Sorting by NYSLS SS & Grade Level 4
 

Title
Synopsis
  Phoebe The Spy A unit developed for fourth grade students with learning disabilities. It will take approximately three weeks to complete. The book "Phoebe The Spy," by Judith Berry Griffin is used. This unit should be taught while studying the Revolutionary.
  Student-made Web Pages...Show Off Their Work! Designed to teach students how to create a web page using Netscape Communicator's Composer and can be used by students in grades 3-12 to present their projects or research on their school's web page. Designed to be taught in a lab setting and will be used by the technology teacher in coordination with the classroom teacher.
  The Iroquois Confederacy and its Affects in Americ What aspects of the Iroquois Confederacy can be found in today’s government in the United States? How did Iroquois traditions and culture influence today’s American traditions, cultures and communities?
  Is money everything? This learning unit is based on the social studies elementary learning standard of economics. The unit includes the topics of scarcity, goods/services, imports/exports, economic groups, and free enterprise.
  Colonial America This is an interdisciplinary unit ELA/SS covering the colonial period in American history. My overall goal is to give the students a feeling for the way of life during that time period. I want them to explore the problems the colonists faced, such as where to establish the colonies, how to get food and other supplies, and how to earn a living. I also want them to discover what the colonists were able to do to solve those problems.
  One-Room Schoolhouses This is a unit on one-room schoolhouses. Students will learn about one-room schoolhouses, and visit one for the day. The focus will be to learn first hand what it was like to attend a one-room schoolhouse, and to compare schools of yesterday with schools of today.
  Searching for Famous Women The purpose of this learning unit is to develop knowledge of historical women during Women's History month. Students will research women a note-taking guide and a graphics organizer to allow them to write a summary and graphically and orally present the information they have acquired. Student will obtain the information from Internet web sites or electronic multimedia CD-ROMs.
  Don't Miss The Boat Essential Questions: Why is it necessary for people to leave one settled area and move to another? In what ways was the immigrants life changed or...the same after entering through Ellis Island? What are my roots and what do they mean to me?
  Journey This learning unit is based upon the book Journey by Patricia MacLachlan. It will be used in an after school program of third, fourth, and fifth grade students. The novel will be read orally to the students as a group with the unit to follow. This unit is designed to give the students enrichment activities that focus on the book and related concepts.
  Gristmills of St. Lawrence County Students research actual historical documents on the growth of gristmills in St. Lawrence County. Work is published as part of a website with our school.
  Finding Your Way Around New York Learning how to use a map and measuring distances.
  Colonial Apprentice Learning trade of apprenticeship necessary for living and this unit is designed to cover the topic of colonial apprentices and artisans and their connection to daily survival. It has a strong connection to language arts and technology.
  Around the World on the World Wide Web Describe the different characteristics of culture in another country. Describe the cultural similarities and differences between your assigned country and us. What is the purpose of folktales and myths in a culture? Describe the impact a geographical feature or a historical event has had on your country.
  Cinderella Really Gets Around! Create meaningful lessons for Upper Elementary students that integrate Language Arts lessons with lessons in world geography and culture. Some of the 3000 + variants of the Cinderella stories that exist from around the world provide an interesting way to teach language arts skills, as well as world geography and culture. Activities will be interactive and student centered where the students will have opportunities to apply their knowledge in a variety of interdisciplinary tasks that are appealing and definitive.
  Let's Be Counted Census Study: This year, 2000, is an important year for citizens of the United States, because it is a year when all the residents will be counted for the census. Studying an old census can help students understand the purpose of a census, as well as how to derive information from one. In addition, much local history can be gleaned by studying the old censuses.
  An Apple for the Teacher Designed to integrate language arts, social studies, math, science and technology with 4th grade local history curriculum. The purpose of this unit is to familiarize 4th graders with the one-room schoolhouse and its connection to the growth of the present central school district. Using local documents, post cards, pictures,and maps gives the students practice in data based questions (DBQ) which is a necessary skill for the New York State Fifth Grade Social Studies Test. The use of local documents and memorabilia helps history to come alive for the students.
  Riding the Iron Horse Familiarize fourth grade students with train and railroad history in local area of Jefferson County.
