Social Studies
Geography of the United States (August)
Essential Questions
- Where are the geographic regions of the United States located?
- What are some physical characteristics of the geographic regions of the United States, including major bodies of water?
Map Skills (August)
Skills
- Be able to read a map and understand different pieces of information from the map; including how to use a map key, compass rose, scale, and grid system
- Can identify different kinds of maps for different purposes
- Learn the names of the 50 US states
Review of Explorers to the United States
Essential Questions
- What regions of America were explored and settled by France, England, and Spain?
- What differences were there between France, England, and Spain and how they settled America?
- How did the Native Americans (First Americans) and Europeans interact with each other?
U.S. Colonies (September)
Essential Questions
- Why did Europeans establish colonies?
- What were the similarities and differences between the colonies of Roanoke Island, Jamestown, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Quakers in Pennsylvania, and Colonist in Georgia?
- How did natural resources, climate, and geographic features influence each of the colonies?
- What was life like in the colonies? How is this different for people of different social status, race, religions, and gender?
Events Leading to the American Revolution (Oct, Nov)
Essential Questions
- How did England impose its political and economic control over the colonies?
- Why did many colonists become dissatisfied with England’s control over the colonies?
- What ideas/philosophies about government were expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
American Revolution (December)
Essential Questions
- What contributions did George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Paine make during the Revolutionary War?
- Describe and explain the significance of the Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, First Continental Congress, Battle of Lexington and Concord, Approval of Declaration of Impendence, Battle of Saratoga, Surrender of Saratoga, and Signing of Treaty of Paris.
- What advantages helped the American Colonists win the Revolutionary War?
Challenges Faced by the New Nation (February, March)
Essential Questions
- Identify the different types of government and their characteristic.
- Explain the importance of the separation of powers and checks and balances.
- Why is the Bill of Rights important?
- What are rights? What are the responsibilities that go along with rights?
- What does it mean to be a good citizen?
- Why is participation in a democracy important?
Westward Expansion (April, May, June)
Essential Questions
- How was the United States changing with the additions of the Louisiana Purchase, Florida, Texas, Oregon, and California?
- Who were Lewis and Clark? What did they do?
- What factors influenced westward migration (California Gold Rush, Oregon Trail, Railroad)?
- What is manifest destiny?
- How did westward expansion affect the Native Americans?
Industrial Revolution (April, May, June)
Essential Questions
- How did inventions such as the cotton gin, reaper, steamboat, and steam locomotive affect the lives of Americans?
- How did these inventions impact slavery?
Abolitionist and Suffrage Movement (April, May, June)
Essential Questions
- What were the main ideas expressed by the abolitionists?
- Describe the Underground Railroad.
- What were the main ideas expressed during the suffrage movement?