Grade 4 Social Studies Essential Questions by Unit and Month Geography, Culture/History, Economy, Government

September NYS Regions Geography –Why is it important to understand how to read a map and globe? –How do the different features of a map help you locate and understand New York State geography? Culture/History, Economy –How do the features of New York State regions contribute to each region’s economy?

October and November Iroquois Geography –How did the environment and geography influence the lives of the Iroquois? –Why was it important for the Iroquois to create their own government? Culture/History, Economy –How did the Iroquois meet the basic needs of shelter, food, clothing, leisure and community? –How did Iroquois values effect their way of life? –In what ways did Iroquois government influence our current government?

December European Explorers Geography –How did geography influence the exploration of the New World? Geography, Culture/History –What impact did the explorers have on New York State? –How did the arrival of European Explorers impact the Native Americans? Economy –What motivated explorers to come to the New World?

January Colonial America Geography –What were the benefits of settling in NYS for the colonists? Culture/History –How did European influences effect life in colonial NYS? Economy –How did colonial trades and life in the settlements rely on the Mother Country? Government –How did the government of the Mother Country effect life in the colonies?

February and March Revolutionary War Geography –How did New York State’s location make it important in the American Revolution? Culture/History –How did the different British and Colonial point of views lead to the outbreak of the war? –What factors led to the American Revolution? Economy –How was it possible that the colonists beat the most powerful country in the world? Government –What struggles did the new nation face?

April The New Nation/State of NY Government Government –How did the Iroquois contribute to the development of the US Federal Government? –What are the functions and structure of government? –How did the Constitution help fix the problems of the very young nation?

May Industrial Growth and Expansion Geography –How did the geography of NYS influence the growth of the new nation in the 1800’s? Culture/History –How did the Erie Canal impact the growth of the area in which we live? Economy –How did immigration and the advances in technology, transportation and communication effect NYS and the country’s economic growth and expansion?

June Lancaster History Culture/History, Economy –How did New York’s history contribute to the settlement and growth of Lancaster? –How did advances in transportation, architecture, electricity, etc, contribute to the growth of Lancaster? –How does modern Lancaster differ from the Lancaster of 1900?