the American Indian groups in Texas focusing on how they governed themselves and met their basic needs and wants. After this unit, students should begin seeing a pattern of political and economic ideas that are part of the culture of Texas today.

Exploration and Missions This unit addresses the concepts of exploration and settlement. Prior to this unit, students learned about the physical geography of Texas and how American Indians used the land to develop their way of life. During this unit, students will explain why Europeans were motivated to settle Texas and the effects of these actions. Students will also examine the significance of the explorers and the impact of the mission system in Texas. The standards concerning settlement is an important concept taught in this unit which students will see repeated as other groups of people move to Texas and in 7th grade Texas History.

Colonization In the prior unit, the Spanish colonized North America, but in this unit Mexico will want to be independent of Spanish rule and live under a more democratic government. Students will examine the independence of Mexico and how it allowed the immigration of Americans and the migration of Mexicans to Texas. These new Texans will support Mexico until the Mexican government no longer follows their democratic constitution and Santa Anna declares himself a dictator.

Revolution The tensions between Texas settlers and the government of Mexico were growing as more Anglo-Americans migrated to Texas. The time period surrounding the Revolution was one of enormous influence in Texas history. In this unit, students will learn about the causes and effects of the Texas Revolution. Students will examine the concept of leadership by explaining the significance of key people involved in the revolution.

Republic and Statehood The Revolution is over and Texas is now a republic. In this unit, students will identify and describe the successes, problems, and people that impacted the Republic of Texas and the events resulting from the annexation of Texas to the United States. Point of view is an essential skill in this unit as Texas as a nation and a state becomes a representative government. Representative government is going to be a repeated political concept from now on in social studies courses and is important to emphasize.

Civil War and Reconstruction The free enterprise system was thriving in Texas prior to the Civil War through small businesses and the agriculture industry. This was the connection Texas had with the South along with the belief in states’ rights and slavery. Texas will secede from the Union to fight along with the South during the Civil War. Reconstruction will bring many economic, political, and social changes to Texas, but unlike many southern states after Reconstruction, Texas will thrive. This unit will specifically focus on the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on Texas.

Texas Frontier During Reconstruction many states from the South had a difficult time changing their way of life but not Texas. After the U.S. Army came in and moved the American Indians to reservations, the economy of Texas boomed with the expansion of the cattle industry, the growth of the railroad, and the immigration of people from Europe, Mexico, and other parts of the United States. Cities all over Texas began to grow and the culture of Texas would begin to look different. Students will explain the growth, development, and impact of these events.

Urbanization of Texas In the prior unit, the economy of Texas began to grow and began changing the way of life for Texans. In this unit, students will examine the effect of this growth which was urbanization. Students will investigate the different industries that drew people to the urban areas of Texas. The most important industry that will draw people to the urban areas of Texas will be the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry will not only affect the urbanization of Texas but make it a factor in important events in the United States at this time like the Great Depression and World War II.

Modern Texas In the prior units, students have examined the history of Texas. In this unit, students will examine Texas today economically, politically, socially, and geographically.

Texas Environmental Issues Texans have always adapted and modified their environment to make life better but there are consequences to those decisions. In this unit, students will examine environmental issues and the consequences of those issues on Texas today. It is important that they understand the geography of Texas and the economic, political, and social characteristics of the state to understand the issues and their consequences.

Discover ways to foster a love of social studies in your 4th Grader with these fun activities.

BY SHIRA ACKERMAN, MA Retrieved from: Scholastic

Social studies in the 4th grade encourages students to deepen their reading, writing, and analytical skills, as well as expand knowledge and appreciation of their own local and American history. Students compare different perspectives using both primary and secondary texts. They then write both informative pieces and essays. Fourth graders also use technology to research both past and current events. In all of their work, 4th graders are taught to analyze the reasons why things occur and form strong supported opinions and ideas, which encourages them to think more deeply about the world. Since most social studies curricula are specific to a location, consult your child’s teacher or your state’s social studies standards to find out which specific communities and aspects of the community will be covered. While many curricula differ according to state, many 4th grade classes study the founding and early years of American society and government.

In order to build social studies skills, your 4th grader:

• Studies and uses maps to gain a deeper understanding of geography and how geography affects a community.
• Researches, organizes, and presents his research on various topics, events, and figures.
• Discusses topics focusing on explaining his opinion using specific details, facts, and reasons to support his opinion.
• Writes essays that state an opinion; includes supporting facts for that opinion.
• Reads primary and secondary sources about different events, people, and topics.
• Uses technology to research both past and current events and topics.
• Deepens his understanding of government and civic responsibility.
• Deepens his understanding of basic economic principles and how one’s community affects his or her economy and business.
• Uses and creates multiple types of sources including art, film, poetry and fiction to learn and show what he has learned about historical events and social studies topics.
• Understands different concepts, such as cause and effect, in order to explain and learn why things happen or happened.
• Compares different events and retellings of the same event.
• Discusses American holidays and important days and events as they approach.

Social Studies Activities

• Stay Current: Encourage your child to read news magazines for kids, such as Scholastic Kids. Ask and talk to her about current events. Encourage her to share her opinion and ideas about the events.
• Imagine That: Help your child see things from different perspectives. Read or learn about a moment, adult, or child in history and talk about how your child would feel if he were in their shoes. Your child can even dress up as the figure or a person living during that time and act out how he felt.
• Compare Perspectives: Your child can interview a person who lived during an important historical or current event. Then read about the moment in a secondary source and compare the two perspectives.
• Watch, Read, and Listen: Compare different sources (books, movies, art, songs, poems) about an event and talk about how they treat one topic or moment differently.
• Visit Historical Places: Visit both local and national historical landmarks. Local landmarks are particularly important, as they will help your child relate to events that occurred near to her own home.
•