4th Grade
Course Title: Social Studies
Month: Sept., & Oct
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
 The political, economic, historical and geographic development of Pennsylvania is a model of the pattern for the development of the United States.
 Geography has a great impact on the settlement of a state, region, or country.
Essential Questions
 What makes one place different from another?
 What are the criteria to create a region?
 How can use of geographic tools help build understanding of place and history?





Standards
7.1.4.A:
Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize and
interpret information about people, places, and environment.
7.1.4.B:
Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical and
human features.
7.2.4.A:
Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.
7.2.4.B:
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical
characteristics of places and regions.
7.3.4.A:
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions using the
following criteria:
Population
Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities
7.4.4.A:
Identify the effect of the physical systems on people within a community.
7.4.4.B:
Identify the effect of people on the physical systems within a community.
8.1.4.A: Identify and describe how geography and climate have
influenced continuity and change over time.
Content
Political scientists,
historians,
geographers, and
economists all
answer questions
differently.
 Political scientists
study
government.
 Economists study
the economy.
 Geographers
study the natural
features of the
earth’s surface.
 Historians study
the past.
The five themes of
geography are: location,
place, human
environmental interaction,
movement, and regions.
Skills/Competency
Students identify and use parts
of a map
 Scale
 Key
 Cardinal
direction
 Latitude and
longitude
Students recognize different
types of maps.
 Political
 Physical
 Regional
 Population
density
 Annual rainfall
 Elevation
Describe geographic tools and
their uses and apply to the
regions of the United States.
Students use maps to help them
think about the five themes of
geography.
Assessment
Quizzes and tests may
include:
 multiple choice
 true/false
 definitions
 matching
 fill-in the blank
 open ended
questions.
Homework
Monitor and assess class
work
May include
presentations, group
work.
Selected activities and
assessments from the
team created Neshaminy
School District: “Fourth
Grade Lesson Plans”
notebook.
4th Grade
Course Title: Social Studies
Month: November & December
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
 Geography has a great impact on the settlement of a state, region, or country.
 The political, economic, historical and geographic development of Pennsylvania is a model of the pattern for the development of the United States.
Essential Questions
 Why do people move?
 Which physical features encourage settlement and which discourage settlement?
 How does where I live impact how I live?




Standards
5.1.4.A: Examine school rules and
consequences.
5.1.4.B: Explain rules and laws for the
classroom, school, community, and state.
5.1.4.C:
Explain the principles and ideals shaping
local and state government.
Liberty / Freedom
Democracy
Justice
Equality




5.1.4.D:
Identify key ideas about government found
in significant documents:
Declaration of Independence
United States Constitution
Bill of Rights
Pennsylvania Constitution
5.1.4.F:
Identify state symbols, national symbols, and
national holidays.
5.2.4.A: Identify individual rights and needs
and the rights and needs of others in the
classroom, school, and community.
5.2.4.B: Describe the sources of conflict and
Content
The physical features of Pennsylvania.
Landforms:
 Mountains:
(Allegheny, Poconos,
Appalachians),
 plateaus
 plains
Water forms:
 Susquehanna
 Schuylkill
 Delaware
 Ohio
 Monongahela
 Allegheny
 Lehigh
 Lake Wallenpaupack
 Lake Erie
 Chesapeake Bay
 Delaware Bay
 canals.
Regions:
 Atlantic coastal plain
 piedmont
 ridge and valley
 Allegheny plateau
Skills/Competency
Explain how the geography of Pennsylvania
influenced the settlement of the state.
Assessment
Quizzes and tests
may include:
 multiple choice
 true/false
 definitions
 matching
 fill-in the blank
 open ended
questions.
Homework
Monitor and assess
class work
May include
presentations, group
work.
Selected activities
and assessments from
the team created
Neshaminy School
District: “Fourth
Grade Lesson Plans”
notebook.
disagreement and different ways conflict can
be resolved.
5.2.4.C:
Describe the roles of leadership and public
service in school, community, state, and
nation.
5.2.4.D:
Describe how citizens participate in school
and community activities.
5.3.4.A:
Identify the roles of the three branches of
government.
5.3.4.B:
Describe how the elected representative
bodies function in making local and state
laws.
5.3.4.C:
Identify the services performed by local and
state governments.
5.3.4.D:
Identify positions of authority at the local
and state, and national level.
5.3.4.E: Explain the voting process.
5.3.4.F: Explain how different perspectives
can lead to conflict.
5.3.4.G: Identify individual interests and
explain ways to influence others.
6.1.4.A:
Identify scarcity of resources in a local
community.
6.1.4.B:
Recognize the difference between basic
needs and wants.
Explain the role of producers in making
goods and providing services.
6.1.4.C:
Illustrate what individuals or organizations
give up when making a choice.

