Social Studies Curriculum

FOCUS QUESTIONS

Unit 1: Federalism - The Development of Government

FQ1: How was the United States Government formed? (EQ1,2,4) FQ2: How are state and local governments structured today? (EQ2,3,4)

Unit 2: The Technological Advancements of the U.S. (1780-1865)

FQ1:How did technological changes between 1780-1865 impact American culture? (EQ5)

Unit 3: The American Expansion

FQ1: How did immigration during the early 1800s impact the growth of America? (EQ1,2,3,6,7)

FQ2:Why did Americans move west? (EQ6,7)

FQ3:What was the Great Migration experience of 1840-1860? (EQ2,3,6)

FQ4:How did America change as a result of Westward Expansion? (EQ1,2,3,4,7)

Unit 4: The Civil War

FQ1:What were the similarities and differences between the North and the South? (EQ3,5,6)

FQ2:How did the struggle between the North and the South change from compromising to fighting? (EQ 3,4)

FQ3:How did the following events effect the progress of the conflict? (EQ2)

FQ4:What was the impact of the Civil War on individuals and groups of people? (EQ1,2,3,56)

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 AmericaÕs past ideas, customs, skills and art? (Themes 4,6)

How have resources effected the growth and change of AmericaÕs 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:

Recognize major bodies of land (hemispheres, continents and countries) as well as major bodies of water on a globe.

Identify land and water areas studied at previous grade levels, in addition to cape, isthmus, basin and reservoir.

Describe physical features of major sections of the United States.

Continue to use a legend and key.

Continue to apply knowledge of longitude, latitude and grid systems on a map or globe.

Compute distances between selected places on maps or globe.

Identify the seven continents and four oceans on a blank world outline map.

Label the 50 states and capitol cities on a blank world outline map.

Identify and use: physical, political, land use, relief, population and product maps.