WS/FCS
Unit Planning Organizer
Subject(s)
Grade/Course
Unit of Study
Unit Title
Pacing
Social Studies
Fourth
Early exploration and colonization
“Coming to the Carolinas”
10-12 days
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Conceptual Lenses
Change
Colonialism
Human - Environmental
interactions
Unit Overview
The points of focus in this unit include the changes to Native Indian groups before and after
European exploration, the reasons for colonization of North Carolina, and how humanenvironment interactions modified and adapted the environment. Student will develop an
understanding of
 Characteristics of various American Indian groups indigenous to North Carolina.
 Changes to the culture, status, and everyday life of American Indian groups as a result of
European exploration.
 The role of the English monarchy in the establishment of North Carolina as a colony.
 Key individuals who played a role in colonization.
 How American Indian groups and European explorers adapted to and modified the
environment.
Unit Enduring Understanding(s)
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When groups move into an area, existing
groups may experience change.
Colonies may be established political,
social or economic reasons.
Interactions of people and their physical
environment impact historical events and
issues such as exploration, colonization
and patterns of settlement.
Unit Essential Question(s)
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How do new groups moving in to an area
bring about change to existing groups?
What are the political social or economic
reasons that might lead to colonization?
How do exploration, colonization, and
settlement patterns impact humanenvironmental interactions?
Essential State Standards
Priority Objectives
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Supporting Objectives
4. H.1.1 Summarize the change in cultures,
everyday life and status of indigenous
American Indian groups in North Carolina
before and after European exploration.
4. H.1.2 Explain how and why North
Carolina was established.
4.G.1.3 Exemplify the interactions of
various peoples, places and cultures in
terms of adaptation and modification of the
environment
“Unpacked” Concepts
(students need to know)
The types of government,
language, food, shelter, and
cultural traditions of various
American Indian groups.
Changes in the culture,
everyday life and status of
American Indian groups after the
arrival of Europeans.
The English monarchy
sponsored attempts at
colonization along the North
Carolina coast.
Key individuals played a
role in the establishment of
North Carolina
How and why North
Carolina began as a proprietary
colony but later became a royal
colony.
How American Indians
and Europeans shaped the
North Carolina environment.
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4. H.1.3 Explain how people, events and
developments brought about changes to
communities in various regions of North
Carolina.
4. G.1.2 Explain the impact that human
activity has on the availability of natural
resources in North Carolina.
4. C&G.1.3 Explain the influence of the
colonial history of North Carolina on the
governing documents of our state.
“Unpacked” Skills
(students need to be able to do)
 Summarize changes in
everyday life of American Indian
groups in North Carolina before
and after exploration.
 Explain how North Carolina was
settled.
 Explain why North Carolina was
established.
 Exemplify human environmental
interactions during the period of
exploration and colonization.
COGNITION
(RBT Level)
Summarize
Explain
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Essential Vocabulary
Proprietary colony
Royal colony
Adapt
Modify
Human environment interaction
Enrichment Vocabulary
Standards
Unit “Chunking”
& Enduring
Understandings
Suggested Lesson
Essential Questions
Possible Factual
Content
4.H.1.1
Summarize the
change in
cultures,
everyday life
and status of
indigenous
American Indian
groups in NC
before and after
European
exploration.
When new groups
move into an
area, existing
groups may
experience
change.
What are the types of
government, language,
food, shelter and cultural
traditions of various
American Indian groups
in NC?
Algonquian,
Iroquois, Siouan,
Tuscarora,
Occaneechi,
Tutelo, Waxhaw,
Catawba, and
Cherokee
How were the culture,
everyday life and status
of American Indian
groups changed after
the arrival of the
Europeans?
4.H.1.2
Explain how and
why North
Carolina was
established.
Colonies may be
established for
political or
economic
reasons.
Where did the English
monarchy sponsor
attempts at colonization
along the NC coast?
The English
monarch
sponsored
attempts at
colonization along
the NC coast.
Example(s)
from
Unpacked
Standards
American
Indians were
displaced as
Europeans
arrived and
cleared land to
build
settlements.
Roanoke
Island and
The Lost
Colony).
.
4.G.1.3
Exemplify the
interaction of
various people,
places and
cultures in terms
of adaptation
and modification
of the
environment.
Interaction of
people, places
and cultures
sometimes cause
them to change,
and often causes
changes in the
environment.
Change is often
the result of
human response
to the physical
environment.
Who are the key
individuals who
contributed to the
establishment of NC?
The contributions
of key individuals
to the
establishment of
NC.
How and why North
Carolina was
established as a
proprietary colony but
later became a royal
colony?
How did the American
Indian adapt and modify
the environment to meet
their needs?
Proprietary
colony, Royal
colony
Reasons why
people have
adapted to and
modified their
environment such
as the use of
natural resources
to meet their
basic needs.
Sir Walter
Raleigh,
Queen
Elizabeth,
John White,
Ralph Lane,
King Charles
II, Lords
Proprietors
American
Indians use
stone axes
and fire to
remove brush
and timber as
a means to
clear
farmland.
They stripped
bark (a
process
known as
girdling) from
larger trees so
they sprouted
no leave and
eventually
died.
How did European
explorers adapt and
modify the environment
to meet their needs?
Reasons why
people have
adapted to and
modified their
environment such
as the use of
natural resources
to meet their
basic needs.
How did Africans adapt
and modify the
environment to meet
their needs?
Reasons why
people have
adapted to and
modified their
environment such
as the use of
natural resources
to meet their
basic needs.
Europeans cut
lumber in
order to build
ships, houses
and provide
firewood.
Agricultural
clearing for
various forest
industries
have the
overall effect
of reducing
the forests
and altering
drainage
patterns along
major rivers.
Africans also
used the
environment
to meet their
needs, even to
the point of
reshaping
southern
swamps into
places of
sustenance,
refuge, and
freedom
(Dismal
Swamp).
What other
advancements caused
changes in the
environment in NC?
Changes include
more highways
through and
around
mountains, less
trees due to
roadways, longer
bridges to coastal
tourist sites, etc.
Business and
resorts have
been created
near the
oceans and
mountains in
the state to
accommodate
tourism.
People build
dams, plow
and irrigate
fields, build
houses,
schools, and
shopping
centers to
modify the
environment.