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Unit 1: Using
Connecting
Themes in
Fourth SS
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How do our
beliefs and
values shape
our actions?
How do your
actions reflect
your beliefs?
How do you
show what is
important to
you?
How does a student
demonstrate that
doing well in school
is important to
them?
How do our choices
about using time
reflect our
beliefs?
How do we
define
conflict?
How does
conflict cause
change?
How can
conflict result
in positive
changes?
How can we
learn from
conflict?
Why does
conflict exist?
Why does
change
happen?
How has your
community
changed since
you've lived there?
What changes occur
when we have
disagreements with
our family members,
friends, or teachers?
Why does your older
or younger sibling
have different chores
and responsibilities
than you do?
Why does each
person in your
family have
different
responsibilities?
How do we divide
responsibilities
at school?
Why do we need a
principal, an assistant
principal, classroom
teachers, and para-
professionals in the
school?
Why do people
sometimes
make
mistakes?
How do we know
what effects our
choices have on
others?
When has a plan or
idea that you had
turn out
differently than
you expected?
What happens
when your best
intentions go
wrong?
Have you ever
done something
that you didn’t
mean to do?
Why do people in
different locations
eat, dress, and
speak differently?
Why are
communities
different?
Why might your
needs be
different in
another place?
Why might
someone new to
our community
need our help?
Why does the
work people do
differ from
place to place?
How has the
community
changed since
you moved here?
What things would we be
able to do if we lived by
an ocean?
In a big city? In the
mountains?
Why do people move?
How do we
learn from
others?
How are people
from other places
different from
us?
Why did your
family move to
this
community?
If you could move
to another place,
how would you
choose it?
What new
opportunities
would you have
in a new place?
When people
move, how does
the community
change?
How have you
changed from
third grade to
fourth grade?
How have your
friends and
family
changed?
How can we
make good
decisions about
change?
How could we
create a system
of rules in our
classroom?
Why do we
create rules
for our
classroom?
Why is it
important to
write down our
rules?
Are all rules
fair?
How are rules
similar to laws?
How do we
define
technology?
How do we use
technology to
meet our
needs?
How does
technology get
invented?
Why is
technology
important?
How can technology
be both helpful and
hurtful to people
and the
environment?
How does
technology in our
classroom affect
the way we learn?
How would our
school be
different with
less technology?
How would our
school be
different with
more technology?
What different
types of
technology do we
use in our
classroom?
What are the
advantages and
disadvantages to
having new
technology?
Unit 2: The
Discovery of
North America
How does
environment
affect how you
live?
How did important
physical features of
the United States
affect the lives of
Native Americans?
How does the environment
affect the lifestyle and
economic specialization of
the Native Americans and
European settlers who
lived there?
What
information
can you gather
from a map?
Why did some Native
American nations
create permanent
villages, while others
remained nomads?
How would you describe
the environment (land,
climate, resources, and
culture) of the different
Native Americans
nations?
How did Native
Americans use
their environment
to survive?
Why were
Europeans
interested in
world exploration?
What were some of
the opportunity
costs involved in
European
exploration?
What were the reasons
for, obstacles to, and
achievements of the
French, English, and
Spanish
explorations?
What influence did
the Europeans and
Native Americans
have on each other?
How did European
exploration impact
the Native
Americans?
What impact did the
Native Americans
have on European
explorers?
What were the
strengths and
weaknesses of the
relationships between
Native Americans and
Europeans?
Unit 3: The
Colonization of
North America
How did
religion affect
colonial life?
How did farmers living
in the different regions
have an impact on the
environment around
them?
How did the
geography of each
region impact the
types of work each
region developed?
Why were some
colonists able to
choose their work
and others not?
How was the work
of colonial men and
women alike and
different?
How were the lives
of large land
owners and small
farmers alike and
different?
How were the lives
of colonial children
alike and different
from present-day
children?
How did
artisans learn
their trades?
Why were
colonial
artisans
important?
How did early colonies
and different Native
American settlements
impact each other in
different parts of
North America?
How did location
affect life in the
British North
American colonies?
How did the geography
and climate impact life
in the New England
colonies? Mid-Atlantic?