Erie plain
The climate of Pennsylvania.
Temperature range
Precipitation



6.1.4.D: Explain what influences the choices
people make
6.2.4.A: Explain how a product moves from
production to consumption.
6.2.4.B: Determine how sellers compete with
one another.
6.2.4.C: Differentiate between monetary and
non-monetary incentives in advertising.
6.2.4.D:
Explain the role of buyers and sellers in
determining prices of products.
6.2.4.E: Explain why local businesses open
and close.
6.2.4.F:
Describe the role of a private economic
institution in the local community.
6.2.4.G:
Explain the three basic questions all
economic systems must answer.
What to produce?
How?
For whom?
6.3.4.A:
Explain how government responds to social
needs by providing public goods and
services.
6.3.4.B:
Describe the impact of government
involvement in state and national economic
activities.
6.3.4.C: Explore ways in which tax revenues
are used in local community.
6.4.4.A:
List and explain factors that promote
specialization and division of labor.
6.4.4.B:
Explain why nations trade.
6.5.4.B: Identify the requirements for
different careers and occupations.
6.5.4.G: Compare different ways people
save.
6.5.4.H: Examine the basic operation of the
banking system.





7.1.4.A:
Describe how common geographic tools are
used to organize and interpret information
about people, places, and environment.
7.1.4.B:
Describe and locate places and regions as
defined by physical and human features.
7.2.4.A:
Identify the physical characteristics of places
and regions.
7.2.4.B:
Identify the basic physical processes that
affect the physical characteristics of places
and regions.
7.3.4.A:
Identify the human characteristics of places
and regions using the following criteria:
Population
Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities
7.4.4.A:
Identify the effect of the physical systems on
people within a community.
7.4.4.B:
Identify the effect of people on the physical
systems within a community.
8.1.4.A: Identify and describe how
geography and climate have influenced
continuity and change over time.
8.1.4.B:
Distinguish between fact and opinion from






multiple points of view, and primary
sources as related to historical events.
(Reference Civics and Government Standard
5.1.9.C.)
8.1.4.C: Identify a specific research topic and
develop questions relating to the research
topic. (Reference RWSL Standard 1.8.3
Research)
8.2.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the
social, political, cultural, and economic
groups from Pennsylvania.
8.2.4.B:
Locate historical documents, artifacts, and
places critical to Pennsylvania history.
8.2.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in
Pennsylvania history have influenced
personal development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations





8.2.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation
among groups and organization that impacted
the history and development of Pennsylvania
Ethnicity and race
Working conditions
Immigration
Military conflict
Economic stability
8.3.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the
social, political, cultural and economic
groups in United States history.