  Under the Canopy This rainforest unit is an integrated summer reading program designed to reinforce language arts skills with an emphasis on reading and writing. The summer program is designed to help students at risk meet the N.Y. State standards. This unit is literature based and spans a period of four weeks incorporating reading, writing, and technology skills for students who have just completed grades one through five. It will also expose the students to the geographical and scientific significance of a rainforest habitat. This theme based approach to learning a broad topic allows students functioning at a wide variety of levels to work together cooperatively, learn from each other, and have fun together. At risk readers take on the role of the "mentor" or "teacher" when paired with younger students and they are then able to build their self-esteem . These students are rarely able to be the experts with their peer group so this becomes a very positive experience for all the children. In addition, the younger students love the attention from their older classmates. All aspects of the summer program center around the rainforest theme including reading, writing, listening, and speaking projects, art activities, guest readers, and even snacks are woven into the theme. "Under the Canopy" is sure to be a swinging good time for all!
  People Who Made a Difference in New York's History Students research a person who made a difference in New York's history, they write a short biography, and then they become the person during The Living History Museum.
  Compare & Contrast Decades of the 20th Century Students will have investigated and researched a decade of the 20th century. They will have used reference materials from the library as well as CD Rom encyclopedias, the Internet web sites and personal interviews of relatives who can give personal accounts of the past.
  Revolutionary War Fourth grade social studies unit on the American Revolution, and to New York's role in the war (approximately 4-5 weeks to complete). Students will summarize the political and economic causes leading to the Revolution, will identify leaders and groups of people involved during that time period, will also summarize key battles, with a focus on New York State battles. Effects of the war will identified. Students will incorporate a variety of technological skills and programs in this unit.
  Colonial America Students will study life in colonial America. They will explore the economy, geography, and government of the three colonial regions. They will study the influences upon the development of the colonies. Students will incorporate a variety of technological skills and programs in this unit
  Immigration This is a fourth grade Social Studies Unit on Immigration. This unit will pay particular attention to the immigrant experience in NYS. The unit will take approximately 4-5 weeks to complete. In this unit, students will classify the motives of various immigrant groups. They should be able to sequence the entry process at Ellis Island. Students will also summarize problems faced by immigrants. Contributions made by immigrants will be identified and examined. Students will infer immigrants' influence on the nation and local community.
  New York, New York Essential Questions: How do we use math skills to solve problems on a vacation including mileage, gas amounts, travel time, and tax and tip for meals? How do we use map-reading skills to plan a trip? How could we use the Internet to help plan a weekend trip somewhere in New York State? How would you decide what places to visit on a time limited trip? How would keeping a travel log, a travel journal, and a photo album help us document a trip?
  Communities Change Over Time How do the resources of an area define the economy of an area? How do technological advances change a town's way of life over time? How do we learn about the history of a place?
  Potsdam, Then and Now Museum Connection: students will visit the Potsdam Public Museum to view a life size time line of Potsdam from its settlement to today, hear a presentation describing how Potsdam has developed and who has influenced it's development.
  Melting Pot Discoving the history on our community using senior citizens as resources.
  Discovering the History of our Community History of the Richfield Springs area.
  Flight of the Falcon: School History Project Developed and integrated 4th grade unit will enable students to acquire an understanding of the social economic and political changes that occurred in state history, their impact on the school community over time. Students will do note-taking, summarizing, digital photography, word processing, videotaping and on-line research; trip to Historical Society will be made in order to assist students with the development of a living museum. This will provide access to further historical documents. Culminating performance will be a "Living Museum". Will provide detailed 4th grade experiences/suggestions for grades K-6, will be a school-wide project; each grade level will contribute through varied learning experiences-word processing,Timeliner, World Explorer 2.0, Powerpoint E-mail, on-line research, digital photography, videotaping, and digital scanning.
  Through My Eyes Study of people and early history of New York. Will concentrate on how each major political and economic group responded to different events and their consequences in New York's history. Students role play and investigate how the three major political groups interacted during this time. They will investigate and learn each group's point of view as they study events as they unfold. The students will be guided by teacher lead discussions, different view materials on events and people, use both book and electronic materials.
