Fourth Grade - History/Social Studies

Diverse group of people embracing each other

Overview

Fourth-grade students in SFUSD engage in an average of 45 minutes (through both integrated and stand-alone units) of social studies instruction from 4-5 days a week. There will be 3-5 week stand-alone units that alternate with Science units during the year. Students in 4th grade are becoming more aware of the complexities that exist in the world around them. They are reflecting on their place in the world and how the actions of those in the past still impact our present day. 

Fourth graders are more critical of the information presented to them and are developing their evaluative skills. They are shifting their self-identity and ideas from what their parents and other adults think to making their own claims and providing evidence. In order to foster these higher-level thinking skills we shift focus in fourth grade to becoming historians.

Our first unit has been developed and graciously provided by our SFUSD Indian Education Program. It focuses on how indigenous cultures have persisted through time and continue to be a vital part of our community today, which will give a much-needed lens to our second unit. The second unit takes the students through California’s complex history of colonization and the history of the missions. Our third unit will look at the impact of the Gold Rush and the move into statehood.

Priority Standards

What students will know, what students will do, and what thinking skills students will develop to apply and transfer History/Social Studies understandings that endure within the discipline, leverage deeper understandings, and/or support readiness for success at the next grade level. 

In fourth grade, students focus on these critical areas:

California Indian Unit Cover

California Indian Unit presented by SFUSD's Indian Education Program

California Indian Unit - This unit was made as a 4th grade unit, but covers the CA HSS standards for 3rd grade. The focus of this unit is the Ohlone people who have never ceded the land that is now known as San Francisco. We are using this unit as we adopt/adapt new HSS curriculum for our district. Any questions regarding this unit should be addressed to:
MaryHelen Sherman at shermanm1@sfusd.edu
Our History/Social Studies Team has also included additional resources about other California Indian groups across the state if needed.

Mission Dolores_ by roger4336 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Colonization and Conflict Changes California (Example)

Students explore the story of how the invasion and colonization from Spain changed California forever. Students begin to examine timelines and how they can both tell and silence events in history. Students investigate how California’s landscape and natural resources made it attractive to European invaders. Students research why Spain chose to colonize and create Missions in California. Students further investigate and discuss the lasting effects of colonization on the land and indigenous people of California as Spain lost control and the Mexican Rancho system took over.

Gold Discovery Museum Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Gold Rush: Continued Colonization and Immigration Leads to Statehood (Example

Students explore the events of the Gold rush and the impact it had on the people and the land. Students investigate the Chinese experience during the Gold rush and how it impacted their rights for decades. Students also look at the Gold Rush from several perspectives to try to gain a better understanding through the use of primary sources. Students are also learning how to evaluate and analyze different sources.

Instruction: Signature Elements

Below are signature elements of SFUSD History/Social Studies instruction that students should experience regularly throughout fourth grade as they develop as historians & social scientists.

Inquiry

Students engage in authentic cycles of inquiry: developing questions & planning inquiry, applying disciplinary tools & concepts, evaluating sources & using evidence, and communicating conclusions & taking informed action.

Taking Informed Action

Students take action in their community based on the information they have gathered throughout their inquiry. (Check out the next two and a half minutes of the video for an explanation.)

Materials

Beyond the Fourth-Grade Unit Overview, there are no required materials.

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Units

Units for Fourth-Grade History/Social Studies/Equity Studies are currently in development. See below for guidance and examples of how you might structure your own units. (Click here for the same information below in an easy-to-read format: Overview and Examples for 4th Grade Units)

Unit Design

Incorporation of the Four Dimensions of the Inquiry Arc Across the Three Bends of a Unit

Developing Questions and Planning InquiriesApplying Disciplinary Tools and ConceptsEvaluating Sources and Using EvidenceCommunicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action
A compelling question supported by Investigation questions

Investigate the ideas, tools, and concepts of 

  • Geography
  • History
  • Civics
  • Economics
Gather evidence from reliable sourcesDo something with the knowledge and skills acquired
InquiryInvestigationInformed Action

 

Units

Here are some practical examples. Each class may go on a slightly different path (culturally/community-relevant), but are still likely headed in the same general content-driven direction. Students engage with a compelling question. Students learn more through exploring media (books, videos, etc), interviews, field trips, etc..(historically responsive literacy). Students generate new questions based on what they learned, explore more (inquiry), and eventually and/or during the process create artifacts that represent their learning and/or contribute to their community in some fashion (informed action).

