Social Studies — Grade 4

Archaeological context

In their study of context, students will use a game and a discussion to demonstrate the importance of artifacts in context for learning about past people.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Artifact ethics

In their study of archaeological issues students will use ethical dilemmas to examine their own values and beliefs about archaeological site protection. They will also evaluate possible actions they might take regarding site and artifact protection.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–5 English Language Arts, Guidance, and Social Studies)

Chronology: The time of my life

In their study of chronology the students will use personal timelines and an activity sheet to demonstrate the importance of intact information to achieve accuracy, and compare and contrast their timelines with the chronological information contained in a stratified archaeological site.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Molly's Pilgrim Activity

Using the book by Barbara Cohen, students will respond to the social and historical significance of this portrayal of the Thanksgiving holiday. Students will also participate in constructing a Venn diagram and completing a cloze activity.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Rita Wilson.

North Carolina living through photos, then and now

Students will examine historical photographs of North Carolinians at work or in social settings. They will develop and share skills of “reading” photographs. Then they will use these skills to identify “historical clues” in a photo, and draw their own version of the same person or people in North Carolina today.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Social Studies)

By Michael Sharp.

Why is the past important?

As an introduction to the study of North Carolina's archaeological heritage, students will use personally owned object to share the importance of their past and connect this importance with reasons why the human past is important.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Lesson plans on the web

Artifacts in Context

Students will explore an archaeological mystery that demonstrates the importance of context in learning from artifacts. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Geo-generations

Students create a Geo-Generations Scrapbook that charts and describes where their family has lived. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provider: National Geographic

Immigrating to America

Students learn about what it was like for new immigrants to come through Ellis Island at the turn of the century. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 Social Studies)

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Quilting: The story of the Underground Railroad

Students use the Internet to research the dangers that escaping slaves faced along the Underground Railroad and the factors that helped the slaves make it to freedom. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, and Social Studies)

Provider: National Geographic

What Can We Learn From Artifacts?

In this lesson on archaeology, students will learn about artifacts – what they are, how they are initially buried, and then excavated. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science