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Social Studies and the World

We Live In

 

First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth

Elementary Resources

A Blueprint for Learning

Social Studies

 The Blueprint for Learning is a companion document for the Tennessee Curriculum Standards which are located at www.tennessee.gov/education.  Although the curriculum adopted by the State Board of Education in its entirety remains on the web for additional reference, this reformatted version makes the curriculum more accessible to classroom teachers.

 

Third Grade

First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth

Elementary Resources

A Blueprint for Learning - Social Studies

 

CULTURE

 Culture encompasses similarities and differences among people, including their beliefs, knowledge, changes, values, and tradition. The student will explore these elements of society to develop an appreciation of and respect for the variety of human cultures.

 


 

Key

Reporting

Category

 

D

 

Recognize that changes in culture occur through the spread of people, languages, ideas, and goods.

D

 

Compare cultural differences in various regions of the United States and the world.

D

 

Describe similarities and differences in the ways groups, societies, and cultures address similar human needs and concerns.

I

 

Compare ways in which people from different cultures think about and deal with their physical environment and social conditions.

I

 

Identify and explain the significance of selected individual writers and artists and their stories, poems, statues, paintings, and other examples of cultural heritage from regions around the world.

D

 

Explain the significance of selected ethnic and/or cultural celebrations in Tennessee, the United States, and other nations such as St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Kwanzaa.

I

 

Retell the heroic deeds of characters from folktales and legends.

D

 

Compare ethnic and/or cultural celebrations in Tennessee, the United States, and other nations.

 

ECONOMICS

 Globalization of the economy, the explosion of population growth, technological changes and international competition compels the student to understand, both personally and globally, production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The student will examine and analyze economic concepts such as basic needs versus wants, using versus saving money, and policy-making versus decision-making.

I

 

Identify ways of earning, spending, and saving money.

A

E

Classify needs and wants using pictures of common items (i.e., food, cleaning products, clothes, candy, makeup).

Wants and needs

Imports & Exports

Identifying Needs

A

E

Using a picture, differentiate the difference between a producer and a consumer.

core knowledge social studies

Producers & Consumers

Producers vs. Consumers

I

 

Analyze a simple budget that allocates money for spending and saving.

I

 

Identify examples of private and public goods and services.

I

 

Identify examples of scarcity.

Scarcity

Ben & Jerry's Graveyard (scarcity)

Lewis & Clark Expedition faces scarcity

I

 

Explain how supply and demand affects the price of a good or service.

Supply & Demand

A

E

Distinguish between imports and exports.

.Imports and exports  

Where do you come from?

A

E

Differentiate between money and barter economies.

Hawaiian Economics Barter for Fish

Will You Take Wampum?

Bartering for Goods

How Money Began

Kids Bank Intro to Money

I

 

Recognize that the world has different agricultural and industrial regions.

A

E

Interpret a map showing agricultural and industrial areas.

Explore Your State

I

 

Explain the characteristics of a technologically expanding global economy.

I

 

Explain the impact of scarcity on interdependence within and among regions.

I

 

Recognize that Tennessee and the United States have different agricultural and industrial regions.

Tennessee Agriculture

Tennessee Geography

I

 

Be aware of how goods and services are interchanged between communities at the local and national levels.

D

 

Trace the development of a product from a natural resource to a finished product.

A

E

Distinguish the difference between a natural resource and finished product.

Natural Resource Adventure

Renewable and non-renewable resources

A Simple Chocolate Bar

How Do People Make...

 


 

GEOGRAPHY

 Geography enables the student to see, understand and appreciate the web of relationships between people, places, and environments. The student will use the knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts within the six essential elements of geography: world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and the use of geography.

I

 

Show how the spatial elements of point, line, and area are used on a map or globe.

I

 

Explain the difference between relative and absolute locations.

D

 

Locate places on a map using cardinal and intermediate directions.

A

PG

Recognize and use a map key.

Understanding Maps—Lesson Plans

Lines on Maps and Globes PowerPoint

Types of Maps

A

PG

Find a specific location on a school or community map.

Community Map—Worksheet

Map zone

A

PG

Use absolute and relative locations to identify places on a map (i.e., north, south, east, west, borders, lines of longitude and latitude, the equator, and the north and south poles.)

Latitude Lessons—Lesson Plans

Latitude Description & Quiz

Learning Directions on a Map

A

PG

Utilize skills to locate a place using cardinal directions and symbols given an appropriate map with a key.

Directions & Distance & Quiz

A

PG

Determine the climate of a specific region of the world using a map.