**Unit 1: 4th Grade California Indian Unit
As per SFUSD Resolution No. 211-26A1 In Support of Reclaiming the American Indian/Alaskan Native Narrative 
This 4th-grade unit is presented by the Indian Education Program as per SFUSD Resolution No. 211-26A1
InquiryPossible InvestigationsPossible Informed Actions

Do this first:

2 week Launch Seesaw Lessons

 

 

Compelling Question: What should we know about the California Indians who continue to live on the California land that we occupy?

 

Take a look at this group of California Maps: California language maps

Participate in a See Think Wonder to generate investigative supporting questions

Do this first:

2 week Launch Seesaw Lessons

 

 

4th Grade California Indian Guide presented by Indian Education Program

THIS UNIT IS WRITTEN AND PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM AS PER SFUSD RESOLUTION 211-26A1 

  • Lessons 1.1 - 1.4: Who are the Ohlone? Where did they live?
  • Lessons 2.1 - 2.4: Ohlone Culture & Identity 
  • Lessons 3.1 - 3.4: Ohlone Stories
  • Lessons 4.1 - 4.4: Student reflections 

Questions regarding this unit should be referred to MaryHelen Sherman Shermanm1@sfusd.edu

 

Additional Ideas

  • Action Item from Indian Education Unit: Students will reflect on what they learned about the Ohlone peoples 
  • Students participate in small groups to create slideshows to show what they have learned about different California Indians
Unit 2: Colonization and Conflict Changes California
Read this article if you want to understand why we DO NOT BUILD MISSION MODELS
InquiryPossible InvestigationsPossible Informed Actions

Compelling Question: How can we help tell the story of colonization in California?
 

This should lead to investigative questions from the students. Here is a possible way to elicit those questions:
See Think Wonder

TIMELINES
In small groups, students create a timeline of the important events that have happened so far in the classroom

  • TEACHER NOTE: Do not give any input in what should or should not go on the students’ timelines - make sure groups are far enough apart that they cannot look at what another group is doing
  • Compare the different timelines and notice similarities and differences
    • Think about why some things were included and other were left off on the timelines
  • Look at different timelines of California History and discuss who is on it, who is missing and why that is important when discussing historical event
    • Remind students that being a historian means that they need to analyze their sources and support with evidence
    • Remember to include academic conversation moves that can be found here

 

LAND AND POWER

LAND USE
Investigate the ways that the land was modified during the the Mission Period

  • Locate your place in space on different kinds of maps and identify lasting evidence of the Mission invasion and settlements (city names, street names, etc.)
  • Read the article, “Establishing Agriculture at California Missions”
  • Identify how the introduction of cattle changed the landscape of California
  • Identify the transportation routes that Spain used during colonization and where we can still see evidence of those today
  • Create a more complete timeline that includes the California Indian perspective
  • Create a slideshow that shows the impact of the Missions and Mexican Ranchos on the California landscape
  • Make a video that explains how the land usage of California changed during this time period
  • Create an infographic that shows the history of colonization in CA from a California Indian perspective
 
InquiryPossible InvestigationsPossible Informed Actions

Compelling Question:

xxx

This should lead to investigative questions from the students. Here is a possible way to elicit those questions:
Instead of sharing ideas, have them come up with questions and stop and jot as a class between mingle sessions
Mingle Pair Share | Inquiry Lesson Plan Strategy
 

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Planning Guide

Many elements of fourth-grade History/Social Studies can and should be integrated across the day and year. That being said, three periods of roughly five weeks are set aside each trimester for more intensive History/Social Studies learning. Through these units, Fourth-grade students will learn ...

1st Trimester 2nd Trimester 3rd Trimester
Unit Title Unit Title Unit Title
~x weeks of y lessons per week ~x weeks of y lessons per week ~x weeks of y lessons per week

 

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Reflection Questions

  1. How are students' developmental needs, communities, and experiences being reflected and honored, or how could they be?
  2. What opportunities do you see for developing equitable access & demand, inquiry, collaboration, and assessment for learning?
  3. What are the implications for your own practice? What strengths can you build upon? What will you do first?

Want More?

Standards

More Resources

Contact the HS/SS/ES Team

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This page was last updated on November 20, 2024