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Year 3 Social Studies Curriculum
UNIT I: IMMIGRATION
Essential Questions:
- Why did/do people want to change their lives and migrate to the US?
- How are you connected to those in the past?
- How does your life compare to the lives of immigrant children?
- How did immigration affect American culture?
Unit Questions:
- What is an immigrant?
- What were the reasons immigrants came to America?
- What are some harships they faced on their trip and on arrival?
- What is the significance of the Statue of Liberty?
- What are some contributions immigrants made to America?
Content
Exploring and mapping our heritage
Diversity of different groups: 19th and 20th century
Reasons for immigrating to US
Immigrants’ journey to America
Ellis Island Experience
Comparison of Angel Island/Ellis Island
Immigrant children
Life and work in America
Immigration past and present
Contributions of “famous” immigrants
How different cultures shaped our country
Compare and contrast immigrants of 1800’s and today
Becoming a citizen
UNIT II: GLOBAL STUDIES
Essential Questions:
- How am I connected to the world?
- Why is it important to understand culture?
- How do different cultures express themselves?
- Despite cultural differences, how are we all the same?
- How has geography and environment affected world communities?
NOTE: The topics below are not isolated units; they are integrated throughout our year-long global study
CULTURE
Topical questions:
- What is culture?
- How is culture expressed and transmitted?
- What are some of the features of the culture of the US?
- How are the cultures of other countries similar to and different from US culture?
Enduring Understandings:
- Culture has to do with values and beliefs.
- Culture involves customs and traditions.
- Culture is transmitted from generation to generation.
- Culture is colective, shared by a group.
- Everyone has a culture.
- Culture is learned.
- Culture shapes how we act.
- Culture influences how we see ourselves, others, and the world.
- People in all cultures have common needs.
- What people celebrate helps you understand what is important to them.
GEOGRAPHY
Topical Questions:
- How does geography affect a country's history, culture, and economics?
- What are the major landform and water bodies on the earth?
- What are some of Earth's natural resources?
- What are the major biomes of the world?
- What is our responsibility to the environment?
Content
Map and globe skills:
- symbols
- keys
- legends
- compass rose
- cardinal and intermediate directions
- map scale and distance
- longitude, lattitude, equator, prime meridian
- continents and ocean
Landforms and water forms
Geographic characteristics of each continent
Identifying natural resources
Biomes:
- rainforest
- biodiversity, interdepence, deforestation, preservation
- grasslands
- tundra
- deserts
- savannah
CONTINENTS
Topical Questions:
- What are the major geographical features on this continent?
- What are the characteristics of the biomes on this continent?
- How are biomes changing because of human behavior?
- What are some of the countries on this continent?
- What are the geographic, cultural, and historical landmarks?
COUNTRIES
These studies may encompass the following: the history, customs, art, music, legends, housing, dress, folk tales, geography, animals, habitats, economy, social conditions, environmental issues, holidays, games, traditions, and landmarks.
- In what ways are people and places in this country similar to and different from other world communities?
- What are some of the customs, traditions, and celebrations in this country?
- How have peoples' lives been shaped by the environment?
- How has the environment been shaped by people?
- What is a special folktale or game of this country?
- How is the daily life and culture similar and different to yours ?
- What is the relationship between people and the environment ?
- What animals and plant life can be found in this country?
- What historical events shaped this country?
- What are the accomplishments and contributions of this culture?
- What is the political structure of the country?
- What are the geographic, cultural, and historical landmarks?
- In what ways do the people of this country fulfill their wants and needs?
- What problems is this country facing?