Climate & Quiz

Climate & Global Change

Regional Climate Map

D

 

List the similarities and differences of local places and regions with other places and regions.

Tennessee Quick Facts (each county statistics)

Fact Monster World

I

 

List the basic components of earth’s physical systems (e.g., landforms, water, climate and weather, and erosion and deposition).

I

 

Understand the concept of an ecosystem.

D

 

Describe how environments and regions differ around the world.

A

PG

Identify the major physical components of the world (i.e., oceans, equator, continents, and hemispheres).

Identify Continents--Game

Continents--Quiz

Hemispheres & Quiz

Physical Features

A

PG

Identify basic components of earth’s systems (i.e., landforms, water, climate, and weather).

Illustrated Glossary (interactive w/great visuals)

Exploring Landforms—Lesson Plans

Earth’s Climate Description & Quiz

Landforms-Mountains & Quiz

Landforms--Plains & Plateaus & Quiz

Landforms—Islands & Quiz

Landforms—Oceans & Quiz

Landforms—Lakes & Quiz

Landforms—Rivers & Quiz

Landforms—Other Water Forms & Quiz

Landforms—Other Landforms

Make a Virtual Pond

Understanding Erosion Lesson Plan

A

PG

Differentiate the distinguishing characteristics of ecosystems (i.e., deserts, grasslands, and rainforests).

Illustrated Glossary

What is a Dessert Like?

Dessert Plants

Dessert Animals

What are Grasslands Like?

Grassland Plants

Grassland Animals

Exploring the Rainforest

Rainforest Plants

Rainforest Animals

Other Ecosystems

A

PG

Recognize the identifying characteristics of certain geographic features (i.e., peninsula, islands, continents, mountains, rivers, deserts, oceans, and forests).

Illustrated Glossary

I

 

Understand how technology allows people to adapt the environment to meet their needs.

D

 

Locate the major cities of Tennessee and the world on a map or globe.

I

 

Describe the concept of formal (uniform) regions.

I

 

Define the characteristics that comprise a region.

I

 

Explain how change affects region and place over time.

I

 

Show the population distribution of the state and country.

D

 

Differentiate between urban, suburban, and rural regions.

A

HG

Recognize some of the major components of a culture (i.e., language, clothing, food, art, and music).

Everyone has a Culture  Lesson Plan

Explaining Culture Lesson Plan

Understanding Perspectives of Another Culture Lesson Plan

Opposites in Culture Lesson Plan

Cross Cultural Understanding Lesson Plan

Endangered Cultures Interactive website

World Culture Tour

A

HG

Determine similarities and differences in the ways different cultural groups address basic human needs (i.e., food, water, clothing, and shelter) by interpreting pictures.

Exploring Cultures Web Site

What it means to be "American" Lesson Plan

The Blind Men and the Elephant Lesson Plan about cultural perceptions

A

HG

Interpret a chart or map identifying major cultural groups of the world.

 

A

HG

Recognize major global concerns (i.e., pollution, conservation of natural resources, global warming, and destruction of rainforest).

Rainforests Endangered

Kid’s Page-Polluted

A

HG

Differentiate the cultural population distribution in the United States using a bar graph.

Population Distribution

Population Pasta Activity (the activity link is on the left side)

Population Trash Activity

 

GOVERNANCE AND CIVICS

 Governance establishes structures of power and authority in order to provide order and stability. Civic efficacy requires understanding rights and responsibilities, ethical behavior, and the role of citizens within their community, nation, and world.

I

 

Describe the basic structures of government in the state.

A

GC

Select from a set of visual representations a service provided by the government (i.e., parks, schools, and libraries).

How Does Government Affect Me? Interactive Activity to explain govt. services in community

Ben's Guide to Government in Your Community Interactive Activity to explain govt. services in community

Government Services

D

 

Recognize who makes laws in the state

I

 

Know that governmental agencies exist to protect the environment at local, state, and national levels.

I

 

Describe varied basic structures of governments in the state, nation, and world.

D

 

Examine how regions choose to govern in different ways.

A

GC

Determine the representative acts of a good citizen (i.e., obeying speed limit, not littering, and walking within the crosswalk).

Six Pillars of Character

Character Counts

Character and Citizenship Education - An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Be A Super Citizen Activities

D

 

Identify services commonly provided by the state government and contrast with other regions.

I

 

Compare the Tennessee and the United State Constitutions with other governing procedures around the world.

D

 

Identify government officials and explain how they are chosen.

I