FourthGradeSocialStudiesCurriculumCard

LinktoDESESocialStudiesGradeLevelExpectations
Quarter
Taught

Strand1:PrinciplesoftheRepublic

IdentifyandexplainwhyMissourihasaconstitutionandwhythestatemakesandenforceslaws

IdentifyrightsincludedintheBillofRights,includingfreedomsofreligion,speech,presstoassemble
peacefullytopetitionthegovernmentandtobetreatedfairlybythegovernment.

ExplainthemajorpurposeoftheConstitutionandtheBillofRights

Strand2:PrinciplesandProcessesofGovernanceSystems

Describehowauthoritativedecisionsaremade,enforcedandinterpretedwithinthestategovernment

Identifyandexplainthefunctionsofthethreebranchesofgovernmentinthestategovernment

Strand3:Missouri,UnitedStatesandWorldHistory

IdentifyanddescribethesignificanceoftheindividualsfromMissouriwhohavemadecontributionsto
ourstateandnationalheritageexamplesincludeLewisandClark,MaryEastonSibley,JohnBerry
Meacham,GeorgeWashingtonCarver,LauraIngallsWilder,MarkTwain,HarrySTrumanandThomas
HartBenton

LocateanddescribesettlementsinMissouriofpeopleofEuropeanandAfricanheritage

OutlineissuesofMissouristatehood,suchastheMissouriCompromise

Summarizetheeventsinwestwardexpansion,includingpeoplesmotivation,theirhardships,andMissouri
asajumpingoffpointtotheWest

DescribethecontributionsofThomasJefferson

Sequenceanddescribetheimportanceof
a. LouisianaPurchase
b. LewisandClarkexpedition

ExplainMissourisroleintheCivilWar,i.e.,Missouriasaborderstate

EvaluatetheimpactofwestwardexpansionontheNativeAmericaninMissouri

DescribethechangesinMissourisincetheCivilWarineducation,transportationandcommunication

Strand4:EconomicConceptsandPrinciples

Comparesavingandfinancialinvestment

Explainsupplyanddemand

Interpretpast,explainpresentandpredictfutureconsequencesofeconomicdecisions.(Decisionswould
beofanaturethatismeaningfultofourthgraders,suchasdecisionsmadebyconsumersanddecisions
pertainingtotheenvironment)

Explainhowthestategetsthemoneyitneedstoprovidegoodsandservices,especiallybythecollectionof
salestaxes

Explainhowdecisionsofhouseholds,businessesandgovernmentsaffectoneanother

Strand5:ElementsofGeographicalStudyandAnalysis

Constructandinterpretmaps

LocatethecitiesofKansasCity,Springfield,St.Louis,JeffersonCity,ColumbiaandSt.Joseph

Describehumancharacteristicsofaplace,(suchaspopulationcomposition,architecture,kindsof
economicandrecreationalactivities,transportationandcommunicationnetworks,etc.)

Describehowpeopleareaffectedby,dependon,adapttoandchangetheirenvironments

Compareregions(e.g.,explainhowlifeinacityregionisdifferentfromlifeinaruralregionorhow
landscapesinmountainousregionslookdifferentfromlandscapesinplainregions

Usegeographytointerpretthepast(e.g.,whyrivershaveplayedanimportantroleinhumantransportation)
andpredictfutureconsequences(e.g.,whatwilllikelyhappenifthepopulationofacityincreases
considerably)

Strand6:RelationshipsofIndividualsandGroupstoInstitutions
andTraditions

Analyzehowneedsaremetbygroupsandorganizations(e.g.,governments,businesses,schools,religious
institutions,charitableorganizations,etc.)

Evaluateconstructiveprocessesormethodsforresolvingconflictsbyusingaproblemsolvingorganizer

Strand7:ToolsofSocialScienceInquiry

Identify,selectandusevisual,graphicandauditoryaids

Useandevaluateprimaryandsecondarysources(diaries,letters,people,interviews,journalsand
photos)

Identifyanduselibraryandmediaresources(electronicresources,dictionaries,encyclopedias,videos,
periodicals,atlases,almanacs,telephonedirectories,books,andcartoons)

Identifyandcreateartifacts(buildingstructuresandmaterials,worksofartrepresentativeofcultures,
fossils,pottery,tools,clothing,musicalinstruments

Createmaps,timelines,diagramsandcartoonstoenhancestudiesincivics,history,economicsand
geography