Course Overview:
The Social Studies suite utilizes a personal approach to introduce students to community and citizenship. By providing 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 and 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 with 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 history.
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: Early North America
- 01.00 Module One Pretest
- 01.01 Hunting for Physical Features
- 01.02 Ancient North American Civilizations
- 01.03 From Woodlands to Plains
- 01.04 From Southwest to Pacific Northwest
- 01.05 Module One Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 01.06 Module One Assessment
Module 02: European Exploration
- 02.00 Module Two Pretest
- 02.01 Exploration Across the Atlantic
- 02.02 Spanish Exploration
- 02.03 English Exploration
- 02.04 After the Discovery
- 02.05 Module Two Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 02.06 Module Two Assessment
Module 03: The Settlement of North America
- 03.00 Module Three Pretest
- 03.01 The Thirteen Colonies
- 03.02 The New England Colonies
- 03.03 The Middle Colonies
- 03.04 The Southern Colonies
- 03.05 Comparing the Colonies
- 03.06 Module Three Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 03.07 Module Three Assessment
Module 04: American Revolution
- 04.00 Module Four Pretest
- 04.01 Leading up to the Revolution
- 04.02 Revolution Grows
- 04.03 So It Begins
- 04.04 Independent Ideas
- 04.05 The Declaration of Independence
- 04.06 War Continues
- 04.07 War Ends
- 04.08 Effects of the War
- 04.09 Module Four Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 04.10 Module Four Assessment
Module 05: Founding a Nation
- 05.00 Module Five Pretest
- 05.01 A New Country
- 05.02 Introduction to the Constitution
- 05.03 The Constitution Basics
- 05.04 Ratification
- 05.05 The Bill of Rights
- 05.06 The Constitution as a Living Document
- 05.07 Module Five Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 05.08 Module Five Assessment
Module 06: Growth and Westward Expansion
- 06.00 Module Six Pretest
- 06.01 Louisiana Purchase
- 06.02 War of 1812
- 06.03 Early Explorations of the West
- 06.04 Settling the West
- 06.05 Technology in Westward Expansion
- 06.06 Effects of Westward Expansion
- 06.07 Module Six Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 06.08 Module Six Assessment
Module 07: Social Studies Today
- 07.00 Module Seven Pretest
- 07.01 The United States Today
- 07.02 Solving Problems
- 07.03 Good Citizens
- 07.04 Module Seven Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 07.05 Module Seven Assessment
