4th Grade Social Studies: Unit 1 of 4 of Fourth Grade Social Studies (Flex)

Fourth Grade Social Studies is taught to the National Council for the Social Studies (U.S.) standards, covering history, economics, civics, and geography. Students will explore the four regions of the United States, learning about geography, history, and culture. We will examine each individual state's past and present, looking at its economics, natural resources, and government. Students will learn about each state's capital, largest cities, agriculture, indigenous people, landmarks, and what makes it unique. 

I have bachelor’s degrees in English, journalism, and political science, and am currently a master’s student in American history. I was a newspaper editor and reporter for 15 years, director of a social justice center for three years, and have been teaching English Language Arts, English As a Second Language, and social studies for the past five years. I am currently co-director of The Foster Woods Folk School.

This flex class is for learners who just want to learn more about the states, as well as students who want to get a letter of completion. For learners who are just wanting to learn more, homework is optional but highly recommended. For those learners seeking a letter of completion, there is 2-3 hours of homework to be completed each week. See the rubric below for how the learner will be evaluated. For those students seeking a letter of completion. I will provide an assessment each weekend of the previous week’s assignments. 

Each unit also includes a final project during which students choose one of the individual states on which to focus. The final project should include a slideshow that shows the state’s economy, government, geography, history and one fact the student finds most investing about the state. Students will present their final project during the final week of the class via a 3-minute video of themselves talking about the state in the Outschool classroom. 

The final project counts as 50 percent of the overall assessment. 

Weekly homework counts as 50 percent of the overall assessment. 

Weekly Evaluation Rubric 
- Comprehension Quiz 20 Points
- Classroom Discussion Question Participation 20 Points
- Padlet Map Participation 20 Points
- Worksheets 20 Points
- Writing Assignment/Project 20 Points

The final project counts as 50 percent of the overall assessment. 

Weekly homework counts as 50 percent of the overall assessment. 

Weekly Evaluation Rubric 
- Comprehension Quiz 20 Points
- Classroom Discussion Question Participation 20 Points
- Padlet Map Participation 20 Points
- Worksheets 20 Points
- Writing Assignment/Project 20 Points

No live meetings, and an estimated 2 - 4 hours per week outside of class.

Materials will come from a myriad of sources including NewsELA, the Zinn Education Project, Learning for Justice, and the Council for Economic Education.