• Social Studies Curriculum: 4th Grade

    The School District of Clayton’s elementary third through fifth grade Social Studies curriculum is grounded in the Learning for Justice Standards of Justice and Action. In our version of the “expanding horizons model”, students are encouraged to move beyond their local community to consider the history and culture of our city of St. Louis, the state of Missouri and the country of the United States. However, a global perspective is introduced to consider the context of the development of the United States.  Through exposure to different perspectives of our shared history, we aim to develop cultural awareness and student empathy. To varying degrees of emphasis at each grade level, we connect the five strands of social studies - history, civics, economics, geography and culture - but our primary area of study is our nation’s history and the various ways in which this history has impacted our world today. 

     

    Fourth grade students will explore our country’s history using these essential questions

    •  How are people in the Americas treated differently based upon their race or ethnic background? 
    •  How does the story of US history depend upon perspectives? 
    •  What can we learn about our world today based on our country’s history? 



    With three social studies units, students will delve into the following topics

     

    Unit 1: Cultures Meet-Prehistory

    • How have African civilizations and Native American peoples influenced the foundation of our country? 

    • How did European exploration have a negative impact on Native Americans and various peoples from West Africa? 

    • What are similarities and differences between the various purposes of the North American colonies? 

     

    Unit 2: Resistance and Revolution 

    • What are the causes of the American Revolution? 

    • What are the essential aspects of the U.S. Constitution? 

    • Who were and who were not included in the US Constitutions? 

     

    Unit 3: US Expansion and causes of Civil War

    • What problems existed upon creation of the United States? 

    • How did enslavement cause the Civil War? 

    • How did Westward Expansion cause the Civil War? 


    Fourth grade Social Studies Learning Objectives

     

    Social studies is a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to the study of people, their physical environment, history, leadership and cultures. The 3rd - 5th grade social studies program weaves together culture, geography, civics, economics and history, but our country’s history is the primary area of interest.   Students critically study the diverse history of our state and our country while considering multiple perspectives.   Through the social justice lenses of justice and action, we consider mistakes that have been made in the past as a way in improve our current communities

     

    Geography

    • Introduction to world geography with an emphasis on North America. 

    • The geography of each colony had an impact on its economy, society, and government.

    • Early American Western expansion created new opportunities and continued inequalities. 


    Culture

    • African, Indigenous American and European cultures merge with the colonization of North America and start of the United States.

    • The 13 colonies had distinct cultures that formed the United States. 

    History

    • The history of West Africa and indigenous North Americans are combined with the founding of the United States as a new country. 

    • The American Revolution established a new country. 

    • The Constitution and Bill of Rights continue to influence our lives today

    • Slavery was the most significant cause of the Civil War

    Economics

    • International trade in the Atlantic Ocean is analyzed in the exploration, colonization and founding of the United States

    • The 13 colonies had different economies that created initial problems upon the formation of the United States

    • Slavery was a financial institution that significantly impacted the start of the US. 

    Government

    • The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights are the foundation of the new United States