Overview of Social Studies Units
The third grade social studies curriculum explores the geography, economics, history, and government of Michigan! This year we will be using a kid friendly textbook titled Meet Michigan, MAISA lessons, a variety of other informational books, and online resources to learn all about our wonderful state! The unit that we are currently studying is highlighted in red.
Social Studies Unit 1 Michigan Geography
Our first unit is "Michigan Geography" which focuses around five major themes: movement, region, human/environment interaction, location, and place. Students use cardinal and intermediate directions, identify various ways to describe the relative location of Michigan, and begin to explore how location can influence the development of a state. They identify and describe significant human and physical characteristics of Michigan using a variety of maps. Through literature, maps, informational text and other resources, students explore the concept of human/environment interaction as they learn about Michigan’s natural resources and how people have used, modified, and adapted to them. In studying movement, an emphasis is placed on the Great Lakes. Students explore how and why people, goods, jobs and ideas move within, into and out of Michigan. Finally, students apply the concept of region to the study of Michigan as they explore different ways Michigan can be divided into regions as well as the different regions to which Michigan belongs. These geography concepts helps students broaden their awareness of where they are in their state, country, and world!
Social Studies Unit 2 Michigan History!
Some essential questions are:
•How have events and people of the past shaped what our state is like now?
•What life lessons can we learn from the past that will improve our lives now and in the future?
We begin with a study of the early Native American tribes and what life was like for these people. Students then continue on to learn about early explorers, the Fur Trade, struggles between the French and the British, Chief Pontiac's Rebellion, early settlers, and how Michigan became a state! A wealth of economic concepts and vocabulary are taught during this history unit, such as scarcity, supply and demand, imports/exports, and opportunity costs! We also learn about our Core Democratic Values (diversity, common good, liberty, pursuit of happiness) as we study how people have lived and interacted with each other through time. It's a wonderful unit that deepens the students' understanding of how the actions of people before us affected what our lives are like now, and how our actions will affect the future!
Social Studies Unit 3 Michigan Economics
In our third unit, The Economy of Michigan, students explore principles and concepts of economics through the lens of Michigan today. We use what we learned in our previous unit about Michigan’s natural resources to explore how natural, human and capital resources are used in Michigan businesses. Using a simulation model, students experience the economic principles of scarcity, choice, opportunity costs, and incentives. They learn how location and geography influence Michigan’s current economic activities. Students are also exposed to the concept of interdependence by looking at ways in which Michigan's economy is connected to national and global economies.
Social Studies Unit 4 Michigan Government
Our last social studies unit is Michigan Government where students explore the following:
•The purpose and importance of government
•Levels of government (Local, State, and Federal) and the responsibilities of each
•Our State Constitution
•The Three Branches of Government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial)
•Balance of Power
•Doing Your Part/Rights and Responsibilities
Students will experience our state government first hand with our study trip to Lansing!
The third grade social studies curriculum explores the geography, economics, history, and government of Michigan! This year we will be using a kid friendly textbook titled Meet Michigan, MAISA lessons, a variety of other informational books, and online resources to learn all about our wonderful state! The unit that we are currently studying is highlighted in red.
Social Studies Unit 1 Michigan Geography
Our first unit is "Michigan Geography" which focuses around five major themes: movement, region, human/environment interaction, location, and place. Students use cardinal and intermediate directions, identify various ways to describe the relative location of Michigan, and begin to explore how location can influence the development of a state. They identify and describe significant human and physical characteristics of Michigan using a variety of maps. Through literature, maps, informational text and other resources, students explore the concept of human/environment interaction as they learn about Michigan’s natural resources and how people have used, modified, and adapted to them. In studying movement, an emphasis is placed on the Great Lakes. Students explore how and why people, goods, jobs and ideas move within, into and out of Michigan. Finally, students apply the concept of region to the study of Michigan as they explore different ways Michigan can be divided into regions as well as the different regions to which Michigan belongs. These geography concepts helps students broaden their awareness of where they are in their state, country, and world!
Social Studies Unit 2 Michigan History!
Some essential questions are:
•How have events and people of the past shaped what our state is like now?
•What life lessons can we learn from the past that will improve our lives now and in the future?
We begin with a study of the early Native American tribes and what life was like for these people. Students then continue on to learn about early explorers, the Fur Trade, struggles between the French and the British, Chief Pontiac's Rebellion, early settlers, and how Michigan became a state! A wealth of economic concepts and vocabulary are taught during this history unit, such as scarcity, supply and demand, imports/exports, and opportunity costs! We also learn about our Core Democratic Values (diversity, common good, liberty, pursuit of happiness) as we study how people have lived and interacted with each other through time. It's a wonderful unit that deepens the students' understanding of how the actions of people before us affected what our lives are like now, and how our actions will affect the future!
Social Studies Unit 3 Michigan Economics
In our third unit, The Economy of Michigan, students explore principles and concepts of economics through the lens of Michigan today. We use what we learned in our previous unit about Michigan’s natural resources to explore how natural, human and capital resources are used in Michigan businesses. Using a simulation model, students experience the economic principles of scarcity, choice, opportunity costs, and incentives. They learn how location and geography influence Michigan’s current economic activities. Students are also exposed to the concept of interdependence by looking at ways in which Michigan's economy is connected to national and global economies.
Social Studies Unit 4 Michigan Government
Our last social studies unit is Michigan Government where students explore the following:
•The purpose and importance of government
•Levels of government (Local, State, and Federal) and the responsibilities of each
•Our State Constitution
•The Three Branches of Government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial)
•Balance of Power
•Doing Your Part/Rights and Responsibilities
Students will experience our state government first hand with our study trip to Lansing!