Course Overview:
The Social Studies suite utilizes a personal approach to introduce students to community and citizenship. By experiencing scaffolded instruction from kindergarten through 5th grade, students develop a firm understanding of important concepts and skills related to history, geography, and economics. The integration of recurring characters with challenges to overcome keeps students engaged and progressing. Finally, students will analyze grade-appropriate passages to reinforce reading comprehension and writing skills. In kindergarten, students learn about community and are offered an introduction to history, geography, and economics. In first grade, students develop an understanding of citizenship in the home, school, and community. Second grade focuses on the geography of North America, the impact of immigration, and the foundations of American citizenship. Third grade includes a closer look at American history and civics. This includes studying regions within the United States and the physical and cultural characteristics of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. In fourth grade, students explore the important people, places, and events that shaped the state in which they live. In fifth grade, students focus on American history through 1850, from Native Americans through exploration, colonization, and early American settlement.
Required Materials:
Student-Supplied Resources:
- Printer
- Disk space on your computer as well as external device to back up your files (flash drive, external hard drive, CD–Rom, etc.)
- Cell phone to take photo of student's work or scanner to scan student's work
- Interactive Notebook (three-ring binder)
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Scissors
- Crayons and colored pencils
- Glue
- Tape
- Ruler
- Printer paper
- Multi-colored paper
Lesson Specific Materials:
- Optional: Household items
Free Downloads:
- Java
- Windows Media Player
- Apple iTunes
Syllabus:
Module 01: Geography
- 01.00 Module One Introduction
- 01.01 On the Map
- 01.02 Weathering the Storm
- 01.03 People and the Environment
- 01.04 Cultural Geography
- 01.05 Module One Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 01.06 Module One Assessment
Module 02: Early Beginnings
- 02.00 Module Two Introduction
- 02.01 Native Americans
- 02.02 Explorers
- 02.03 Impact of Colonization
- 02.04 Module Two Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 02.05 Module Two Assessment
Module 03: Times of Transition
- 03.00 Module Three Introduction
- 03.01 Nations in Control
- 03.02 Mission Life
- 03.03 Fort Life
- 03.04 Conflicts
- 03.05 Territory Transformation
- 03.06 Module Three Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 03.07 Module Three Assessment
Module 04: Civil War and Reconstruction
- 04.00 Module Four Introduction
- 04.01 The Pioneer Life
- 04.02 Technological Advances
- 04.03 Becoming a State
- 04.04 Civil War
- 04.05 Reconstruction
- 04.06 Module Four Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 04.07 Module Four Assessment
Module 05: Industrialization
- 05.00 Module Five Introduction
- 05.01 Chugging Along
- 05.02 Spanish American War
- 05.03 Making a Mark
- 05.04 Module Five Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 05.05 Module Five Assessment
Module 06: A New Century
- 06.00 Module Six Introduction
- 06.01 Boom and Bust
- 06.02 Troubled Times
- 06.03 Another War
- 06.04 Module Six Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 06.05 Module Six Assessment
Module 07: Modern Times
- 07.00 Module Seven Introduction
- 07.01 Moving Forward
- 07.02 State Industries
- 07.03 Tourist Time
- 07.04 National and World Economy
- 07.05 Module Seven Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 07.06 Module Seven Assessment
Module 08: Civics and Government
- 08.00 Module Eight Introduction
- 08.01 51 Constitutions?
- 08.02 Seeing All the Branches
- 08.03 State or Local?
- 08.04 United We Stand
- 08.05 Together We Are Stronger
- 08.06 Module Eight Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 08.07 Module Eight Assessment
Module 09: Financial Literacy
- 09.00 Module Nine Introduction
- 09.01 Starting with the Basics
- 09.02 Budget Time
- 09.03 Earning Money
- 09.04 Why Save?
- 09.05 Money Moves
- 09.06 Module Nine Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 09.07 Module Nine Assessment