8.3.4.B:
Locate historical documents, artifacts, and
places critical to United States history.
8.3.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in U.S.
history have influenced personal
development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations





8.3.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation
among groups and organization that impacted
the history and development of the United
States.
Ethnicity and race
Working conditions
Immigration
Military conflict
Economic stability




8.4.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the
social, political, cultural, and economic
groups in world history
8.4.4.B:
Locate historical documents, artifacts, and
sites, which are critical to World history.
8.4.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in world
history have influenced personal
development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government


Physical and human geography
Social organizations
8.4.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation
among groups and organization that impacted
development of the history of the world.
4th Grade
Course Title: Social Studies
Month: Early January
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
 The political, economic, historical and geographic development of Pennsylvania is a model of the pattern for the development of the United States.
 Geography has a great impact on the settlement of a state, region, or country.
Essential Questions
 Why do people move?
 Which physical features encourage settlement and which discourage settlement?
 How does where I live impact how I live?
Standards
6.2.4.A: Explain how a product moves from production to consumption.
6.4.4.A:
List and explain factors that promote specialization and division of labor.





7.1.4.A:
Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret
information about people, places, and environment.
7.1.4.B:
Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
7.2.4.A:
Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.
7.2.4.B:
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places
and regions.
7.3.4.A:
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria:
Population
Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities
7.4.4.A:
Identify the effect of the physical systems on people within a community.
7.4.4.B:
Identify the effect of people on the physical systems within a community.
8.1.4.A: Identify and describe how geography and climate have influenced continuity
and change over time.
Content
The resources of
Pennsylvania.
 Fertile soil
 Forests
 Fossil Fuels
(hard and soft coal,
oil, natural gas)
 Mineral resources
 Livestock
Human resources of
Pennsylvania
PA is a populous state.
Population is centered in two
areas – Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh.
Many people choose to live here.
Skills/Competency
Explain how the
geography of
Pennsylvania
influenced the
settlement of the
state.
Describe
population and
settlement patterns
in the state.
Assessment
Quizzes and tests
may include:
 multiple choice
 true/false
 definitions
 matching
 fill-in the blank
 open ended
questions.
Homework
Monitor and assess
class work
May include
presentations, group
work.
Selected activities
and assessments
from the team
created Neshaminy
School District:
“Fourth Grade
Lesson Plans”
notebook.






8.2.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in Pennsylvania history have influenced personal
development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations
4th Grade
Course Title: Social Studies
Month: late Jan., Feb. & March
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
 The political, economic, historical and geographic development of Pennsylvania is a model of the pattern for the development of the United States.
 Geography has a great impact on the settlement of a state, region, or country.
Essential Questions
 Why do people move?
 Which physical features encourage settlement and which discourage settlement?
 How does where I live impact how I live?




Standards
5.1.4.C:
Explain the principles and ideals shaping local and state government.
Liberty / Freedom
Democracy
Justice
Equality




5.1.4.D:
Identify key ideas about government found in significant documents:
Declaration of Independence
United States Constitution
Bill of Rights
Pennsylvania Constitution
5.1.4.F:
Identify state symbols, national symbols, and national holidays.
5.3.4.B:
Describe how the elected representative bodies function in making local and state
laws.
5.3.4.C:
Identify the services performed by local and state governments.
5.3.4.D:
Identify positions of authority at the local and state, and national level.
5.3.4.E: Explain the voting process.
7.1.4.B:
Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
7.2.4.A:
Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.
7.3.4.A:
Content
Identify where the following
ethnic groups settled and their
contributions to the United
States:
 Native Americans
 Latinos
 European Americans
 Asian Americans
 African Americans
William Penn is an English
Quaker.
William Penn started the colony
of Pennsylvania for religious
reasons.
Penn called his colony the “Holy
Experiment”.
William Penn had two important
laws – the Great Law that states
that all people are born equal
and Freedom of Religion which
allowed people to worship in the
religion of their choice.
Skills/Competency
Define:
 Ethnic
 Prejudiced
 Diversity
 immigrant
Describe the
impacts of physical
systems on people
and the impact of
people on physical
systems.
Explain why the
various different
groups of people
chose to settle in
certain areas of
Pennsylvania.
Assessment
Quizzes and tests
may include:
 multiple choice
 true/false
 definitions
 matching
 fill-in the blank
 open ended
questions.
Homework
Monitor and assess
class work
May include
presentations, group
work.
Selected activities
and assessments from
the team created
Neshaminy School
District: “Fourth
Grade Lesson Plans”
notebook.





