Stupendous Social Studies

We are starting our discussion of the Maryland Government.  As part of that, we will be creating a set of class rules to 'govern' ourselves with.

 

Social Studies Syllabus:

  Grade 4: Maryland and Prince George’s County

Prince George’s County Social Studies                                                      

 

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TEXT: Pearson, MyWorld Social Studies Regions of Our Country and Prince George’s County, MD

 

OVERVIEW:

 

In fourth grade, students learn about the state of Maryland and Prince George’s County as they begin to distinguish events of the past and present. They explore the concepts of time and space. Students identify symbols that are important to our country. They discover why they must follow school rules and laws as they learn about their role as a citizen in the school and community. Students identify basic characteristics of maps and globes while exploring the geographic characteristics of their community. They explain how people have different kinds of jobs and work to meet basic economic wants. Students develop an understanding that they are individuals who interact with other individuals and groups, and identify ways that people, who are similar and different, make up the community.

 

GOALS:

Students will:

  • Demonstrate content mastery and application of appropriate content literacy and critical thinking skills.

  • Raise questions, solve problems, reason, and reflect in their understanding of their own learning styles. 

  • Demonstrate learning through portfolios, exhibitions, simulations, debate, service-learning projects, that correlate to social studies content standards for evaluation 

  • Communicate effectively and appropriately for a variety of purposes. 


 

 

Maryland and Prince George’s County 

Social Studies Grade 4 Year at a Glance 

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Content Focus:       Civics-Our Roles and Responsibilities

 

Overarching Question: How has Maryland Leadership made it the Free State?

 

Enduring Understandings

  • Laws and people’s beliefs help decide who gets to make choices in government.

  • Laws are made to keep people safe and explain what the government can and cannot do.

  • What people, groups and institutions say and do have limits in a democracy to protect the rights of all.

  • People’s beliefs and ideals influence decisions

 

Focused Reading Strategies & Skills

Interpret Visual Information                     Integrate Multiple Texts

Summarize                                        Main Idea and Details

 

Analytic Writing

Research Simulation                              Narrative Story

Visual and Oral Presentations                How Writers Write

 

Quarter Culminating Activities:

Theme: Profiles of a Leader- How do we build a community of leaders in Maryland?

  • Create a Tik-a-Tok My Story Book: Illustrate understanding of various ways good leaders are involved in their schools, and communities using student photos.  

  • Citizenship Video or Skit – students will demonstrate ways they will lead their school, and in the community (Student/Class Created Presentations)

 

Social Studies Standards

D1-5.3-5 Developing Questions & Planning Inquiry

D2Civ1-14.3-5 Applying Disciplinary Tools & Concepts (Civics)

D31-4.3-5 Evaluating Sources & Using Evidence

D41-8.3-5 Communicating Conclusions & Taking Informed Action








 

Content Focus:      History-Celebrating Diversity and Traditions

 

Overarching Question: How has Maryland’s culture changed over time?

 

Enduring Understandings

  • People are alike and different and people celebrate in many ways.

  • We are all part of a culture and there are many different cultures around the world.

  •  Things change over time and that time can be measured.

  • History is an account of our past based on different perspectives.

  • Conflict causes change.

 

Focused Reading Strategies and Skills

Main Idea and Details                          First Hand Second Hand

Fact or Opinion                                    Accounts                                                      

Inferring                                               Questioning

Analytic Writing

Research Simulation-             Interview      

Narrative Story

 

Quarter Culminating Activities:

Theme: Explore Maryland History

  • Colonial Farm (Accokeek)- Eco Traveler

  • Historic St. Mary’s City- A Day in the Life Of….

  •  London Towne Annapolis –Step into MD’s Past

(Student/Class Created Presentations/Simulations)

 

 

Social Studies Standards

D1-5.3-5 Developing Questions & Planning Inquiry

D2His1-17.3-5 Applying Disciplinary Tools & Concepts (History)

D31-4.3-5 Evaluating Sources & Using Evidence

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

Content Focus:         Geography-As the World Turns

 

Overarching Question: How does geography affect the way we live?

 

Enduring Understandings

  • Maps and globes are simple representations of places on Earth. 

  • New technology has many types of different consequences, depending on how people use that technology. 

  • Where people live matters.

  • Moving to new places changes the people, land, and culture of the new place, as well as the place that was left.

 

Focused Reading Strategies and Skills

Point of View                            Theme

Inferring                                    Character, Settings, Events

 

Analytic Writing

Research Simulation- Interview                               Narrative Story

 

Quarter Culminating Activities:

  • Create an interactive school map

  • Dollars & Sense

  • Eco Traveler Simulation @ National Colonial Farm (Student/Class Created Presentations/Simulations)

 

 

Social Studies Standards

D1-5.3-5 Developing Questions & Planning Inquiry

D2Geo1-2.3-5 Applying Disciplinary Tools & Concepts (Geography)

D31-4.3-5 Evaluating Sources & Using Evidence

D41-8.3-5 Communicating Conclusions & Taking Informed Action    

Content Focus:    Economics- Maryland’s Economy

 

Overarching Question: How does the economy meet our needs and wants?    

 

Enduring Understandings

  • People make choices about needs and wants.

  •  People do many kinds of work making goods or providing services and people use money to buy and sell.

  • People buy things because they cannot make everything themselves and people sell things because others want to buy them.

 

Focused Reading Strategies and Skills

Point of View                             Theme

Inferring                                     Character, Settings, Events

 

Analytic Writing

Research Simulation- Interview                               Narrative Story

 

Quarter Culminating Activities:

  • Report-Maryland-Portrait of an Economy- Interview an expert

  •  Proposal to the MD Governor ”Investing in Maryland’s Future”

  • JA Finance Park BizTowne Simulation

  • Stock Market Game Portfolio Presentation InvestWrite Essay (Student Created Presentations/Simulations)

 

Social Studies Standards

D1-5.3-5 Developing Questions & Planning Inquiry

D2Eco1-15.3-5 Applying Disciplinary Tools & Concepts (Economics)

D31-4.3-5 Evaluating Sources & Using Evidence

D41-8.3-5 Communicating Conclusions & Taking Informed Action

Quarterly Assessments

  • Teacher-Created Assessment

  • Quarter Culminating Activity