Social Studies
Social studies in fourth grade is organized into four units: geography, government, economics,and history.
Geography
Students gain a familiarity with important United States features, such as the Great lakes, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains. Students learn different ways the US can be divided into regions, such as desert areas, the Southeast, or the Corn Belt. Students also learn basic map skills, including map scale and latitude and longitude points.
Government
Students learn about the preamble to the Constitution, and in doing so, learn why we need government and what government does for us as citizens. We learn about the many rights and freedoms we have as Americans that not every world citizen enjoys. We learn about the branches of government and what each branch does. We also learn about our responsibilities as US citizens.
Economics
In economics students gain an understanding of how our economy works, including supply and demand and how businesses compete for customers. Students engage in an economic simulation activity and we see how economic activity in Michigan has changed over the years. We also learn about assembly lines.
History
In fourth grade, students pick up where they left off with history in third grade. We focus on Michigan history after statehood. We concentrate our energy on early economic activities like mining and logging, we learn how Michigan citizens were involved in the Civil War and the Underground Railroad, and we learn about the beginnings of the automobile industry, including how this industry aided the efforts of World Wars I and II.
Social studies in fourth grade is organized into four units: geography, government, economics,and history.
Geography
Students gain a familiarity with important United States features, such as the Great lakes, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains. Students learn different ways the US can be divided into regions, such as desert areas, the Southeast, or the Corn Belt. Students also learn basic map skills, including map scale and latitude and longitude points.
Government
Students learn about the preamble to the Constitution, and in doing so, learn why we need government and what government does for us as citizens. We learn about the many rights and freedoms we have as Americans that not every world citizen enjoys. We learn about the branches of government and what each branch does. We also learn about our responsibilities as US citizens.
Economics
In economics students gain an understanding of how our economy works, including supply and demand and how businesses compete for customers. Students engage in an economic simulation activity and we see how economic activity in Michigan has changed over the years. We also learn about assembly lines.
History
In fourth grade, students pick up where they left off with history in third grade. We focus on Michigan history after statehood. We concentrate our energy on early economic activities like mining and logging, we learn how Michigan citizens were involved in the Civil War and the Underground Railroad, and we learn about the beginnings of the automobile industry, including how this industry aided the efforts of World Wars I and II.