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TITLE
Fourth Grade Social Studies
TEXTBOOKS
The Nebraska Adventure, Jean A. Lukesh
DESCRIPTION
In fourth grade Social Studies we will be focusing on Nebraska Heritage. The
Nebraska Adventure is our textbook brought to us by Gibbs Smith Publisher. The
curriculum is written around the standards for fourth grade. The textbook offers
a course of study in Nebraska geography, history, economics, citizenship, and
government. It also supplements United States history by correlating events in
Nebraska with events that occurred throughout the rest of the nation.
We will have the opportunity to take a field trip during the year that will tie
in with various aspects of our curriculum. Each class will visit Heritage
School. Other opportunities may present themselves during the course of the
year.
OBJECTIVES
1. Students will identify cardinal and intermediate directions on any map.
(4.19)
2. Students will locate and label the 7 continents and the 4 major oceans in the
correct hemispheres. (4.21)
3. Students will demonstrate and explain geographical symbols on any map. (4.19)
4. Students will measure distance on a map using map scale, chart and graph
populations, make population comparisons, use and make bar and pictographs.
(4.23)
5. Students will use coordinates on any map or globe to find specific locations.
(4.19)
6. Students will compare and contrast the Native American tribes of Nebraska.
(4.7) (4.2)
7. Students will explain the Louisiana Purchase citing who, what, when, where,
and why. (4.7)
8. Students explain the Homestead Act citing who, what, when, where, and why.
(4.7)
9. Students will name and locate on a continental map three trails pioneers used
to migrate west. (4.7)
10. Students will be able to locate Nebraska and identify major cities and
waterways within the state. (4.21)
11. Students will explain Nebraska’s economic value on Midwest, national and
international markets. (4.13)
12. Students will identify and describe Nebraska’s Unicameral. (4.27)
13. Students will identify and label all 50 states and capitals in the U.S.
(4.20)
WRITING ACTIVITIES
1. Students write journal entries as we read Across the Wide and Lonesome
Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell by Kristiana Gregory.
Students imagine that they are on the trail with the character and write on the
experiences as they travel the Oregon Trail in Nebraska.
2. Because of our Heritage School field trip, we write in the past, present, and
future how school life was 100 years ago, write to each other about the trip and
write to next years class about the experience.
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
1. In our Literature Groups, we study famous African-Americans in conjunction
with Black History month.
2. As we discuss the settling of our nation, we talk about the first explorers
that ventured across our new land. This includes Spanish, French, and Mexican
explorers whose influence is still with us today.
3. In our study of Native Americans, we discuss the similarities and differences
between a Native American family of 150 years ago and the current lifestyle of
today.
