our fourth grade program
Social Studies/Research Workshop
Social Studies is considered a main curricular vehicle and a central organizing subject for integrating the entire curriculum. The program is well balanced (local, national, global) and leads to the cumulative and systematic study of people and their interactions. It sets the tone and lays the foundation for the social studies education that follows. In accordance with national standards, program goals include teaching students to work in small groups; to learn and understand about people in our community; to understand that we are all alike; to know about other countries (places, culture, maps, and globes); and to foster a sense of social responsibility and moral development. Respect and understanding for other cultures are central themes in the Social Studies program. Students are exposed to historical events with an emphasis on why people act and how the actions of others affect the world as a whole. The curriculum emphasizes understanding topics in depth, making connections among subject topics, and valuing research and project-based learning as fundamental methods for making meaning and recognizing connections among topics and systems. This approach ignites students' interests and helps them understand connections among world systems as they build fundamental skills, problem solving skills, abstract reasoning skills, and writing and reading skills. Role playing, beginning research and field trips are included in the curriculum. Foundations and concepts explored in Third Grade will continue to be developed as students advance to higher grade levels.
In Fourth Grade, the Social Studies curriculum includes:
- The Origins of Maryland, European-American Culture and African-American Culture: Regional geography of Maryland; original governmental, economic, social, and religious structures and contexts of Maryland’s cities; the events, people and social culture that shaped early Maryland; problems and opportunities related to settlement of cities; function of colonial government in shaping religious culture; analysis of movement among city population centers; investigation of slavery origins; identification of unique contributions of African-Americans; African-American leaders in early America; individual research
- Skills and strategies: demonstrate interest in thematic study and contribute ideas to discussion; use research skills to collect, categorize and organize data and information; demonstrate understanding of concepts orally; demonstrate understanding of concepts in writing; explore oral interview methods in whole class research; identify topics of interest through self-selected research (I-Search); conduct field research through interviews, site visits, surveys; create visual aids to display research information
- Sample program highlights: primary resource exploration using Maryland Historic Society’s Traveling Trunk Artifacts; field trips to historic St. Mary’s and London Town, Bannaker-Douglas museum, Maryland State House and historic Annapolis sites; field trip to Chesapeake Bay Foundation to plant sea grasses and oysters; dredge and tong for oysters; create first-person narrative of early Maryland experience; conduct individual research and participate in I-Search classroom fair