Grade 4 Social Studies

Tuesday, October 8th
As we begin October, the 4th grade is beginning a new unit. We will be exploring the Native Americans of Pennsylvania. We began our unit with a visit from a Lenape Indian descendant who bought with her artifacts of the Lenape. I will be providing direct instruction covering Erie Indians, Shawnee Indians, Susquehannock Indians, and Lenape Indians. We will, in class, be reading nonfiction passages about Native Americans, viewing videos about the various tribes in Pennsylvania, creating graphic organizers, and reading Native American stories. The culmination of this unit will be the presentation of the Mall of Native American Knowledge. Students have each been assigned a specific area to research which includes hardware, houseware, food, daily life and toys. Each student will create a store front and items that would be sold at their assigned store. 4th grade students will be collaborating with 7th grade to work on the research and preparing their store front. Throughout the unit, students will be assessed with quizzes and check in points on their project progression. Our presentation will be Thursday, November 7th. 



 

4th Grade Social Studies - Mrs. Tursi

Educational Philosophy - I believe all students learn best when they are engaged in the learning process. Students need to be responsible for their own success and I will provide the tools they need for that success. Our class will be a mixture of class discussion, direct instruction, research and project based learning. It is better for students to know where to find the answer than to memorize the answer and then have no recall. Education is a process and it continues for a lifetime.

This year we will be studying Pennsylvania History. We will begin with a brief review of geography skills and then begin our look at the history of Pennsylvania beginning with the Native American tribes.  

Folders - Each student  will be given a Social Studies folder. It will be collected the last day of each month.  Every assignment that is given to the students will be required to be in the folder by that day.  Assignments could include but are not limited to - maps, research, illustrations and travel logs.  It is the student’s responsibility to keep their folder organized and have it ready for the last day of each month.

Notebooks - I use interactive notebooks that take the place of the standard textbook.  If you do not see a textbook come home - don’t panic - their notebook is their main source of information for my classes.  

Mini-reads - Mini reads will be assigned each month - no more than two in a monthly cycle.  These are self guided reads that enhance what we are learning in class and the students can choose the topics for the mini read they would like to complete. Mini-reads are to be placed in their Social Studies folders by the end of each month to be collected.

Projects - Project Based Learning is a major part of my instruction and the students will be completing a variety of projects, both individual and group, fostering their independence, creativity and research skills. Group projects are always randomly assigned for each new project.  No changes to groups for group projects will be allowed unless in extreme circumstances.  ALL PROJECTS ARE DONE IN SCHOOL AND WILL NOT  BE SENT HOME TO COMPLETE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. All projects will have a requirement sheet as well as a rubric on the first  day of the project.

Project Fee - I will supply ALL materials for any projects that we assign.  To do this I need to ask for a small fee at the beginning of the year from each student. That way I will purchase all materials and you, the parent, will never hear that dreaded Sunday night request from your child. “I need a blue poster board for tomorrow”.  “I have to have a glue gun for school tomorrow”. The fee is $12.00 per student and this can be sent in to school any time in the first trimester.  

Tests/Quizzes - One or two major tests will be given during each trimester and several quizzes will occur throughout  the trimester BUT will always be given a two day notice. Tests will be given a ONE WEEK notice.

Grading - The overall grade for the trimester is based on all the assessments: projects,  mini reads, folder work, tests and quizzes.

Absences - Students who are absent must come to see me to get any work missed.  Any student who is absent on the day something is due whether it be a project or their folder, must have it to me by 8AM the next day. Tests must be made up within three days of the absence of test day.       

I am looking forward to working with each of your children this year.

Mrs. Leigh Ann Tursi