Maryland 4th Grade Social Studies: Curriculum Bundle! (No-Prep, State-Aligned)

This curriculum was designed to make teaching 4th grade Social Studies in Maryland much easier! This NO-PREP bundle provides resources that align with MD's social studies standards, and can cover most or all of the school year. Lessons focus on literacy development and 21st Century skills by incorporating annotation strategies, reading skills tasks, interactive hands-on activities, research, and more, with student learning.

Student workbooks include informational reading passages, meaning no textbook is needed! In addition, student workbooks and PowerPoints are Google compatible, which allows for digital learning. All units are easy to use with independent learners, teacher-guided instruction, or a mix of both.

*Please note: Resources are not editable. In addition, Maryland-specific content is not included. For a better understanding of the material provided in this bundle, please click “View Preview” near the thumbnails at the top of the page, and download the "MARYLAND 4TH GRADE STANDARDS ALIGNMENT" Bonus File provided above. Continue reading below, where specific topics and content in each unit are described.

**INCLUDED:

- 7 Full Units

- 1 Read & Research Units

- 5 Mini-Books for mini-units

- 1 Social Studies Basics resource

--------- Included in FULL UNITS ---------

• Student Workbooks with Informational Text- No textbook needed!
• Embedded Reading Skills Tasks: Annotations Directions, Guided Notes, Checks for Understanding (Main Idea, Summarize, Cause & Effect, Draw a Conclusion, Compare & Contrast).
• Study Guide.
• Interactive Notebook / Lapbook Activities for hands-on learning.
• PowerPoints for teacher read alouds (fully aligned with the Student Workbook).
• A Teacher Guide: Scripted Lesson Plans, Teacher Prep Checklists, Learning Goals, Answer Keys.
• An End-of-Unit Test
• Google Compatible Workbooks and PowerPoints (Google Slides)

-------- Included in READ & RESEARCH UNITS ---------

• Student Workbooks with Informational Text- No textbook needed!
• Embedded Reading Skills Tasks: Annotations Directions, Checks for Understanding (Main Idea, Summarize, Cause & Effect, Draw a Conclusion, Compare & Contrast).
• Two optional research tasks- included in the Student Workbook.
• Interactive Flip Books.
• PowerPoints for teacher read alouds (fully aligned with the Student Workbook).
• A Teacher Guide: Unit Preparation Page with suggested websites for research, Answer Keys.
• An End-of-Unit Test
• Google Compatible Workbooks and PowerPoints (Google Slides)

-------- Included in MINI-BOOKS ---------

• Student-friendly directions for mini-book creation.
• Informational Reading Passages with directions for annotating and embedded reading skills tasks.
• Interactive Flip Cards to summarize content.
• An Assessment with Answer Key.

--------- Included in SOCIAL STUDIES BASICS Resource ----------

• 7-Day Introduction to Social Studies terms, concepts and experts.
• Informational Reading Passages
• Hands-on Activities to reinforce learning

_______________________________________________________________________________

**UNITS & TOPICS:

SOCIAL STUDIES BASICS (7-day lesson):

• Topics: What is Social Studies (5 Themes, types of Social Scientists). Think like a Social Scientist: 1. Perspective, 2. Fact v. Opinion, 3. Reliable Sources (Primary & Secondary).

CONTINENTS, OCEANS, & MAP SKILLS (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: OVERVIEW OF THE EARTH

Lesson 2: THE OCEANS

- Pacific

- Atlantic

- Indian

- Arctic

- Southern

Lesson 3: THE CONTINENTS

- Asia

- Africa

- Europe

- North America

- South America

- Australia / Oceania

- Antarctica

Lesson 4: WHAT IS LATITUDE & LONGITUDE?

- Latitude and Equator

- Longitude and Prime (Greenwich) Meridian

Lesson 5: THE HEMISPHERES AND DIRECTIONS

- Hemispheres

- Directions and Compass Rose

WEST AFRICAN KINGDOMS:

Lesson 1- An Introduction to West Africa:

• West Africa's geography & location
• The Three Great Kingdoms: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

Lesson 2- West Africa- Government:

• Absolute Monarchy & Theocracy
• Ghana: Dinga Cisse, Theocracy, Tribal advisors
• Mali: Sundiata Kieta, the Gbara, Mansa Musa
• Songhai: Sunni Ali, Mohammed I, the Imperial Counsel

Lesson 3- West Africa- Economy:

• Trade
• Major Goods: Gold, Salt, Ivory
• Mansa Musa and Global Trade
• Timbuktu

Lesson 4- West Africa- Culture & Society:

• Social structure
• Belief Systems: Animism and Islam
• Arab Travelers: Al Bakri and Ibn Battuta
• Griots
• Art: Pottery and Sculpture
• Islamic Influence: Education, the Great Mosque of Djenne

MESOAMERICA: MAYA, AZTEC, AND INCA (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: AN OVERVIEW OF MESOAMERICA

- Location and Geography

- Farming and Resources

- Zapotec People

Lesson 2: MAYA CIVILIZATION

- Location, The Olmecs and their influence

- Government, Farming, Religion

- Advancements, Maya Spotlight: The Maya Ruins

Lesson 3: AZTEC EMPIRE

- Location, Tenochtitlan

- Government, Farming, Religion

- Advancements, Aztec Spotlight: Teotihuacan

Lesson 4: INCA CIVILIZATION

- Location, Cuzco

- Government, Farming, Religion

- Advancements, Inca Spotlight: Machu Picchu

Lesson 5: THE FALL OF ANCIENT AMERICA

- European Exploration

- Warfare, Disease, and Collapse

NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL REGIONS (Read & Research Unit):

Topics:

