Course Description:
Moving from the study of ancient civilizations, the fourth grade students will study the state of Virginia beginning with the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown to the end
of the Twentieth Century. Students will explore how the geography of Virginia and the state’s resources, its economic systems, and cultural makeup have influenced Virginia history
from pre-colonial times to the end of the Twentieth Century. Reading and writing about famous Virginians and studying important historical documents and events that have
influenced Virginia history will prepare students to develop problem solving and decision making skills.
FIRST NINE WEEKS at a glance: SECOND NINE WEEKS at a glance: THIRD NINE WEEKS at a glance: FOURTH NINE WEEKS at a glance:
Geography 2a Virginia Civics 3d Virginia Assembly History VS.5c Revolution Economics VS.8a Reconstruction
2c Water Features 5a Independence VS.6a Washington/ VS.8c Development
2b Regions of Virginia Madison VS.9a Transition
2d American Indians History 3e Africans and Women VS.7a Civil War
2e American Indians 4b Europeans VS.7b Roles in War Civics VS.8b Jim Crow
2f Archaeology VS.7c Roles in War VS.9c Desegregation
2g American Indians Economics 4a Slavery VS.10a Government
3b Jamestown 4d Money, Barter, Credit Civics VS.6b Documents
The skills identified in standard VS.1a-i are cited in the “Skills” section.
Teachers should incorporate these skills into instruction throughout the
year.
GEOGRAPHY
VIRGINIA AND BORDERING STATES (VS.2a) VIRGINIA AND BORDERING STATES VS.2a: VIRGINIA AND BORDERING STATES (VS.2a)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the physical geography and Pretest using CCPS assessment. What are some ways that relative location
native peoples, past and present, early inhabitants of Virginia by locating Assess prior knowledge using KWL chart. can be described?
Virginia and its bordering states on maps of the United States. Hands On Geography Virginia, Lesson 13. What large bodies of water border Virginia?
Compare and contrast the five regions of Virginia What states border Virginia?
Relative location may be described using terms that show connections between using a graphic organizer.
two places such as “next to,” “near,” “bordering.” Divide the class into cooperative groups and ask
them to list the physical features, industrial products,
Bordering bodies of water farm crops, livestock, tourism, tourist attractions, and
Atlantic Ocean natural resources found in their assigned region.
Chesapeake Bay Using a grid map ask students to locate the Virginia
cities listed in the Knowledge section of this CPR.
Bordering states Use appropriate Bag Ladies ideas.
Maryland Enhanced Scope and Sequence – Virginia Studies
West Virginia “Location of Virginia in Relative Terms” pgs. 7-8
Kentucky (VS.2a)
Tennessee
North Carolina
Lake Drummond
o Located in the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) region
o Shallow natural lake surrounded by the Dismal Swamp
Dismal Swamp
o Located in the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) region
o Wide Variety of wildlife
Early settlement patterns in the region were shaped by the Dismal Swamp.
George Washington explored and surveyed the Dismal Swamp.
The Eastern Shore is a peninsula bordered by the Chesapeake Bay to the west
and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
GEOGRAPHY
REGIONS OF VIRGINIA (VS.2b) REGIONS OF VIRGINIA (VS.2b) REGIONS OF VIRGINIA (VS.2b)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the physical geography and Create a travel brochure about one of the regions or What are the five geographic regions in
native peoples, past and present, of Virginia by locating and describing cities and include the geographic factors that Virginia?
Virginia’s Coastal Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley affected growth. How do the geographic regions of Virginia
and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau. Take a field trip to one of the other four regions. differ?
Using a Virginia desk map calculate the distance Where are the geographic regions of
from one region to another using the key or legend. Virginia located?
ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY
Compare and contrast regions of Virginia and
Fall Line: The natural border between the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) and Piedmont
display information on a chart. Include physical
regions, where waterfalls prevent further travel on the river
features,
industry, products, crops, livestock, tourist
Geographic regions
information, and natural resources.
Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Use assorted black lines found on the county web
o Flat land
site.
o Location near Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay (includes
Eastern Shore) MapMaker’s Toolkit Lesson- Ask Lead Teacher for
o East of the Fall Line Tech Integrators number.
