FOURTH GRADE SOCIAL SCIENCE GOAL #14 UNDERSTAND POLITICAL SYSTEMS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE UNITED STATES STANDARD 14-A Understand and explain basic principles of the United States government. List reasons for forming a government. Describe the purpose of the Declaration of Independence, and the Illinois and United States Constitutions. Recite basic rights of citizens and restrictions upon government afforded to Americans through the Bill of Rights. Differentiate between citizenship by birth or naturalization. Discuss some of the responsibilities adults share in maintaining our local governments and communities (e.g., voting at election time, when asked to serve on community boards or committees they join, paying their taxes) Defend the position that people in a democracy must have such rights as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, or freedom of assembly. Identify U. S. Presidents and their major contributions. STANDARD 14-B Understand the structures and functions of the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations. Compose a definition for a national government. Summarize the function of the three branches of government found within the state and federal government. Compare and contrast how local and state governments provide services to people. Distinguish between the powers and responsibilities of local, state, and federal government. STANDARD 14-C Understand election processes and responsibilities of citizens. Explain the significance of the rights and responsibilities students share within a school. Predict the consequences of people not acting responsibly in their communities. Explain why a person might choose to vote for one candidate for President of the United States over another candidate. STANDARD 14-D Understand the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups in the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations. Explain why someone would join a non-profit or civic group that serves the common good (e.g., Red Cross). Identify the names of major contemporary political parties.
STANDARD 14-E Understand United States foreign policy as it relates to other nations and international issues. Identify the role of the president in making foreign policy decisions. Describe how the interests of the United States and other nations may or may not allow for international cooperation. STANDARD 14-F Understand the development of United States political ideas and traditions. Describe values that have formed the foundation of our American democratic system (e.g., the love of liberty, respect for individual rights). Explain the significance of political symbols and mottoes of the United States (e.g., E Pluribus Unum, the Flag, the Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, the Great Seal, oaths of office). SOCIAL SCIENCE GOAL #15 UNDERSTAND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE UNITED STATES. STANDARD 15-A Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Identify the productive resources (human, natural, capital) used in the production of goods and services they use Identify alternative uses for a given a set of productive resources. Define labor (i.e., human resource used to produce goods and services). Explain how wages or salaries (the price of labor) act as incentives for people to provide labor. STANDARD 15-B Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by consumers. Identify criteria people use when making choices as consumers. STANDARD 15-C Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by producers. Classify examples of human, natural, and capital resources. STANDARD 15-D Understand trade as an exchange of goods or services.
STANDARD 15-E Understand the impact of government policies and decisions on production and consumption in the economy. Define public goods and services as those that: benefit more than one person at the same time; AND cannot be restricted to only those that pay. Name at least two taxes students or adults pay. Explain how governmental bodies use taxes SOCIAL SCIENCE GOAL #16 UNDERSTAND EVENTS, TRENDS, INDIVIDUALS AND MOVEMENTS SHAPING THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS. STANDARD 16-A Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation. Place a randomly ordered series of events at the proper points on a timeline. Compare life in one region or place during two different time periods using a combination of historical sources. Describe historical trends using data supplied on a graph or chart. Describe changes in a region or place using an historical atlas. Describe aspects of life in a specific period in a specific region or place using a combination of historical sources. STANDARD 16-B Understand the development of significant political events. Place a series of political events in their proper location on a timeline of United States history. List the contributions of significant figures in United States political history (e.g., Thomas Jefferson s writing of the Declaration of Independence). Explain why significant events in United States political history are important today. STANDARD 16-C Understand the development of economic systems. Place a series of economic events in their proper location on a timeline of United States history. Identify the different types of economic activities of early people in Illinois (e.g., Native Americans, pioneers). Describe how the environment affected the economic activities of the early people of Illinois. Compare/contrast past economic activities to contemporary economic activities. STANDARD 16-D Understand Illinois, United States and world social history.
Identify the turning points in local, Illinois, and United States social history. Compare the life of people of various social status in the past to people of the same status during another time period. STANDARD 16-E Understand Illinois, United States and world environmental history. Place a series of environmental events in their proper location on a timeline of United States history. Describe how hunter-gatherer cultures in the pre-colonial Illinois country and other regions of North America used the environment in terms of securing food, shelter, clothing, and tools (technology). Describe how changes in weather/climate affected the physical and cultural features of the environment in the mid-west and other regions of North America using maps, geographic tools, images, and other sources. Identify the rivers that fostered the growth and development of North America. Explain how the locations of agricultural and industrial regions of the United States help to understand the nation s growth and development. Identify on a map of Illinois the lands associated with Native American tribes. SOCIAL SCIENCE GOAL #17 UNDERSTAND WORLD GEOGRAPHY AND THE EFFECTS OF GEOGRAPHY ON SOCIETY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE UNITED STATES. STANDARD 17-A Locate, describe and explain places, regions and features on the Earth. Identify the states and their capitals. Create a map of Illinois containing basic elements (e.g., lines, points, symbols). Locate on maps, major bodies of water and river systems in Illinois and the United States. STANDARD 17-B Analyze and explain characteristics and interactions of the Earth's physical systems. Compare ways the physical environment is used to meet needs of people (e.g., cutting trees, mining, raising food). Interpret a diagram or use a globe to show Earth's rotation on its axis to explain the causes of day and night. Recognize that people can work together to preserve and protect the natural resources and environment STANDARD 17-C Understand relationships between geographic factors and society. Discuss how different groups of native Americans adapted to the physical and human environment to meet their needs.
STANDARD 17-D Understand the historical significance of geography. Analyze how the physical features of Illinois have affected the settlement patterns of the state (e.g., rivers, valleys, prairie). SOCIAL SCIENCE GOAL #18 UNDERSTAND SOCIAL SYSTEMS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE UNITED STATES. STANDARD 18-A Compare characteristics of culture as reflected in language, literature, the arts, traditions and institutions. Discuss cultural differences in various geographic regions in the United States. Explain the significance of knowing about more than one culture. Identify changes in cultural traits over time. Explain how a part of American culture (e.g., mode of dress, music, architecture) has changed overtime. STANDARD 18-B Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society. Define social institution. Differentiate between a primary group, a secondary group, and a reference group. Distinguish between norms and laws. STANDARD 18-C Understand how social systems form and develop over time. Give examples of how technology helps to transform a society.