What Are We Learning in Social Studies?
Grade 3
Grade 4
Geography
Key Ideas:
Geographic regions have unifying
Three Worlds Meet in NYS
Key Ideas:
characteristics and can be studied
using a variety of tools.
using geographic tools and
vocabulary.
itself and others to fulfill its
Impact of the Colonial and
Revolutionary War
Human beings have developed
from hunter gathers to culture
groups to civilizations
Economic influences affect growth
and change.
Historians may have different
theories about events
New York State history reflects a
changing world.
The United States is impacted
The United States depends on
Key Ideas:
participation of individuals.
Key Ideas:
geography.
Many influences lead to the creation
of political systems and the
United States
A New World Rising
development.
The location of world
communities can be described
Geography influences growth and
Grade 5
Events occur at different times in
history
Civilizations have certain
characteristics but each
civilization is unique
European Explorers and
Key Ideas:
Slavery
Geography influences growth and
development.
Key Ideas:
needs and wants.
The United States has many
common and diverse cultural
elements.
Many influences lead to the creation
European exploration had many
causes and effects
People with different perspectives
see the same event differently
A turning point has a huge impac
of political systems and the
The United States has a
democratic form of government.
participation of individuals.
Immigration has impacted New York
State throughout its history.
on people
New York State history reflects a
changing world.
Economic influences affect growth
and change.
National and Local Government
Geography, Government, &
Brazil
Brazil has a diverse geographic
landscape.
Brazil has a democratic form of
government.
Hemisphere
National and State governments both
Key Ideas:
make, carry out, and interpret the
The physical characteristics of the
Western Hemisphere are very varied
The geographic characteristics of the
law.
Brazil depends on itself and
others to fulfill needs and wants.
National and State governments
separate the powers into branches.
Key Ideas:
Economics in the Western
Key Ideas:
Power is shared between National
Western Hemisphere affect where
and State governments.
people choose to live, the way people
Both the National and State Bill of
earn a living, and their everyday life.
Rights guarantee individual
Brazil has many common and
diverse cultural elements.
China
Many factors determine borders.
Citizenship involves responsibilities
How do geography, climate and
natural resources affect the way
as well as rights.
Key Ideas:
freedoms.
Change Comes to New York
China has a varied geographic
people live and work?
place to place, as do the functions of
landscape.
China is a dictatorship
The Chinese government
influences how needs and wants
will be fulfilled.
China has a dominant culture
government, in the countries of the
Key Ideas:
activities, arts, music, fashion,
Diverse groups in New York State
have called for change in the quest for
equality.
Geographic, technological, and
human factors and made New York a
and medicine.
New inventions changed the way
Americans travel and communicate.
reflected in its holidays,
inventions, food, tools, leisure
Governmental structures vary from
leading center of agriculture, mining,
China is similar to and different
lumbering, manufacturing, trade,
from other world communities.
and finance.
Immigrants and migrants made and
continue to make an important
contribution to New York and the
Western Hemisphere.
The concept of wants and needs
What is meant by an economic system
The 3 basic economic questions:
o What goods and services shall be
produced and in what quantities?
o How shall these goods and service
be produced?
o For whom shall these goods and
United States.
Kenya
services be produced?
There are winners and losers in
historical events.
Key Ideas:
from other world communities
The location of continents and
countries impact the people who
live there
Kenya has a varied geographic
landscape
Kenya depends on itself and
others to fulfill needs and wants
Cultural Diversity
Kenya is similar to and different
Key Ideas:
Different ethnic national and religiou
groups, including native peoples, hav
contributed to the cultural diversity o
nations and regions in the Western
Hemisphere by sharing their customs
traditions, beliefs, ideas and
languages.
The migration of groups of people in
the Western Hemisphere has led to
Kenya has many common and
cultural diffusion as well as regional
diverse cultural elements
issues.
Making a Difference
Key Ideas:
Human Rights are rights that
each of us has been born with.
The United Nations has listed our
specific human rights in the
Declaration of Human Rights.
Many nations and organizations
around the world work to protect
our human rights.
Many individuals work to protect
our human rights.
We have a responsibility to
protect the rights of ourselves and
others.
For additional resources and information regarding our current social studies curriculum, please
visit https://www.pnwboces.org/ssela/index.htm
**Please note that teachers are given the flexibility to teach the SS units in any order they would like as long as all units are
taught by the end of the school year. **
