Social Studies Curriculum

FOCUS QUESTIONS

Unit 1: Native Americans

FQ1: How do cultures of the Eastern Woodland and Southeastern Native Americans compare? (EQ6)

Unit 2: Age of Exploration (1400-1600)

FQ1: Why did Europeans explore? (EQ5,6)

FQ2: What were the results of European exploration? (EQ1,7)

Unit 3: Colonization / Settlement

FQ1: How did the government and culture develop in the original thirteen colonies? (EQ 2,3,4,5,7)

FQ2: What events caused change in the thirteen colonies? (EQ1,2,3,7)

Unit 4: The American Revolution

FQ1: What led to the American Revolution? (EQ1,2,3,4)

FQ2:What was the impact of the Revolution on individuals and groups of people ? (EQ1,2,3)

FQ3: Why was America victorious? (EQ1,2,3,5)

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What is an American? (Theme 1)

How have people worked together to build an American community? (Themes 5,7)

How have problems between people changed the American community? (Themes 5,7)

How have Americans made rules to address the rights and responsibilities of its people? (Theme 2)

How have new ideas (technology) helped America grow and change? (Theme 3)

How was geography important in America's past ideas, customs, skills and arts? (Themes 4,6)

How have resources effected the growth and change of America's wealth? (Theme 4)

MAP AND GLOBE SKILLS

Map skills are intended to be integrated into the curriculum as much as possible.

Objectives: The student will:

Name and locate continents, oceans and hemispheres.

Identify landforms and water bodies studied at previous levels including the following: continents, islands, mountains, seas, harbor, coastline, deserts, peninsulas, oceans, rivers and lakes in addition to new landforms including deltas, tributaries, plateaus and plains.

Locate places using map index and grid.

Learn location of major countries in the news. (Look into current events.)

Students will locate places using longitude and latitude.

Determine water flow of major rivers.

Locate a legend/key on map.

Define sea level and elevation.

Identify national and state boundary lines.

Calculate distance between two points using scale.

Describe physical features of major sections of the United States.