Identify the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria:
Population
Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities
7.4.4.A:
Identify the effect of the physical systems on people within a community.
7.4.4.B:
Identify the effect of people on the physical systems within a community.






8.1.4.A: Identify and describe how geography and climate have influenced continuity
and change over time.
8.2.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the social, political, cultural, and economic
groups from Pennsylvania.
8.2.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in Pennsylvania history have influenced personal
development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations





8.2.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation among groups and organization that
impacted the history and development of Pennsylvania
Ethnicity and race
Working conditions
Immigration
Military conflict
Economic stability
8.3.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the social, political, cultural and economic
groups in United States history.
8.3.4.B:
William Penn set up a
government based on a set of
laws called the Charter of
Privileges.
William Penn started the city of
Philadelphia.
The main groups of people who
settled in PA were: English,
Germans, Brethren,
Pennsylvania Dutch (German
and Swiss), Scotch-Irish,
African-Americans.
Many religious beliefs came to
PA including: Quakers,
Moravians, Brethren, Seventh
Day Baptists, Presbyterians,
Catholics, and Jews.
The best known religious group
that settled in Pennsylvania
because it was a safe place is the
Pennsylvania Dutch.






Locate historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.
8.3.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in U.S. history have influenced personal
development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations





8.3.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation among groups and organization that
impacted the history and development of the United States.
Ethnicity and race
Working conditions
Immigration
Military conflict
Economic stability
4th Grade
Course Title: Social Studies
Month: April, May
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
 The political, economic, historical and geographic development of Pennsylvania is a model of the pattern for the development of the United States.
 Geography has a great impact on the settlement of a state, region, or country.
Essential Questions
 Why do people move?
 Which physical features encourage settlement and which discourage settlement?
 How does where I live impact how I live?
 How is the geography of PA similar and different from the geography of the U.S.?
 How do Pennsylvania’s and a region’s geography affect its economy?
 How are the government and history of PA linked to the government and history of the U.S.?



Standards
6.1.4.A:
Identify scarcity of resources in a local community.
6.2.4.G:
Explain the three basic questions all economic systems must answer.
What to produce?
How?
For whom?
6.4.4.A:
List and explain factors that promote specialization and division of labor.

7.1.4.A:
Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret
information about people, places, and environment.
7.1.4.B:
Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human
features.
7.2.4.A:
Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.
7.2.4.B:
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics
of places and regions.
7.3.4.A:
Identify the human characteristics of places and regions using the following
criteria:
Population
Content
Geographic features of Northeast
 States
 Cities
 Bodies of water
 Landforms
Northeast Region
 Birthplace of our Nation
 First factories started
here
 Identify large cities
located in this region
Pennsylvania begins its industries
 The importance of the
Conestoga wagon
 Canals improved our
transportation system
and aided industrial
growth
 Allegheny Portage
differs from a canals
 Steamboats helped to
develop the growth of
Pittsburgh
Skills/Competency
Students can
describe each of
the five regions
of the United
States using
political,
economic,
historic and
geographic facts.
Assessment
Quizzes and tests may
include:
 multiple choice
 true/false
 definitions
 matching
 fill-in the blank
 open ended
questions.
Homework
Monitor and assess
class work
May include
presentations, group
work.
Selected activities and
assessments from the
team created
Neshaminy School
District: “Fourth Grade
Lesson Plans”




Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities
7.4.4.A:
Identify the effect of the physical systems on people within a community.
7.4.4.B:
Identify the effect of people on the physical systems within a community.