Southern colonies?
How does
location affect
economic
activity?
How did the
colonists
provide for
their needs?
How did the
colonists' actions
impact their new
environment?
How did the
environment of the
New World impact
the colonists'
actions?
How did the location
of each colonial
region effect
economic
development?
How did physical
geography in the each
of the colonies
determine the economic
activities?
How were the
economies alike and
different in each of
the colonial
regions?
Unit 4: Forming
a New Nation
How do the beliefs
and ideals of a
society lead to
conflicts with other
societies?
Why was the
Declaration of
Independence
written?
How are our natural
rights described in
the Declaration of
Independence?
Why is the message
of the Declaration
of Independence
important to our
country?
How does the belief in
the Declaration of
Independence affect
decisions made by our
country?
How was the
Declaration of
Independence a
response to tyranny
and the abuse of
power?
Why do opinions
among groups of
people and
individuals differ?
How did the results of
the French and Indian
War contribute the
revolutionary
movement in
America?
Why did Britain impose
direct taxes on the
North American
colonies after the
French
and Indian War?
How were the
colonists' opinions of
pre-Revolutionary
events alike and
different?
What are the causes
and events that
lead to the
Revolutionary War?
Why did the colonists
believe British
taxation policies in
North America were
unfair?
How did the
colonists protest
British Imperial
Policies in North
America?
How did the Sons of
Liberty protest
British taxation
policies in North
America?
What is significant
about the Battle of
Lexington and
Concord?
Why were the American
colonies and Britain
unable to resolve their
differences without
going to war?
Why is the Battle of
Saratoga called "the
turning point" of
the American
Revolution?
Why was the Battle
of Yorktown the
final battle of the
American
Revolution?
How did the
actions of the Sons
of Liberty affect
other colonists?
How did the
actions of the
British affect
the colonies?
Why was George
Washington chosen
to lead the
Continental army
against Britain?
How did Patrick
Henry influence the
revolutionary
movement in
America?
Why was Benedict
Arnold considered
an American
traitor?
How did Benjamin
Franklin’s
negotiations with
France impact the
Revolutionary War?
Why was King
George III so
unpopular with the
American
colonists?
How did resources of the
French and the strategic
planning of George
Washington combine
to defeat the British in
the Battle of Yorktown?
How did American forces
use the physical geography
of the land to its
advantage in the battles
of Lexington and Concord,
Saratoga and Yorktown?
How did the Battle
of Lexington and
Concord embolden
the American
revolutionaries?
Unit 5:
Challenges of a
New Nation
Why were the leaders
of the new American
nation afraid to
establish a strong
central government?
Why was the Articles of
Confederation unable
establish a government
that would
reflect the beliefs and
ideals of its citizenry?
How does the United
States Constitution and
the Bill of Rights
reflect the beliefs
of citizens in a popular
sovereignty?
How does the phrase "We,
the People..." in the
Preamble of the
Constitution reflect the
consent of the governed
or popular sovereignty?
Why were the states
given more power than
the federal government
under the Articles of
Confederation?
Who did the
phrase "We, the
People"
include?
Why did the framers
of the Constitution
reduce the power of
the state
governments?
What lead to the
many compromises
made at the
Constitutional
Convention?
How did the Articles
of Confederation fail
to meet the governing
needs of the United
States?
Why did the leaders of
smaller states disagree
with leaders of the
larger states at the
Constitutional
Convention?
Why did the leaders of
Northern states disagree
with leaders of the
Southern states at the
Constitutional
Convention?
Why was the Great
Compromise
agreeable to the
leaders of large and
small states?
How was slavery
addressed in the
debates and
compromises between
the northern and
southern states?
How is the U.S.
Constitution
different from the
Articles of
Confederation?
Why was the
Bill of Rights
created?
Why is the Bill
of Rights
important?
Why did England
and France
interfere with
American foreign
trade?
How did the British
assist the Native
Americans’ protest
of new western
settlements?
Why did some
Americans want to
declare war with
England?
Why did New
Englanders wish to
remain friends with
England and stay
out of a war?
How did the U. S.
Constitution change
the United States'
government?