  Viewpoint of the Native American Interview a member of a Native American tribe or watch a video depicting the treatment of Native Americans from long ago today. (If conducting an interview it is a good idea to videotape it with permission from your guest for future use) If the students interview a guest make sure to help guide the students to devise questions that focus on the issue of how the Native American person is treated now as compared to how they were treated long ago
  100 Years and Counting This unit is primarily based on the book ...If You Lived: 100 Years Ago, by Ann McGovern. The book is a wonderful resource and full of information that is written in children's language. It covers all of the information that will be studied such as schooling, clothing, jobs, transportation and conveniences (or inventions) from the time period extending from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. The book explains what it was like primarily in New York City, which fits in nicely with the fourth grade curriculum, but also can tie in nicely with the third grade curriculum as it covers many different communities from around the world.
  Wearing Tuxedos in the Land of Brrrrrrrrr! What do living things need to survive in Antarctica? What characteristics do living things have that enable them to adapt to life in Antarctica? How are plants, animals, and people interdependent? How do the animals of Antarctica compare/contrast with the animals of your environment?
  The Tread of the Iron Horse Exposes 4th graders to issues, conditions adn events in their community during the mid-19th century.
  Backyard History Detectives A local history research project, with a field trip experience, to immerse students in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. A culminating final project offers parent and community involvement. The project is videotaped and aired on a local cable television.
  Island Investigation Mini research project for intermediate students to learn about one of the larger islands near the community of Clayton called Grindstone Island. Students learn how an island affects the life of people living there. They will also learn that lifestyles on Grindstone Island have changed over time (completed in two 3-4 multi-age classes at Guardino Elem. School-two month long unit designed to totally immerse children in reading, writing, speaking and listening, culminating in a final project. Lessons took about one and one-half hours per day. Daily scheduled reading and writing workshop times were used for this project. Activities related to NYS Standards in Language Arts, Social Studies, and Technology.
  Traveling Along Clinton's Ditch The Social Studies Unit, Traveling Along Clinton's Ditch will help fourth grade students foucs on one of the major waterways of New York State, the Erie Canal.
  Where is That From? Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we live-local, national, and global-including the distribution of people, places, and environments over the earth's surface. Performance indicator: describe the relationships between people and environments and the connections between people and places.
  Focusing on Famous People Begin by asking students if they have ever heard of George Washington (or other famous person). Read a story to the class on the famous person you have chosen. In small groups, students discuss and write answers to questions given on a worksheet.
  Welcome to New York State Students will create a New York State travel brochure
  A Weather Related Challenge "Where in the World is Cynthia San Francisco" is an Internet based collaborative project sponsored by the New Jersey Networking Infrastructure in Education (NJNIE) project which is located at Stevens Institute of Technology, Center for Improved Education and Science Education, Hoboken, New Jersey. We wish to give full credit to NJNIE, without whom, this unit would not have been possible.
  Welcome to New York State Students will create a NYState travel brochure of their own, choosing one of the regions of New York. They will highlight the following: name of geographic region accessibility to the region noteworthy geographic features historical / current places of interest economic highlights
  Erie Canal Essential Questions: How does the development of a regions transportation system affect people’s lives and the region’s development? How does the geography of a region affect the transportation systems? How and why does transportation change over time?
  Wanted: Trail Boss This project will help the students realize the requirements needed for a trail boss in the 1800’s. To demonstrate this knowledge they will create a job wanted advertisement for a trail boss. This activity is part of a complete unit on westward expansion called "GO WEST YOUNG MAN".
  Go West Young Man! This learning unit is designed to take students on a journey from the eastern United States to the west, during the age of expansion. Students will, through written expression, research of the Internet, and use of graphic organizers, work cooperatively to compile information to create a final presentation of their learning experiences using many different genres.
  Explorers of New York State New York State European explorers and their impact
  Colonial Life This unit is designed to teach 4th grade students about colonial life through a variety of interdisciplinary lessons.
  New York Explorers Essential Questions: What was the underlying causes and effects of the early exploration of NYS. How do students apply reading, writing, listening and speaking for critical analysis and evaluation of unfamiliar, informational and/or historic fictional text? How do students use the opinions and reactions of teachers, classmates and peers to evaluate personal interpretations of ideas, information and experience?





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