Piedmont (land at the foot of mountains) Take a Field Trip Video
o Rolling hills Locate and describe Virginia's Coastal Plain
o West of the Fall Line (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains,
Blue Ridge Mountains Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau.
o Old, rounded mountains Create a booklet, mobile, postcards, travel brochure,
o Part of Appalachian mountain system or flip chart on the five regions of Virginia.
o Located between the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge regions CCPS Lab Lesson (September) Using Mapmaker’s
o Source of many rivers Toolkit and MS Word
Valley and Ridge Virginia Regions Map
o Includes the Great Valley of Virginia and other valleys separated by (The link above will take you to a VA map of the
ridges (The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Valley and Ridge regions and bordering states)
Regions are part of the Appalachian mountain system.) Enhanced Scope and Sequence – Virginia Studies
o Located west of Blue Ridge Mountains “Virginia’s Five Regions” pgs. 9-10 (VS.2b)
Appalachian Plateau (Plateau: Area of elevated land that is flat on top) Attachment A p. 16
o Located in Southwest Virginia
o Only a small part of the plateau is located in Virginia
Appalachian Plateau
Products: Coal
Industries: Coal mining, telecommunications
GEOGRAPHY LOCATING AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE GROUPS LOCATING AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE
LOCATING AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE GROUPS (VS.2d) (VS.2d) GROUPS (VS.2d)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the physical geography and Locate three American Indian language groups (the Why are First Americans native peoples
native peoples, past and present, early inhabitants of Virginia by Algonquian, the Lakotas, and the Iroquoian) on a called Indians?
d) locating three American Indian (First American) language groups (the map of Virginia. What evidence is there that American
Algonquian, the Siouan, and the Iroquoian) on a map of Virginia. Compare American Indian language groups and tell Indians (First Americans) lived in all areas
how they are alike and different. of the state?
Christopher Columbus called the people he found in the lands he discovered Students review Horizons textbook Lesson 5 in What were the three major language groups
explored “Indians” because he thought he was in the Indies (near China). Chapter 1 “Three Language Groups” and complete found in Virginia, and where was each
the ALIKE BUT DIFFERENT (Teacher Handout) located?
Artifacts such as arrowheads, pottery, and other tools that have been found tell a assignment. ALIKE BUT DIFFERENT (Student
lot about the people who lived in Virginia. Handout)
CCPS Lab Lesson (October) Using Inspiration
Three major language groups
Enhanced Scope and Sequence – Virginia Studies
Algonquian was languages were spoken primarily in the Tidewater region; the “Early Inhabitants of Virginia” pgs. 13-14 (VS.2d )
Powhatan were a member part of this group. Attachment C p. 18
Siouan was languages were spoken primarily in the Piedmont region.; the Attachment D p. 19
Monacan were part of this group. Attachment E pgs. 20-21
Iroquoian was languages were spoken in Southwestern Virginia and in
Southern Virginia near what is today North Carolina; the Cherokee were a
part of this group.
GEOGRAPHY
AMERICAN INDIANS RELATED TO THE CLIMATE AND INTERACTED WITH AMERICAN INDIANS RELATED TO THE CLIMATE AMERICAN INDIANS RELATED TO THE
THE ENVIRONMENT (VS.2e) AND INTERACTED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT (VS.2e) CLIMATE AND INTERACTED WITH THE
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the physical geography and Create a four-column chart with spring, summer, fall, ENVIRONMENT (VS.2e)
native peoples, past and present, early inhabitants of Virginia by describing and winter as the headings. Give examples and What are some characteristics of Virginia’s
how American Indians (First Americans) related adapted to the climate and draw pictures of ways the American Indians worked climate?
their environment to secure food, clothing, and shelter. with the climate and their environment to secure What are some ways Virginia’s American
food, clothing, and shelter. Indians (First Americans) adapted related to
Climate in Virginia Write a paragraph to explain why Virginia's Indians the climate and interacted with their
The climate in Virginia is relatively mild with distinct seasons—spring, summer, fall, are referred to as Eastern Woodland Indians. environment to meet their basic needs?
and winter—resulting in a variety of vegetation. Create a PowerPoint presentation on American How do Virginia’s American Indians live
Indians working with their environment to meet their today in relation to the way they lived in the
Forests, which have a variety of trees, cover most of the land. Virginia’s Indians are needs. past?