8.1.4.A: Identify and describe how geography and climate have influenced
continuity and change over time.
8.2.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the social, political, cultural, and
economic groups from Pennsylvania.
8.2.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in Pennsylvania history have influenced
personal development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations





8.2.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation among groups and
organization that impacted the history and development of Pennsylvania
Ethnicity and race
Working conditions
Immigration
Military conflict
Economic stability
8.3.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the social, political, cultural and
economic groups in United States history.
8.3.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in U.S. history have influenced personal
development and identity.
 Railroads improve
transportation
 Pennsylvania’s resources
helped the state become
an industrial giant
 Pennsylvania changed
from home industries to
factory industries
Geographic features of the Southeast
 States
 Cities
 Bodies of water
 Landforms
Southeast Region
 Uses of the land
 Culture of this region
 Changes over time
notebook.











Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations
8.3.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation among groups and
organization that impacted the history and development of the United States.
Ethnicity and race
Working conditions
Immigration
Military conflict
Economic stability
4th Grade
Course Title: Social Studies
Month: May & June
Big Ideas/Enduring Understandings
 The political, economic, historical and geographic development of Pennsylvania is a model of the pattern for the development of the United States.
 Geography has a great impact on the settlement of a state, region, or country.
Essential Questions
 Why do people move?
 Which physical features encourage settlement and which discourage settlement?
 How does where I live impact how I live?
 How is the geography of PA similar and different from the geography of the U.S.?
 How do Pennsylvania’s and a region’s geography affect its economy?
 How are the government and history of PA linked to the government and history of the U.S.?



Standards
6.1.4.A:
Identify scarcity of resources in a local community.
6.2.4.G:
Explain the three basic questions all economic systems must
answer.
What to produce?
How?
For whom?
6.4.4.A:
List and explain factors that promote specialization and
division of labor.
7.1.4.A:
Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize
and interpret information about people, places, and
environment.
7.1.4.B:
Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical
and human features.
7.2.4.A:
Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.
7.2.4.B:
Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical
characteristics of places and regions.
7.3.4.A:
Content
Geographic features of Midwest
 States
 Cities
 Bodies of water
 Landforms
Midwest Region
 Meaning of nicknames
 “America’s Breadbasket”
 “America’s Heartland”
 Linking of
 agriculture,
 industry
 transportation
Geographic features of Southwest
 States
 Cities
 Bodies of water
 Landforms
Southwest Region
Skills/Competency
Students can describe
each of the five regions of
the United States using
political, economic,
historic and geographic
facts.
Assessment
Quizzes and tests
may include:
 multiple choice
 true/false
 definitions
 matching
 fill-in the blank
 open ended
questions.
Homework
Monitor and assess
class work
May include
presentations, group
work.
Selected activities
and assessments
from the team
created Neshaminy
School District:
“Fourth Grade





Identify the human characteristics of places and regions using
the following criteria:
Population
Culture
Settlement
Economic activities
Political activities
7.4.4.A:
Identify the effect of the physical systems on people within a
community.
7.4.4.B:
Identify the effect of people on the physical systems within a
community.






8.1.4.A: Identify and describe how geography and climate have
influenced continuity and change over time.
8.3.4.A:
Differentiate common characteristics of the social, political,
cultural and economic groups in United States history.
8.3.4.C:
Explain how continuity and change in U.S. history have
influenced personal development and identity.
Belief systems and religions
Commerce and industry
Technology
Politics and government
Physical and human geography
Social organizations




8.3.4.D:
Distinguish between conflict and cooperation among groups
and organization that impacted the history and development of
the United States.
Ethnicity and race
Working conditions
Immigration
Military conflict
Economic stability





Adapting to hot, dry climate
Farming in the desert
Water distribution
Formation of the physical features
Relationship with Mexico
Geographic features of West
 States
 Cities
 Bodies of water
 Landforms
West Region
 Natural resources
 Climate
 Sense of adventure
 Tourism and entertainment
industry
Lesson Plans”
notebook.