Social Studies

Goals

The primary goal of Cartersville City School’s Social Studies Department is to prepare students to be productive members of their families, communities, and the world.

Grade-Level Expectations/What is my Child Learning?

Kindergarten: Foundations of America

National Holidays and words/phrases related to chronology and time of the events
Customs and celebrations of various American families and communities
The difference between a map and a globe
State their street address, city, state, and country in which they live
Understand good citizenship by knowing how rules are made, why they are made, and why they should be followed
Positive character traits of good citizens: honesty, patriotism, courtesy, respect, pride, and self-control
People earn money by working; some jobs introduced include police officer, fire fighter, soldier, mail carrier, farmer, doctor, teacher
How money is used to purchase goods and services and the difference in types of U.S. currency
How people make choices in what to buy based on wants and needs

Map and Globe Skills

Using a Compass Rose to identify cardinal directions is introduced

Information Processing Skills

Compare similarities and differences
Organize items chronologically
Identify issues/problems and find solutions

First Grade: American Heritage

Historical figures and their contributions—Benjamin Franklin, inventor/author/statesman; Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence; Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea, exploration; Theodore Roosevelt, National Parks/environment; George Washington Carver, science; Ruby Bridges, civil rights.
How everyday life of the above historical figures is the same and different from life today
How the above historical figures were influenced by his or her time and place
Identify and locate their city, county, state, country, and continent on a map and globe.
Locate all continents and major oceans on a map and globe
Identify and describe mountains, deserts, valleys, and coasts
Patriotic concepts of brotherhood, liberty, freedom, and pride as seen in the songs My Country Tis of Thee and America the Beautiful
Identify goods that are made and services that are provided
Concept of scarcity
People are producers and consumers
People earn income by working and must make choices about saving and spending

Map and Globe Skills

Use intermediate directions
Use a map to explain impact of geography on world events

Information Processing Skills

Distinguish between fact and opinion
In social studies context, identify main idea, detail, sequence of events, cause and effect
Use primary and secondary sources and know the difference between the two
Interpret timelines, charts, and tables

Second Grade: Georgia, My State

Historical figures and their contributions—James Oglethorpe, Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove, founding of Georgia; Sequoyah, Cherokee alphabet; Jackie Robinson, sportsmanship & civil rights; Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights; Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts & leadership; Jimmy Carter, leadership & human rights
Creek and Cherokee cultures: tools, clothing, homes, ways of making a living, accomplishments, and how it is different from cultures of Georgia today
Geographic regions of Georgia: Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Ridge & Valley, Appalachian Plateau
Major rivers: Savannah, Flint, Chattahoochee
For each above historic figure and the Creek and Cherokee, identify places on a map that were significant to their life and times
How each above historic figure and the Creek and Cherokee adapted to and were influenced by their environments and how the region they lived in affected their lives. How were these regions alike and different from Cartersville?
Regions where Creek and Cherokee lived and how they used their resources
What is a government and why do we need rules and laws?
Identify executive branch members and where they work—US President, Governor, Mayor
How above historic figures and Creek and Cherokee demonstrated citizenship through honesty, dependability, trustworthiness, honor, civility, good sportsmanship, patience, compassion
Scarcity forces people to make choices (opportunity cost)
Goods and services are allocated through: price, majority rule, contests, force, sharing, lottery, authority, first-come-first-served, personal characteristics
Money makes trade easier than barter
Cost and benefit of saving and spending choices

Map and Globe Skills

Use a letter/number grid system to determine location
Natural, cultural, and political features on maps
Use a map key/legend

Information Processing Skills

Identify social studies reference sources for specific purposes
Construct charts and tables
Analyze artifacts

Third Grade: US History-American Indian Cultures through Colonization

Locate regions where American Indians settled in North America and compare & contrast how they used their environments to get food, clothing, and shelter and why some regions lent themselves to permanent shelters and some did not
How American Indians continue to contribute to American life through cultural contributions
Reasons for and obstacles to European exploration of North America
Accomplishments of major European explorers
Cooperation and conflict between American Indians and European explorers
Why the colonies were founded (religious freedom and profit)
Compare & contrast the 3 regions of colonies (New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southern) in terms of education, economy, religion and how physical geography determined economies
How early explorers did or did not adapt to their new physical environments
Describe colonial life from the perspective of: large landowners, farmers, artisans, women, children, indentured servants, slaves, American Indians
On a map, locate the Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson, and St. Lawrence Rivers and the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains
Locate and describe the equator, prime meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude on a globe
Describe the three branches of the national government, the three branches of the state government, and state the responsibility of each
The importance of shared American democratic beliefs and principles—respecting the rights of others, promoting the common good, obeying laws/rules, participating in public (civic) life
Four types of productive resources: Natural, Human, Capital, Entrepreneurship
Governments provide some goods/services such as schools, roads, police/fire, military and pay for them with tax dollars
Consumers and producers and interdependent
Goods and services get allocated in the marketplace by price
Some goods are made locally, some in other parts of the country, and some internationally
Most countries create their own currency (money)
Opportunity cost in relation to choices to spend or save

Map and Globe Skills

Draw conclusions and make generalizations based on information on a map
Use latitude and longitude to determine location

Information Processing Skills

Draw conclusions and make generalizations
Analyze graphs and diagrams
Translate dates into centuries, eras, or ages

Fourth Grade: United States History-Revolution to Reconstruction

Events that shaped the Revolutionary Movement: French and Indian War, 1765 Stamp Act, “no taxation without representation”, Sons and Daughters of Liberty, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party

People and groups of American Revolution: King George III, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, Patrick Henry, John Adams, Paul Revere, Black regiments

Major events of American Revolution and factors leading to American victory including Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, and Yorktown

Declaration of Independence: who wrote it, how it was written, why it was necessary, how it was a response to tyranny and abuse of power

Leaders of the Constitutional Convention: James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin

Contact

Emily Walker- Liaison