Social Studies
Grade 4: Local History and Local Government
The grade 4 social studies program builds on the students' understanding of families, schools, and communities and highlights the political institutions and historic development of the local Long Beach and Long Island communities with connections to New York State and the United States. The in-depth study of local government will emphasize the structure and function of the different branches and the roles of civic leaders.
Students continue to learn about the rights, responsibilities, and duties of citizenship. By participating in school activities that teach democratic values, students develop a sense of political efficacy and a better understanding of the roles of supporters and leaders. Students expand their civic concepts of power, equality, justice, and citizenship as they learn about local government.
The historic study of local communities focuses on the social/cultural, political, and economic factors that helped to shape these communities. Students study about the significant people, places, events, and issues that influenced life in Long Beach and Long Island. Students can investigate local events and issues and connect them to current national events and issues as well as historical events in New York State and the United States. The grade 4 program considers the following themes and events at the local level:
•Native American Indians of New York State
•European encounter: Three worlds (Europe, Africa, and the Americas) meet in the Americas
•Colonial and Revolutionary periods
•The new nation
•Industrial growth and expansion
•Government - local and State
This chronological framework of the themes will help students to organize information about local history and connect it to United States history.
**For more detailed information on the curriculum, including standards, concepts and themes, interdisciplinary connections, and suggested documents and other resources selected by New York State teachers, please use the following link:
NEW YORK STATE RECOMMENDED GRADE 4 CURRICULUM
LONG BEACH GRADE 4 CURRICULUM