ED 417Technology Project

4th grade Social Studies

Angie CarterGretchen Geiger

Tiffany Smith

RationaleBy incorporating the social studies

strands into the classroom, students will understand and appreciate the importance of different societies in

the world.

American Heritage

WEBSITES

www.americanheritage.com/98/oct/40index.htm

www.americanwestcenter.org

www.moah.org/newsite/index.html

www.americanheritageusa.com

www.kqed.org/heritagemonths/americanindian/

American Heritage

ACTIVITIES

Students can browse web sites to find out about The Museum of American Heritage. They can do extended research and write a story about living in earlier centuries.

Students can choose one of the top 40 wealthiest Americans and research their life. They can do a report on the person and present it to the class.

Have students plan a trip to The American West Heritage Center. They can calculate the cost and distance of the trip.

American Heritage

ACTIVITIES

Students can shop at the 50s American Heritage Store. They can each have a budget, buy items, and tell why they chose those purchases.

Students can research different events that happen during American Indian Heritage month. They can plan events for the class to celebrate.

People in Societies

WEBSITES

www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Yaka.html

www.woodrow.mpls.frb.fed.us/pubs/region/98-12/dahl.html

www.door.net/spgs/

www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/wpages/wpgs400/w4fletch.htm

www.iisdl.iisd.ca/pcdf/

People in Societies

ACTIVITIES

Students can read a web site to become familiar with the Yaka people. They can do extensive research on this group and share their info. in a report to the class.

Students can read about the South Plains Genealogical Society and study their own family historical background. They can make their own family tree.

Students can browse web sites and find one way volunteers have helped change a society for the better. They can share their finding with the class.

People in Societies

ACTIVITIES

Students can learn about the importance of economic literacy in different societies. They could then break into small groups and do research about economic literacy in different countries.

Students can read about several of the people who originally settled in the west. They can choose one person and do a report/presentation on why that person is/was important to our society.

World Interactions

WEBSITES

www.mrdowling.com/

www.peacecorps.gov/kids

www.eduweb.com/adventure.html

http://stmnftsc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/kidseyes/

http://emory.edu/CARLOS/ODYSSEY

World Interactions

ACTIVITIES

Students can create puppet shows to reflect various world cultures. Bunraku puppetry is used in Japan, water puppetry is used in Vietnam, and shadow puppetry is used in Indonesia.

Students can produce their own news program to inform other students of current issues around the world.

Students can have a pen pal from another country.

World Interactions

ACTIVITIES

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, students can learn words and phrases in Spanish, learn geography for Hispanic nations, write biographies of famous Hispanic Americans in history, and have a fiesta party.

Students can learn about world hunger: What is hunger? Who are hungry? Why are they hungry? What can be done to end world hunger?

Decision Making & Resources

WEBSITES

www.tax.gov/kids/

www.firstunion.com/kids/capkids_home.html

www.metrokc.gov/dnr/kidsweb

http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/Iditarod_webquest/

www.usdoj.com/kidspage/

Decision Making & ResourcesACTIVITIES

Conduct a mini economy in which students are responsible for fake money, budgets, trading, and running businesses.

Simulate a float trip and have students manage resources (or play Oregon Trail).

Discuss why the original settlers came to America. What influenced their decisions? Why do some immigrants come to the U.S. today?

Decision Making & Resources

ACTIVITIES

Students can participate in mock juries and make decisions on real court cases.

Students can write editorials on current controversial issues such as school uniforms and year-round schools.

Democratic Processes

WEBSITES

www.foutcom.com/folio/intro.html

www.vote-smart.org/education

/lessons/

Www.congresslink.org/lessonplanstuact.html

Www.hale.pepperdine.edu/~tehiggin/govt.html

Www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/democracy/debtquest.html

Democratic Processes

ACTIVITIES

Have a mock election. Inform students about the people running for office and have an election in the room, complete with polling booths.

Hold a classroom court to get students involved in the decision making process.

Have students create their won society and rules that would govern the society.

Democratic Processes

ACTIVITIES

Take a field trip to the county courthouse.

Have county officials come into the room and speak about their jobs.

Citizenship Rights& Responsibilites

WEBSITES

www.proteacher.com/090035.shtml/

www.charactercounts.org/

www.respecteen.org/

http://ericae.net/db/digs/ed.332929.htm

www.indiana.edu/~ssdc/bar.html

Citizenship Rights& Responsibilities

ACTIVITIES

Create a class citizenship tree. Post a large cut-out tree with activities students do to be good citizens.

Discuss with students the importance of the pledge allegiance and what it means.

Discuss with students what it means to be a citizen and the things we can do everyday to be good citizens.

Citizenship Rights& Responsibilities

ACTIVITIES

Discuss the process for becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. If possible, take a field trip to see the ceremony for officially becoming a citizen.

Create a “Class Bill of Rights” unique to the needs of the classroom. Students can first study the United States Bill of Rights and Amendments in order to get ideas.

Conclusion

The previous activities and web resources are suggested for

developing lessons for a fourth grade class. It is essential to

incorporate material for each of the six social studies strands into

the curriculum.