Western School District - Curriculum - Social Studies - Fourth Grade
As numbers are added in the subsequent columns to the right that State Standard is being broken down
starting with the Strand, then the Standard, then the Benchmark, then the WSD Objective to be taught
(i.e.
Strand 1 is explained on the first line underneath the titles, the next line explains the Standard, the
next line explains the
Benchmark and the next line explains the WSD Objective).

Strand

Standard

Benchmark

Objective

Description

1

0

0

0

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

1

1

0

0

All Students will sequence chronologically the following eras of American history and key events within these eras in order to examine relationships and to explain cause and effect:   The Meeting of Three Worlds (Beginnings to 1620); Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763); Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1815); Expansion and Reform (1801-1861); and Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877); The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900); The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930); The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945); Post War United States (1945-1970); and Contemporary United States (1968-present).  (Time and Chronology)

1

1

1

0

Measure chronological time by decades and centuries

1

1

1

1

Calculate the span (decades and centuries) of time between historical events

1

1

2

0

Place major events in the development of their local community and the state of Michigan in chronological order

1

1

2

1

Place major historical events in the State of Michigan on a timeline in chronological order

1

1

3

0

Place major events in the early history of the US in chronological order

1

1

3

1

NO FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVE

1

2

0

0

All students will understand narratives about major eras of American and world history by identifying the people involved~ describing the setting~ and sequencing the events.  (Comprehending the Past)

1

2

1

0

Summarize the sequence of key events in stories describing life from the past in their local community~ the state of Michigan and other parts of the US

1

2

1

1

Read~ sequence and describe  key events in the history of Michigan using biographies and stories

1

2

2

0

Use narratives and graphic data to compare the past of their local community~ and the state of Michigan and other parts of the US with present day life in those places

1

2

2

1

Interpret and apply data from maps~ graphs~ timelines~ charts~ tables to compare events from historical Michigan  to the present

1

2

3

0

Recount the lives and characters of a variety of individuals from the past representing their local community~ the state of Michigan and other parts of the US

1

2

3

1

NO FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVE

1

2

4

0

Identify and explain how individuals in history demonstrated good character and personal virtue

1

2

4

1

NO FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVE

1

3

0

0

All students will reconstruct the past by comparing interpretations written by others from a variety of perspectives and creating narratives from evidence.  (Analyzing and interpreting the Past)

1

3

1

0

Use primary sources to reconstruct past events in their local community

1

3

1

1

NO FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVE

1

3

2

0

Interpret conflicting accounts of events in both Michigan and US history and analyze the viewpoints of the authors

1

3

2

1

Interpret and analyze conflicting author's accounts of events in Michigan history

1

3

3

0

Compose simple narratives of events from the history of the state of Michigan and the US

1

3

3

1

Write a narrative using a website or other resource reflecting an historical event in the State of Michigan

1

4

0

0

All students will evaluate key decisions made at critical turning points in history by assessing their implications and long-term consequences.  (Judging Decisions from the Past)

1

4

1

0

Identify problems from the past that divided their local community~ the state of Michigan~ and the US and analyze the Interests and values of those involved

1

4

1

1

Identify and discuss controversial issues from Michigan's past~ analyzing  the interests and values of those involved

1

4

2

0

Select decisions made to solve past problems and evaluate those decisions in terms of ethical considerations~ the interests of those affected by the decisions~ and the short- and long-term consequences in those decisions

1

4

2

1

Evaluate historical decisions in view of ethical considerations~ individual interests and short/long term consequences

2

0

0

0

GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

2

1

0

0

All students will describe~ compare~ and explain the locations and characteristics of places~ cultures~ and settlements.  (People~ Places and Cultures)

2

1

1

0

Locate and describe cultures and compare the similarities and differences among the roles of women~ men~ and families

2

1

1

1

Understand and distinguish the similarities and differences between gender and family roles throughout Michigan history

2

1

2

0

Locate and describe diverse kinds of communities and explain the reasons for their characteristics and locations

2

1

2

1

Locate and describe diverse communities in Michigan as well as US regions and explain the reasons for their characteristics and locations

2

1

3

0

Locate and describe the major places~ cultures~ and communities of the nation and compare their characteristics

2

1

3

1

Locate and compare/contrast  major Michigan and  US  locations~ cultures and communities

2

2

0

0

All students will describe~ compare~ and explain the locations and characteristics of ecosystems~ resources~ human adaptation~ environmental impact~ and the interrelationships among them.  (Human/Environment Interaction)

2

2

1

0

Explain basic ecosystem concepts and processes

2

2

1

1

NO FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVE

2

2

2

0

Describe the location~ use~ and importance of different kinds of resources and explain how they are created and the consequences of their use

2

2

2

1

Describe the location~ use and importance of Michigan's natural resources.

2

2

2

2

Explain how natural resources are created and the impact of their uses.

2

2

3

0

Describe the major physical patterns~ ecosystems~ resources~ and land uses of the state~ region~ and country and explain the processes that created them

2

2

3

1

Describe the creation and impact of major physical patterns~ ecosystems~ resources and the land uses of Michigan

2

2

4

0

Explain how various people and cultures have adapted to and modified the environment

2

2

4

1

Explain how Michiganians have adapted to and modified the environment

2

3

0

0

All students will describe~ compare~ and explain the locations and characteristics of economic activities~ trade~ political activities~ migration~ information flow~ and the interrelationships among them.  (Location~ Movement and Connections)

2

3

1

0

Describe major kinds of economic activity and explain the factors influencing their location

2

3

1

1

Describe major economic activities in Michigan and the factors that influence their location

2

3

2

0

Describe the cause~ consequences~ routes and movement of major migration to the US

2

3

2

1

Describe the causes~ routes~ movement and impact of migration to Michigan

2

3

3

0

Explain how transportation and communication link people and communities

2

3

3

1

Explain how transportation and communication link people and communities in Michigan

2