PACING GUIDE
Grade 4 – Social Studies
Updated January 2013
LOCAL HISTORY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Local History and Local Government” applies the course of study to the Empire State. The geography section introduces students to the regions
in the state and the human and physical geographies that define these regions. Students also look at unique alterations people have made to their
landscape and state parks that preserve landscapes. Students learn about similarities and differences between the United States government and
their New York State government, including the different roles citizens play in these two scales of governance. The course focuses on the unique
technological innovations that have strengthened the state and its role in the global economy. The history section in the course takes students
back to a time where there were no Europeans and only Native Americans living in the state. Through the course, students learn about how
Europeans shaped where and how Native Americans lived, as well as how Europeans made claims and were shaped by their settlement in the
state. The subsequent chronological study focuses on British colonization, the American Revolution, New York’s role in founding the United
States, the changing racial profile of the state, and the new economic opportunities that have made New York State a global financial and
production center.
Unit Title: Current Events
Time Frame: Ongoing (all year)
Enduring Understandings
Build an awareness of the
concentric circles of community.
Essential Questions
What important personal, current, and
historical events are happening on a given
date?
Skills
Research current and historical
events for a given date
Present information effectively to an
audience
Develop question and answer skills
during presentations
Unit Title: Geography of New York
Time Frame: September
1
Enduring Understandings
Geographical features and
climate affect how people live.
Essential Questions
What effect does the physical environment
of an area have on people in our history
and vice versa?
Skills
Classify the location of New York
State in relation to other states.
Describe important geographic
features of New York State.
Locate important cities, landforms,
waterways, etc., on map
Unit Title: Native Americans of New York
Time Frame: October/November
Essential Questions
How does geography affect
settlement patterns?
Enduring Understandings Skills
Geography affects settlement patterns.
Natural resources provide basic needs.
How do natural resources
impact the way a community
develops?
Native American governance influenced how
modern government developed in the United
States.
Locate where Native Americans
live(d) in New York State,
particularly the Algonquian and
Iroquois nations.
Explain how Native Americans
interacted with their environment.
Describe the cultures of New York
State Native Americans.
Recognize the contributions of New
York State’s Native Americans.
Ask authentic questions to guide
research.
Identify facts and details that
support main idea.
Unit Title: Explorers - Three Worlds Meet
Time Frame: December/ January
Enduring Understandings
Essential Questions
Skills
2
The role economics and religion What happens when the ideals and values
played in furthering exploration. of multiple cultures clash?
What happens when one culture tries to
European exploration affected
dominate another one?
the lives of Native Americans,
Europeans and Africans
Understand the reasons for
exploration and settlement.
Understand the triangle of trade
associated with slavery, sugar cane
and rum.
Identify key people and events.
Select and use appropriate sources
to answer questions.
Use various note taking strategies.
Identify facts and details that
support main ideas.
Select and present creative products
in a variety of formats.
Read a variety of non-fiction and
fiction texts for information and
enjoyment.
Unit Title: Colonial Times
Time Frame: February/ March
Enduring Understandings
Essential Questions
Control of New York passed
from Native Americans to Dutch
settlements to English control
How did Native Americans and Europeans
influence and impact colonial New York?
Daily life was historically, and
continues to be, influenced by
religion, culture, trade,
agriculture, architecture, laws,
and commerce.
How did people interact with and use their
environment in colonial daily life?
Skills
Identify Peter Stuyvesant’s role in
the New Netherland colony
Sequence the events in the transition
of power to the British
Work cooperatively to prepare and
present a skit on John Peter Zenger’s
trial
Research an aspect of colonial life both online and in books - developing
questions, finding sources, taking
notes in own words, developing an
essay explaining the topic
Unit Title: Liberty! Revolutionary War
3
Time Frame: March/April
Enduring Understandings
Essential Questions
What drives people to seek independence?
A person/community’s
perspective on war is affected by
family loyalties, financial
situations, and personal
circumstances and beliefs.
Allies, military strategies and
leadership affect outcomes in
war.
How does a community form perspective
on war? (Why was New York City a loyalist
center during the war?)
What was New York’s role in the
Revolutionary War?
Skills
Research the causes and effects that
led up to the American Revolution
Compare and contrast two different
paintings about the Boston
Massacre
Identify the points of view between
different colonists, and understand
why they did or did not support the
war
Identify the major events and
turning points in the war (including
Lexington & Concord, Declaration of
Independence, Valley Forge, Battle of
Long Island, Battle of Saratoga, Battle
of Yorktown)
Unit Title: The New Nation
Time Frame: April/May
Enduring Understandings
The laws of a land are flexible
but constant and reflect a
society’s beliefs.
Essential Questions
How does democracy develop and
sustain itself?
Why did the founding fathers choose to
stop using the Articles of Confederation,
and how did it lead to the development of
our Constitution?
What does it mean to be free?
Skills
Understand the role of New York in the
development of the new nation
Understand the foundations for a new
government/ideals of American
democracy (Declaration of Independence,
Articles of Confederation, Preamble, the
United States and New York State
Constitutions)
Understand how the Constitution was
developed
• The Constitution as a framework
• Lack of inclusiveness (Africans, women,
the poor)
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Unit Title: Dreaming of the New Colossus: Immigration through Ellis Island
Time Frame: May/June
Essential Questions
Enduring Understandings
Immigration occurs for many
reasons, including when people
seek religious freedom, economic
opportunities, and liberty.
Immigration has contributed to
making the United States the
diverse country it is today.
Why do people immigrate?
What were the causes of immigration
during the late 1800s and early 1900s?
Who immigrated? What is an immigrant?
Further exploration: How does
immigration then compare to
immigration now? What is the
immigrant experience in the US
now?
Was it worth the risk?
What was life like for immigrants before,
during, and after their voyage through
Ellis Island? Did the dream match the
reality?
Skills
Identify the causes for major waves of
immigration.
Examine ship manifests and draw
conclusions about immigrants.
Explain the steps for processing an
immigrant at Ellis Island.
Identify aspects of life for immigrants in
the US, including life for farmers,
sweatshop, and factory workers.
What are the effects of immigration?
How has immigration contributed to our
culture in the United States?
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