Social Studies
The Westfield social studies curriculum is aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Social Studies and the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. In the fourth grade, students study the history of North America, including exploration, the settlement of the thirteen colonies, the American Revolution and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Students also study the democratic principles of the U.S. government and the role that citizens play in a democratic society.
Chapter 5 Routes of Exploration to the New World
Essential Question: How did exploration of the Americas lead to settlement?
Students learn about European explorers who claimed land in North America from the late 1400s through 1600s. In the preview, students discuss life situations in which people have different views of a single experience. Students relate these ideas to the views of the American Indians and European explorers in the Age of Exploration. As a class, students created and illustrated matrix to organize information about each explorer. They then play a game in which they answer questions about each explorer. Next, students discuss the role the ships played in New World exploration, and write news reports on the struggle between France and Spain over Florida. Finally, they use a map of North America to trace and label the routes of the explorers and impact each explorer's impact on history.
Chapter 6 Early English Settlements
Essential Question: What challenges faced the first English Colonies?
Students analyze images of Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth to create act-it-outs that show why settlers came, the hardships they endured, and reasons why each settlement succeeded or failed.
Chapter 6 Study Guide.pdfChapter 7 Study Guide.pdfChapter 7 Comparing the Colonies
Essential Question: How were the three colonial regions alike and different?
In this chapter, students use what they know about billboards to create advertisements for the colony of their choice, considering why colonists were drawn to America. Then they complete an organizer comparing the three regions. Students analyze why specific colonies in each region were founded, and study the geography, economics and government in a series of activities.