Native peoples of the past farmed, hunted, and fished. They developed made
homes using natural resources. They used animal skins for clothing in the winter.
Today, most native peoples live like other Americans. Their cultures have changed
over time.
GEOGRAPHY
ARCHAEOLOGY (VS.2f) ARCHAEOLOGY (VS.2f)
ARCHAEOLOGY (VS.2f)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the physical geography and
Pronunciation Guide: Why is archaeology important?
native peoples, past and present, early inhabitants of Virginia by How can new findings change the
Werowocomoco - weh-ro-wo-COM-o-co understanding of history?
describing how archaeologists have recovered new material evidence
through sites including Werowocomoco and Jamestown. What was Werowocomoco?
The pronunciation guide of this word will not be What was Jamestown?
assessed on the test.
Archaeologists study all kinds of material evidence that past peoples left from
people of the past. behind.
Werowocomoco was a large Indian town used by Indian leaders for several
hundred years before the English settlers came. It was the headquarters of the
leader, Powhatan, in 1607.
Jamestown was became the first permanent English settlement in North America.
Archaeologists have discovered the site of the original fort. The recovered artifacts
give archaeologists clues about the interactions of English, Africans, and Indians in
early Virginia.
Piedmont Region
Monacan Tribe
HISTORY
REASONS FOR ENGLISH COLONIZATION
REASONS FOR ENGLISH COLONIZATION (VS.3a) REASONS FOR ENGLISH COLONIZATION (VS.3a)
(VS.3a)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the first permanent English Explain the meaning of "economic venture" and tell
What were the reasons for English
settlement in America by explaining the reasons for English colonization. how it relates to Jamestown.
colonization in America?
Divide the class into thirds and students write a letter
Reasons for English colonization in America What were the reasons why the Jamestown
from the perspective of a Virginia Company of
England wanted to establish an American colony to increase her its wealth and settlers came to America?
London stockholder, a Jamestown settler, or a
power. representative of the King of England explaining
England hoped to find silver and gold in America. their views on the settlement at Jamestown. Letters
An American settlement would furnish raw materials that could not be grown will be shared and reasons charted.
or obtained in England, while opening new markets for trade. Compare buying stock in the Virginia Company of
London with buying stock in Wal-Mart.
Chesterfield County Public Schools Page 8 of 11
Grande 4: Virginia Studies – Curriculum Framework 2009
Chesterfield Curriculum Framework History and Social Science: Virginia Studies
First 9 Weeks Instructional Strategies and
Assessment Items
Student Objectives Model Lessons
Jamestown Enhanced Scope and Sequence – Virginia Studies
Jamestown was primarily an economic venture. “Jamestown” pgs. 32-33 (VS.3 a, b, c)
The stockholders of the Virginia Company of London financed the settlement
of Jamestown.
Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in North America
in 1607.
CIVICS
IMPORTANCE OF VIRGINIA CHARTERS (VS.3c)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the first permanent English IMPORTANCE OF VIRGINIA CHARTERS (VS.3c) IMPORTANCE OF VIRGINIA CHARTERS
settlement in America by identifying the importance of the charters of the Who granted the Charters of the Virginia Company (VS.3c)
Virginia Company of London in establishing the Jamestown settlement. of London and why were they granted? What was the importance of the charters of
Interpret ideas and events from different historical the Virginia Company of London to the
Importance of Virginia charters perspectives: stockholders in London Company, Jamestown settlement?
The King of England granted charters to the Virginia Company of London. settlers, King. What did each group hope to achieve
The charters gave the Virginia Company the right to establish a settlement in from a colony in Virginia?
North America and Begin a timeline of Virginia history that is continued
The first charter of the Virginia Company of London established companies to throughout the year. Create both vertical and
begin colonies in the New World horizontal timelines.
The charters to extended English rights to the colonists settlers. Enhanced Scope and Sequence – Virginia Studies
“Jamestown” pgs. 32-33 (VS.3 a, b, c)
Importance of Virginia charters
The King of England granted charters to the Virginia Company of London to:
establish a settlement in North America, and
extend English rights to the settlers.
