OVERVIEWÂ
In the fourth grade, the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework shifts a student's focus to the broader context of North America and the development of the United States. The curriculum is structured around the major historical and geographical factors that have shaped the country, from ancient civilizations to the expansion of its borders and the distinct character of its regions.
Throughout the year, students will continue to develop essential social science practices, such as asking questions, gathering information from various sources (like books, maps, and personal stories), and beginning to make claims supported by evidence. The goal is to build upon the foundation from previous years, preparing them for a deeper understanding of American history and the diverse world around them.
The core themes for fourth grade include:
Geography: Students will develop advanced map skills to locate and identify physical and political features of North America. They will also learn how a region's unique geography, including its climate and natural resources, influences how people live, work, and build communities.
History: The curriculum traces the history of North America from its earliest inhabitants through the major events of European exploration and westward expansion. Students will examine key moments and the impact they had on different peoples and the land.
Culture and Society: Students will explore the diverse cultural contributions of various groups—from ancient Native American civilizations to European explorers and modern immigrant communities—that have shaped the different regions of the United States. They will also learn basic economic concepts related to natural resources and industries.
This framework encourages an interdisciplinary approach, linking social studies concepts to reading, writing, and communication skills to create a rich and robust learning experience.
Unit 1: North America: Geography and Map Skills
This unit explores how to use maps and geographical tools to understand North America.
Learning Target
I can use a map's title, compass rose, scale, and legend to find places.
I can find and name important rivers, lakes, oceans, and mountains on a map of North America.
I can find and name the countries and states in North America.
I can find information about a country like Canada or Mexico using maps and other sources.
Essential Questions
Why are maps and globes important?
What are the important features of a map and how do you interpret them?
Questions to Ask at Home
Can you show me where Massachusetts is on this map? What direction would we travel to get to Canada?
What do the colors on this map mean? What's the difference between a physical and a political map?
What's a country? What's a continent? Why do we need to learn about them?
Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska
Mapping the United States by Gail Gibbons
Follow That Map!: A First Look at Mapping Skills by Scot Ritchie
Unit 2: Ancient Civilizations of North America
This unit explores the ancient civilizations that lived in North America before the arrival of Europeans.
Learning Target
I can describe how ancient peoples like the Pueblo, Cahokia, and Iroquois used their environments to build homes and find food.
I can explain how these ancient civilizations were organized and what their unique cultures were like.
I can understand how the ancient people of this land used their environment to survive and build communities.
Essential Questions
How do archaeologists develop theories about ancient migrations?
Questions to Ask at Home
What was life like for the ancient Pueblo people? How was it different from how we live today?
How did the geography of their region (like the climate or land) affect how they lived?
What special skills or traditions did these ancient civilizations have?
Pueblo Boy: Growing Up in Two Worlds by Marcia Keegan
The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac
The Iroquois: The Six Nations Confederacy by Mary Englar
Unit 3: Early European Exploration and Conquest
This unit explores why and how European explorers came to the Americas and what they found.
Learning Target
I can explain why explorers came to the Americas from Europe and what they were hoping to find.
I can name some of the different European countries that explored the Americas and what they were searching for.
I can describe how these explorers affected the lives of Native Americans and the land.
I can identify places in the United States that have names from European languages, like French or Spanish.
Essential Questions
What were the reasons for European voyages across the Atlantic Ocean?
Questions to Ask at Home
Why were explorers like Christopher Columbus or Leif Eriksson so important?
What was a big risk that these explorers took? What made it so dangerous to travel across the ocean?
Can you find a city or state name on a map that sounds Spanish or French? Why do you think it has that name?
A Picture Book of Lewis and Clark by David A. Adler
Unit 4: The Expansion of United States
This unit explores how the United States grew from a country on the Atlantic coast to one that stretched all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Learning Target
I can explain how the United States grew from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
I can name important events and people, like the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark, that helped the U.S. expand.
