Social Studies Thematic Unit Curriculum Map

Theme, Enduring Standards-based How Students will Strategies / Best Practices Resources for
Understandings, & Essential Skills (GLE) Demonstrate Their Used to Explicitly Teach this Multi-Genre Unit
Essential Questions & Concepts to be Understanding the Skills & Concepts
for This Unit Targeted Unit

Theme(s): History: Learning Target Venn Diagram 50states.com

 Culture 4.2.2- Understands how -Make a Venn diagram that
 Time, contributions made by I will understand how the Pacific directly compares and
Continuity, and various cultural groups Northwest and the Southern contrasts the culture of the
Change have shaped the history of region compare and contrast with Pacific Northwest vs the https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
 People, Places, the community and world one another. South. Students will need to
and
do research about each of
Environment Civics: I will complete the United States these cultural groups and
1.1.1- Understands the key map as well as understand the understand how they are https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
ideals of unity and difference between the past and alike and how they are
Essential Question(s): diversity. the present when it comes to different. Students will work
1. To what extent are political state votes on a map. in groups of 3 or 4 to http://pbskids.org/youchoose
Geography:
cultures similar and construct this Venn
3.2.1- Understands how
different? I will understand how the diagram.
the environment affects
2. To what extent do cultural groups and how
environment effects the
we affect our cultural groups affect the
civilization and how the History 4.2.2 In order to http://time.com/4561347/presidential-
environment? To environment. civilization effects the complete this Venn Diagram election-results-interactive/
what extent does 3.1.2- Understands the environment itself. assignment, students will
the environment physical, political, and need to comprehend the idea
affect us? cultural characteristics of Success Criteria of culture groups shaping
the community. The https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-5-
3. To what extent places, regions, and people
Students will be able to know the communities that are being regions-of-the-united-states-lesson-for-
does the in North America including
cultural differences between the looked at are the Pacific kids.html
geographic region the location of the fifty
influence culture states within the regions of Pacific Northwest and Southern Northwest and the Southern
today? Region. Students will
the U.S. Region in their individual analyze how these diverse https://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games/index.htm
communities. cultural areas shape that
history of that specific
Students will be able to identify community.
all the state names in the United
States as well as understand the Unity and Diversity
political aspects of our country Discussion
through the years. -Students will be asked to
either to do research and
Students will be able to complete take notes about the cultural
a cause and effect chart by norms in the Pacific
examining how the environment Northwest or the South.
effects civilization and vice versa. They will be asked to focus
on what their culture
Formative Assessment represents in their region as
well as how they come
Students must give at least one together and how they are
similarity and difference between
diverse. Research how their
the two different regions. If
students are not able to complete cultural norms have made
this assessment or struggle, we that American region the
will review these concepts once way it is today. How is that
again in class so they can be culture affected the
successful in the activities. If community? The world?
students need more of a Students will bring all this
challenge, they can look at other information into class and
regions of the United States and will break up into discussion
compare that to the regions we groups based on the region
are looking at. that they focused one. Once
students have enough time
Students must identify one to discuss their thoughts, we
plausible explanation on why will bring the groups
states shift their political views together and have a
after certain amounts of time. If constructive discussion
students can’t answer this, we
will continue to go over it in class
and help will be available if
needed for the next activities. If
students need more of a
challenge, they can use the
interactive political map to look
at the other elections and
compare that as well.
Students will have at least two
sets of causes and effects on their
chart about the environment in
relation to civilization. If students
are struggling with finding these
aspects, we will continue, as a
class, to research more reasons. If
students need more of a
challenge, they can look at other
ways the environment affects us
and vice versa and do a little
research on that topic.
Summative Assessment
Students will be given a large
poster with the United States on
it. The map will be 50%
representing the 1950’s election
and the other 50% will be the
2017 election. Students will color
in the states based on political
votes on each side of the eras on
the map. Then students will also
about the unity and diversity
of the two regions.
Civics 1.1.1 In order to
participate in this
discussion, students must
understand how these
communities effect their
unity and their diversity
from other communities.
Identify the 50 States
Students will be given a
blank United States map
with each region of each
state, but not the name of
state. They will name all the
states on the map and then
they can color the states
based on their interests.
Look at Political Maps
Students will look at two
different maps from an
election from 50 years ago
and the most recent election.
They will be asked to how
look at how that political
culture has changed in the
geographic region. How do
the characteristics of those
states that have changed
illustrate important parts of the
country where trees have been
replaced with houses/apartments.
Students will also need to show
where the Pacific Northwest and
the Southern Region is located.
They will illustrate some
common traits of each region
within that region on their map.
their political view affect
the region as a whole?
Geography 3.1.2 In
order to fully understand
the people and the nation
itself, students will
participate in both of these
activities. Students are able
to familiarize themselves
with geography of the U.S.
and the people within that
nation politically.
Cause and Effect Chart
As a class, we will talk
about the impact of people
who cut down trees to make
room for our growing
civilization. Each student
will be given a cause and
effect chart where they will
see what effects on the
environment this has
caused. As well as how the
environment has affected us
as a civilization.
Geography 3.2.1 In
order to understand the
environment impacts on us,
students will do a cause and
effect chart that reflects that
impact. They will also
observe how cultural groups
surrounded by this
environment are affected by
change and the effect that
follows.