- AN INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL REGIONS

- EASTERN WOODLAND REGION

- SOUTHEAST REGION

- GREAT PLAINS REGION

- SOUTHWEST REGION

- PLATEAU REGION

- NORTHWEST COAST REGION

- CALIFORNIA INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

EUROPEAN EXPLORATION (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: AN OVERVIEW OF EUROPEAN EXPLORATION

- The Beginning

- The Voyage

- Tools and Technology

Lesson 2: SPANISH EXPLORATION

- The Spanish empire and the New World

- Spanish Explorers: Columbus and Balboa

- Spanish Conquistadors: Cortés, Pizarro, and de Soto

Lesson 3: PORTUGUESE EXPLORATION

- Portuguese trade with the east

- Portuguese Explorers: Diaz, da Gama, and Cabral

Lesson 4: FRENCH EXPLORATION

- France and the Northwest Passage

- French Explorers: Verrazzano, Cartier, de Champlain

Lesson 5: ENGLISH EXPLORATION

- England’s exploration of North America

- English Explorers: Cabot and Raleigh

Lesson 6: DUTCH EXPLORATION

- The Netherlands global trade and colonies

- Dutch Explorers: Henry Hudson

Lesson 7: INTERACTIONS WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

- Effect of European exploration on indigenous peoples

Lesson 8: TRANSATLANTIC TRADE

- Slavery and the Middle Passage

- The Columbian Exchange

THIRTEEN AMERICAN COLONIES (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: THE BEGINNING OF COLONIZATION

- European Land Claims

- Columbian Exchange

- Triangular Trade

Lesson 2: SETTLING THE THIRTEEN COLONIES

- Religious Freedom

- The Lost Colony of Roanoke

- Relationships with Indigenous Peoples

Lesson 3: NEW ENGLAND COLONIES

- Geography

- Settlers (Pilgrims, Puritans, John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson)

- The Economy

- Culture

Lesson 4: MIDDLE COLONIES

- Geography

- Settlers (Quakers, William Penn)

- The Economy

- Culture

Lesson 5: SOUTHERN COLONIES

- Geography

- Settlers (Jamestown, John Smith)

- The Economy

- Culture

AMERICAN REVOLUTION (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: A BRIEF HISTORY: THE COLONIAL PERIOD

- The Thirteen Colonies

- The French and Indian War

- King George III & Parliament

Lesson 2: CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

- The Colonists Want Representation

- Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny!

• The Sugar Act
• The Stamp Act
• The Townshend Act & Boston Massacre
• The Tea Acts & Boston Tea Party
• The Intolerable Acts
• The Battle of Lexington and Concord

Lesson 3: THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

- The Decision to Declare Independence

- Create a ‘Declaration of Independence’ Mini-Book!

Lesson 4: THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR: MAJOR EVENTS

- The People of the Revolutionary War (Patriots, Loyalists, Red Coats)

- Important Battles (Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Yorktown)

Lesson 5: THE TREATY OF PARIS

- A Victory for the Colonists

- A Fresh Start- The Articles of Confederation

PEOPLE OF REVOLUTION- Research Activity

Included:

- 25 different "People of Revolution" note-making, research pages

- 1 additional blank biography page (so you can add more topics if needed)

- A Teacher Guide that includes a variety of implementation suggestions

- A Jigsaw Activity student worksheet

- A link to Google compatible notes pages

CHARTERS OF FREEDOM (3 Mini-Books- Can be used separately or together):

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE- **Also included in the AMERICAN REVOLUTION Unit

- Founding Fathers and the Committee of Five

- Reasons for Declaring Independence

- Signing the Declaration and Legacy

U.S. CONSTITUTION-

- Constitutional Convention

- The Framers

- Great Compromise

- The Preamble

- The Articles

- The Bill of Rights

- Ratification (Federalists v. Anti-Federalists)

BILL OF RIGHTS-

- Amendments 1-10 Defined

- Legacy

THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

- The Supreme Law of the Land, Bill of Rights, and Separation of Powers

Lesson 2: THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

- Organization and Legislative Powers

- The Senate and the House of Representatives

Lesson 3: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

- Executive Positions, Roles and Powers

- President, Vice President, and Cabinet

Lesson 4: THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

- Judicial Branch responsibilities and organization

- The Supreme Court

Lesson 5: CHECKS & BALANCES

- Checks & Balances Explained with Examples

Lesson 6: GOVERNMENT & CIVICS

- Democracy & Election, Federalism, Citizen Rights and Responsibilities

NATIVE AMERICAN / INDIGENOUS INTERACTIONS WITH EUROPEAN SETTLERS (Mini-Book)

Topics:

1. Cooperation: The Encounter, Trade, Farming, Cultural Diffusion
2. Conflict: Colonies, Pequot & King Philip's War, Anglo-Powhatan Wars, French & Indian War, American Revolution, Northwest Ordinance lands.
3. Competition: Selling lands, the Iroquois, the Sioux Wars, Trail of Tears

ABOLITION MOVEMENT (Mini-Book)

- Slavery and the evolution of the Abolition Movement

- Harriet Tubman

- John Brown

- Frederick Douglass

- Sojourner Truth

- Harriet Beecher-Stowe

**Friendly Reminder: LICENSING TERMS: This purchase includes a license for one teacher only for personal use in their classroom. Licenses are non-transferable, meaning they cannot be passed from one teacher to another. No part of this resource is to be shared with colleagues or used by an entire grade level, school, or district without purchasing the proper number of licenses. If you are a coach, principal, or district interested in transferable licenses to accommodate yearly staff changes, please contact me for a quote at tonythetourist1@gmail.com. Thank you for respecting my terms!

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