I can describe how westward expansion changed the lives of Native Americans and pioneers.
I can explain the idea of "Manifest Destiny" and how it influenced America's growth.
Essential Questions
How has the environment shaped the development of each region?
Questions to Ask at Home
Why did people want to move west to new lands? What were they hoping to find?
What were some of the challenges pioneers faced when traveling in covered wagons?
How did the expansion of the United States affect the Native American people who already lived there?
Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog's Tale by Laurie Myers
Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story by S.D. Nelson
If You Were a Kid on the Oregon Trail by Josh Gregory
Dandelions by Eve Bunting
Unit 5: Northeast
This unit explores the geography, culture, and economy of the Northeast region.
Learning Target
I can describe the land, weather, and landmarks of the Northeast region.
I can explain how people in the Northeast use their natural resources to live and work.
I can identify how different immigrant groups have influenced the culture of the Northeast.
Essential Questions
How does a region's climate, physical features, landmarks, and natural resources affect how people live?
How have diverse countries influenced a region?
How does culture shape a region?
Questions to Ask at Home
What are some famous landmarks or physical features in the Northeast, like a mountain range or a bay?
What kind of jobs do you think people in this region have? How does that connect to the geography?
Can you find a story or picture that shows how a famous landmark in the Northeast, like the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, is important to its history?
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
This Is New York by Miroslav Sasek
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
O, Say Can You See? America's Symbols, Landmarks, and Songs by Sheila Keenan
Unit 6: Southeast
This unit explores the geography, climate, and diverse cultural contributions of the Southeast region.
Learning Target
I can describe the landforms, climate, and important places of the Southeast.
I can explain how the climate and natural resources of the Southeast affect how people live and what jobs they do.
I can identify the contributions of different groups, like African Americans and early European settlers, to the culture of the Southeast.
Essential Questions
How does a region's climate, physical features, landmarks, and natural resources affect how people live?
How have diverse countries influenced a region?
How does culture shape a region?
Questions to Ask at Home
How is the climate in the Southeast different from where we live? How does that affect what they grow or eat?
What are some examples of natural resources in the Southeast? What is a natural resource?
What is a specific landmark in the Southeast, like a swamp or a river, and why is it important to the region?
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
My Great-Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston
Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile by Gloria Houston
The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South by Robert D. San Souci
Unit 7: Southwest
This unit explores the unique desert environment and the cultural traditions of the Southwest region.
Learning Target
I can identify the unique landforms, climate, and landmarks of the Southwest region.
I can explain how people have adapted to living in a desert environment.
I can describe the cultural contributions of Native American and Spanish-speaking groups to the Southwest.
Essential Questions
How does a region's climate, physical features, landmarks, and natural resources affect how people live?
How have diverse countries influenced a region?
How does culture shape a region?
Questions to Ask at Home
What's the weather like in the Southwest? How do plants and animals survive there?
Why are places like the Grand Canyon or the Sonoran Desert so important to this region?
How have Native American traditions or Spanish language and food shaped the Southwest
The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell
The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit by Susan Lowell
Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson
When Clay Sings by Byrd Baylor
The Flute Player: An Apache Folktale by Michael Lacapa
Unit 8: West
This unit explores the diverse geography and history of the West region.
Learning Target
I can describe the diverse geography of the West, including mountains, valleys, and coastlines.
I can explain how the Gold Rush and other historical events shaped the West.
I can identify different cultures and industries in the West, such as those related to technology, farming, or entertainment.
Essential Questions
How does a region's climate, physical features, landmarks, and natural resources affect how people live?
How have diverse countries influenced a region?
How does culture shape a region?
Questions to Ask at Home
The West is very big and has many different types of land. Can you give me an example of a mountain range and a coastline there?
What was the California Gold Rush? How did it change the West?
What are some of the jobs people have in the West today? How are they different from the jobs people had in the past?
Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith
Fearless Mary: The True Story of Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver by Tami Charles
What Was the Wild West? by Janet B. Pascal