Unit 1 Connecting Themes (Enduring Understandings/Essential Questions) Beliefs and Ideals: The student will understand that the beliefs and ideals of a society influence the social, political, and economic decisions of that society. K-5 EU: The student will understand that people s ideas and feelings influence their decisions. How can the decisions that you make affect the world around you? What are some beliefs that are important to you and your family? How do you decide if one belief is more important than another one? Conflict and Change: The student will understand that when there is conflict between or within societies, change is the result. K-5 EU: The student will understand that conflict causes change. What happens when you disagree with others? How could having disagreements with your friends change your friendship? Why do things have to change when you have disagreements with others? How does solving a disagreement with your family differ from solving a disagreement with your friends? Distribution of Power: The student will understand that distribution of power in government is a product of existing documents and laws combined with contemporary values and beliefs. K-5 EU: The student will understand that laws and people's beliefs help decide who gets to make choices in government. What are some of your responsibilities as a member of your family? How do your responsibilities as a son or daughter differ with those of your parent(s)? What are your responsibilities as a citizen of your school? How do your responsibilities as a student compare to being a principal of a school? Individuals, Groups, Institutions: The student will understand that the actions of individuals, groups, and/or institutions affect society through intended and unintended consequences. K-5 EU: The student will understand that what people, groups, and institutions say and do can help or harm others whether they mean to or not. How do your choices affect the people around you? Why do we have rules in schools? What are consequences? What are the positive and negative consequences of not following your school s rules? What are some examples of ways to help others? What are some ways in which kids can hurt each other by the way they treat or speak to someone? Location: The student will understand that location affects a society s economy, culture, and development. K-5 EU: The student will understand that where people live matters. How does where you live affect the choices you have for things like food, clothing, and recreation? Why do people eat different foods in different parts of the world? Why did your family decide to move to Georgia? How does living in your community impact the choices your family makes? 1
Production, Distribution, Consumption: The student will understand that the production, distribution, and consumption of goods/services produced by the society are affected by the location, customs, beliefs, and laws of the society. K-5 EU: The student will understand that the ways people make, get, and use goods and services may be different from how people in other places make, get, and use goods and services. How does where you live affect the products available to you? How do stores get the things you want to buy? Are they available at each location? How are different cultures represented in our favorite restaurants? How do you decide what to buy? How does your family decide to make and spend money? Unit 2 - The Foundation of the United States SS3G1. The student will locate major topographical features. c) Locate the Equator, Prime Meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude on a globe. 2
Unit 3 - Our Demographic Heritage SS3H1. SS3G1. The student will explain the political roots of our modern democracy in the United States of America. a) Identify the influence of Greek architecture (columns on the Parthenon, U.S. Supreme Court building), law, and the Olympic Games on the present. b) Explain the ancient Athenian s idea that a community should choose its own leaders. c) Compare and contrast Athens as a direct democracy with the United States as a representative democracy. The student will locate major topographical features. c) Locate the Equator, Prime Meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude on a globe. d) Locate Greece on a world map. SS3CG1. The student will explain the importance of the basic principles that provide the foundation of a republican form of government. a) Explain why in the United States there is a separation of power between branches of government and levels of government. b) Name the three levels of government (national, state, local) and the three branches in each (executive, legislative, judicial), including the names of the legislative branch (Congress, General Assembly, city commission or city council). c) State an example of the responsibilities of each level and branch of government. SS3E2. The student will explain that governments provide certain types of goods and services in a market economy and pay for these through taxes and will describe services such as schools, libraries, roads, police/fire protection, and military. a) Describe the interdependence of consumers and products of goods and services. d) Explain that most countries create their own currency for use as money. 3
Unit 4 - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness SS3G1. The student will locate major topographical features. a) Identify major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson SS3E4. a) Describe the interdependence of consumers and producers of goods and services. b) Describe how goods and services are allocated by price in the marketplace. d) Explain that most countries create their own currency for use as money. The student will describe the costs and benefits of personal spending and saving choices. 4
Unit 5 - Rights and Freedoms for Everybody 5
Unit 6 - The Work Force in Democracy SS3E2. SS3E4. The student will explain that governments provide certain types of goods and services in a market economy and pay for these through taxes and will describe services such as schools, libraries, roads, police/fire protection, and military. a) Describe the interdependence of consumers and producers of goods and services. b) Describe how goods and services are allocated by price in the marketplace. d) Explain that most countries create their own currency for use as money. The student will describe the costs and benefits of personal spending and saving choices. 6
Unit 7 - Rights of Workers in the United States SS3E1. The student will describe the four types of productive resources: a) Natural (land) b) Human (labor) c) Capital (capital goods) d) Entrepreneurship (used to create goods and services) c) Explain that some things are made locally, some elsewhere in the country, and some in other countries. 7