Pittsford Central Schools

Approved by Grade Four: May 6, 1998

GRADE: 4

The grade four program stresses economics, civics and geography related to New York State. A variety of skills will be incorporated through the following topics.

Identify the differences between a good and service.

List examples of natural and human resources.

Explain the impact of the Erie Canal on trade, business, and the growth of communities in New York State. (Distribution)

Understand that the development of a community and its businesses are influenced by environmental and geographic factors.

Give examples of scarcity.

Give examples of interdependence.

Understand the rationale for trade, barter.

Understand the difference between an import and export.

Show how businesses are interrelated and dependent on one another.

Understand the economic history of Rochester

Research an economic topic and make a decision based on that research. (Examples — planning a family vacation, comparing two grocery stores, restaurants, costs of keeping various pets, etc.)

Explain advantages, disadvantages of recycling.

Describe the basic purposes of government and how it serves people.

List the reasons for creating rules and laws.

Have a general understanding of what a democracy is.

Compare our form of government with that of the Iroquois.

Examine what it means to be a good citizen in the classroom, school, home, community, and be empathetic to diversity in our community.

Identify those branches of government responsible for making, enforcing, and interpreting state laws.

Describe how officials are elected at the national or state level.

Have a basic understanding of the purpose of the constitution;

Explain the significance of the Declaration of Independence.

Name and locate the capital of New York State.

Landforms: plateau, plain, valley, mountain, peninsula,

Bodies of water: river, canal, harbor, mouth, bay, tributary, ocean, lake, source

Understand the major geographic features of New York State including; the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, major rivers, and mountain ranges.

Identify different types of maps.

Locate places on a map using an index, grid system.

Be familiar with and locate major cities of the state.

Understand and apply use of compass rose / legend.

Locate places using latitude and longitude.

Use map scale to determine distances.

Locate where we live in relation to town, city, county, state, country, continent, hemisphere, planet, and galaxy.

AMERICAN HISTORY (New York)

1. Native Americans of New York State

• Learn the culture and contributions of the Iroquois
• Uses of environment and how settlements were influenced by environmental and geographic factors

2. French and Indian War- Children will learn who fought in the war, the reasons for the conflict, and the outcome/impact

3. Revolutionary War

• Children will learn who fought in the war, the reasons for the conflict, and the outcome/impact
• How Native Americans influenced the war
• Loyalists and Patriots in NY
• Leaders of the revolution
• Effects of the revolution
• Declaration of Independence
• Constitution

4. War of 1812- Children will learn who fought in the war, the reasons for the conflict, and the outcome/impact.

AMERICAN HISTORY (Rochester and the Pittsford area)

1. Early settlement and settlers (Nathaniel Rochester, Indian Allen, Simon and Israel Stone)

Phelps and Gorham Purchase

2. Rochester - a "frontier settlement" before the Erie Canal - the life of self-sufficient farm family on the frontier

3. Erie Canal:

• Route, building the canal
• How a canal "works" - horse drawn, locks
• Impact of the canal on trade, population growth, life on the canal

4. Rochester- the "Flour City" (1830’s - 1850’s)

5. Growth of Rochester - population, trade, flour industry, life

• Two famous Rochesterians of the era - Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass
• The "Underground Railroad"
• The rise of railroads as a competitor to canals

WORLD HISTORY

European Explorers

• Have an awareness of how explorers expanded contacts and influence other cultures
• Have an awareness of how explorers contributed to the development of NYS
• Be familiar with several key explorers and their accomplishments

Colonial Period

• Children will learn of the Dutch, English, and French influences in New York State
• Children will learn what life was like in colonial times (education, economy, culture, etc.)

SKILLS:

Interpret various graphs, charts and maps.

Construct a table or graph given various data or information.

Research a topic utilizing at least three sources of information that should include at least one technological source (CD, ROM, and Internet).

Write a compare contrast essay that examines the advantages, disadvantages, of a social studies topic (example — various modes of transportation).

Problem solving: be able to consider other points of view, prioritize, make judgments, and propose action (decision making)

Create and interpret timelines.

Make a formal presentation to the class.

LIBRARY COMPONENT:

Research a social studies topic using at least three different types of library resources.

Access the Internet in the library to find information about New York State.