Why is James
Madison called
"The Father of the
Constitution"?
Why did James
Madison take careful
notes during the
Constitutional
Convention?
How did Benjamin
Franklin advise and
inspire the delegates
at the Constitutional
Convention?
Why was Benjamin
Franklin crucial to
the formation of the
new constitution?
How did war
between England
and France affect
the American
economy?
How did the War of
1812 affect
Americans feelings
about their
country?
Unit 6:
Expansion of a
New Nation
Why was Harriet
Tubman called
"the Moses” of her
people?
How did Elizabeth
Cady Stanton’s
actions promote
women's rights?
Why couldn't
women vote in
the United
States?
Why couldn't
African Americans
vote in the United
States?
Why did moving
west attract so
many people?
Why did the United
States wish to
expand its
boundaries from
coast to coast?
How did the
Louisiana Purchase
impact the growth
of America?
Why were Lewis and
Clark sent on an
expedition across
the continent?
How did New
York City
become a major
city?
Why was Boston
a thriving
seaport and
trade center?
Why did California
experience a
population explosion
in the middle of the
19th century?
How did rivers
assist
westward
travelers?
How did
mountains hinder
westward travel?
How did the
geography of the
west assist and
hinder travelers?
How did the
completion of the
Erie Canal impact
the expanding
United States?
How did the
development of the
steamboat, the
locomotive, and the
telegraph impact the
American economy?
How did improvements
in transportation and
communication affect
the Native
Americans?
How did the
introduction of the
steamboat impact
American
commerce?
How did the
completion of the
Erie Canal impact
the growth of New
York City?
How were jobs created
and eliminated by the
introduction of the
steamboat, railroad and
telegraph in America?
Unit 7: Our
American
Government
Why is
government
necessary?
Why is the
Constitution
important?
How does the
Constitution
organize our
government?
Why does the
federal
government have
certain powers?
Why does the
state
government have
certain powers?
Why are some of
these powers shared
by the federal and
state governments?
How is
government
supposed to carry
out its business?
How are people
chosen to serve
in government?
Why is it necessary
to have limits on
the power of a
government?
How do the
branches work
together?
Why is there a
balance of power
in our system of
government?
How do citizens
stay informed?
How do citizens
communicate
with public
officials?
How might a
citizen
volunteer?
Why did the framers of
the constitution
include "checks and
balances" in our
nation's
government?
Why must citizens
in a democracy be
informed and
educated?
Why is it important
for citizens in a
democracy to
participate in civic
life?
How does the rule of
law in a democracy
influence the
behavior of its
citizens?
How does the rule of
law in a democracy
establish
procedures for
making policies?
How does the
Constitution
protect our
basic rights?
Why are laws
needed?
How does
Congress make
a law?
How are laws
enforced?
Why is it important
to respect the
rights of others?
Why is it important
for our government
to be concerned
with the common
good?
How does the rule
of law provide for
our country's
defense?
How does the rule
of law insure that
the rights of
others are
respected?
How does the rule of
law insure the
fiscal
responsibility of
the government?
How does the rule of
law insure citizens'
rights to freedom of
expression?
How can a
law be
unfair?
How can a
law be
changed?
Unit 8: Being a
Responsible
Spender
What can we learn from
people or groups in our
past about the benefit
of voluntary
exchange with others?
How do price
incentives affect
people's behavior
and choices?
How has
technological
advancements
impacted trade
over time?
Why are laws
about voluntary
trade
necessary?
How does
voluntary trade
help both buyers
and sellers?
What can we learn
from the
entrepreneurial
spirit of people
from our past?
Why is it
impossible to
satisfy all our
needs and wants?
How do we make
decisions about
satisfying our
needs and wants?
How do we benefit
from voluntary
exchange of goods
and services?
Why is saving
important?
How can you
become a
better saver?
Why did early
settlers need
to be self-
sufficient?
Can we be self-
sufficient
today?
How does
specialization
improve our
standard of living?
How did specialization
in the British colonies
influence our idea of
specialization
today?
How do we deal with
the scarcity of
resources we need
in our daily lives?
Why did Benjamin
Franklin encourage
others to make wise
choices about spending
and saving?
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