Social Studies

Harcourt School Publishers -

Fourth Grade: Reflections - California: A Changing State

Fifth Grade: Reflections - The United States: Making a Nation

Online Textbook – Requires student username and password (given in class and in back to school packet)

DVD-Rom based edition available for checkout

California State Content Standards for Social Studies

4th Grade Outlines

Downloadable Outlines - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6

In fourth grade, we will cover 1 unit (2 chapters) during each trimester.

Unit 1, The Land and Early People (Chapter 1: California's Geography and Chapter 2: California's Indians)

Unit 2, Early California (Chapter 3:

Unit 3, The Road to Statehood

Each chapter is broken down into individual lessons with typically 4 lessons within each chapter. In addition, there are usually two skills based activities within each chapter. The lessons and skills are tested when the students are given the chapter tests. Tests consist of a multiple choice section and a written response section.

To help prepare for the tests, students could review their textbook and/or workbook. In addition, each student is given an outline to help prepare for chapter tests. Lastly, there is a review session usually one day prior to the test during which questions can be asked.

Test preparation and study habits are being developed and stressed. Some students may benefit from making an outline of the chapter. Others, might benefit from having the material read out to them (available in the online edition). Students receive study outlines in class at the start of each chapter. These are due on the day of the test and will count towards 10% of a student's grade.

We will be doing a variety of different projects that are Social Studies related.

Harcourt – Atlas, virtual tours, news, activities and games.

Chapter 1: California’s Geography

Lesson 1: California's Location

Lesson 2: The Regions in California

Biography Page: John Muir

Lesson 3: Climate and Vegetation

Lesson 4: Where Californians Live

Lesson 5: Life in California

Chapter 2: California's Indians

Lesson 1: The First Californians

Lesson 2: The Northern Coastal Region

Lesson 3: The Southern Coastal Region

Lesson 4: Indians of Central Valley

Primary Sources: California Indian Artifacts

Lesson 5: The Desert Region

Biography Page: Cheryl A. Seidner

Field Trip: State Indian Museum

Chapter 3: Exploration and Early Settlements

Lesson 1: Explorers Come to California

Lesson 2: Newcomers to Alta California

Biography Page: Junipero Serra

Lesson 3: Other Kinds of Settlements

Lesson 4: Mission Life

Chapter 4: Mexican Rule in California

Lesson 1: Mexico Wins Its Freedom

Lesson 2: Rise of Rancho Economy

Primary Sources: A Diseño

Lesson 3: Life on the Ranchos

Biography Page: Juana Briones

Field Trip: Carmel Mission

Chapter 5: California, Here We Come!

Lesson 1: Americans Move West

Biography Page: James Beckwourth

Lesson 2: Trails to California

Lesson 3: Americans in California

Lesson 4: The Mexican American War

Chapter 6: Statehood for California

Lesson 1: The Gold Rush

Primary Sources: The Life of a Forty-Niner

Lesson 2: The Effects of the Gold Rush

Lesson 3: California Becomes a State

Biography Page: Biddy Mason

Field Trip: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

In fifth grade, the textbook is broken down as follows.

Unit 1, The First Americans (Chapter 1: Early People and Chapter 2: American Indians)

Unit 2, Cultures Meet (Chapter 3: The Age of Eploration and Chapter 4: Building the First Colonies)

Unit 3, Settling the Colonies (Chapter 5: The New England Colonies, Chapter 6: The Middle Colonies, and Chapter 7: The Southern Colonies)

Unit 4, The American Revolution (Chapter 8: The Colonies Unite and Chapter 9: The Revolutionary War)

Unit 5, Governing the Nation (Chapter 10: The Constitution and Chapter 11: The American Republic)

Unit 6, Western Expansion (Chapter 12: The Changing Frontier and Chapter 13: Moving West)

Each chapter is broken down into individual lessons with typically 3 to 4 lessons within each chapter. In addition, there are usually two skills based activities within each chapter. The lessons and skills are tested when the students are given the chapter tests. Tests consist of a multiple choice section and a written response section.

To help prepare for the tests, students should review their textbook and/or workbook. In addition, each student is given an outline to help prepare for chapter tests. Lastly, there is a review session usually one day prior to the test during which questions can be asked.

Test preparation and study habits are being developed and stressed. Some students may benefit from making an outline of the chapter. Others, might benefit from having the material read out to them (available in the online edition). Students receive study guides in class at the start of each chapter. These are due on the day of the test and will count towards 10% of a student's grade.

Downloadable Outlines - Click for Fifth Grade Outlines

We will be doing a variety of different projects that are Social Studies related.

5th Grade Online Resources

Online Textbook – Requires username and password (given in class)

Chapter 1: Early People

Chapter 2: American Indians

Chapter 3: The Age of Exploration

Lesson 1: Exploration and Technology

Primary Sources: Navigational Tools

Lesson 2: A Changing World

Lesson 3: Spanish Explorations

Biography Page: Estevanico