GEOGRAPHY
JAMESTOWN LOCATION (VS.3b) JAMESTOWN LOCATION (VS.3b) JAMESTOWN LOCATION (VS.3b)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the first permanent English Foldable: Describe how geography influences the Where is Jamestown located?
settlement in America by describing how geography influenced the decision decision to settle Jamestown Why did the settlers choose the site at
to settle at Jamestown. Create a Jamestown time line of events and Jamestown?
people.
When the settlers arrived in 1607, Jamestown was located on a narrow peninsula Use a world map to trace the route from England
bordered on three sides by the James River. Today, Jamestown is located on an to Jamestown and discuss the reasons for
island in the James River.
Chesterfield County Public Schools Page 9 of 11
Grande 4: Virginia Studies – Curriculum Framework 2009
Chesterfield Curriculum Framework History and Social Science: Virginia Studies
First 9 Weeks Instructional Strategies and
Assessment Items
Student Objectives Model Lessons
choosing Jamestown with its resources to meet
Reasons for site choice their basic needs.
Instructions told the settlers to go inland and find a suitable place for their Enhanced Scope and Sequence – Virginia Studies
colony. “Jamestown” pgs. 32-33 (VS.3 a, b, c)
The location could be easily defended from attack by sea (Spanish).
The water along the shore was deep enough for ships to dock.
They believed they had a good supply of fresh water.
HISTORY
HARDSHIPS AT JAMESTOWN (VS.3f)
HARDSHIPS AT JAMESTOWN (VS.3f) HARDSHIPS AT JAMESTOWN (VS.3f)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the first permanent English
Create a cause/effect chart for the selection of the What hardships did the Jamestown settlers
settlement in America by describing the hardships faced by settlers at
site at Jamestown and the hardships faced. face?
Jamestown and the changes that took place to ensure survival.
Begin a ―Famous Virginians Wall" and "Famous What changes took place to ensure that
Hardships faced by the settlers Virginians Booklet" with Pocahontas, Chief resulted in survival of the settlers?
The site they chose to live on was marshy and lacked safe drinking water. Powhatan, and Captain John Smith. Base
descriptions of the famous Virginians on the
The settlers lacked some skills necessary to provide for themselves.
"Essential Knowledge" provided in Virginia's
Many settlers died of starvation and disease.
Standards of Learning.
A timeline may be added to the bottom of the page
Changes that ensured resulted in survival
in the "Famous Virginians Booklet."
The arrival of two supply ships,
Continue these activities throughout the year and
The forced work program and strong leadership of Captain John Smith,
use them for review for the Grade 4 SOL test.
Enhanced Scope and Sequence – Virginia Studies
The emphasis on self-sustaining agriculture ensured resulted in the survival of
“Early Life in Jamestown” p. 34 (VS.3f)
the colony.
Attachment A p. 44
Attachment B p. 45
HARDSHIPS AT JAMESTOWN (VS.3f) SKILLS
Determine cause and effect relationships. (VS.1b)
Compare and contrast historical events. (VS.1c)
Draw conclusions and make generalizations. (VS.1d)
Sequence events in Virginia history. (VS.1f)
Interpret ideas and events from different historical perspectives. (VS.1g)
HISTORY
POWHATAN PEOPLE (VS.3g) POWHATAN PEOPLE (VS.3g) POWHATAN PEOPLE (VS.3g)
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the first permanent English Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the How did the Powhatan people native
settlement in America by describing the interactions between the English Powhatan people and the English settlers. peoples and the English settlers interact?
settlers and the native peoples including the contributions of Powhatan to “The Mysterious Letter” WEBQUEST – Grade 4 Why did the relationship between the
the survival of the settlers. http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan
The Powhatan people native peoples contributed to the survival of the Jamestown
settlers in several ways.
Powhatan, chief of 30 many tribes, provided leadership to his people and
taught the settlers survival skills.
Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, believed the English and American
Indians (First Americans) could live in harmony. Pocahontas began a
friendship with the colonists that helped them survive served as a contact
between the native peoples and the English.
The Powhatans native peoples introduced new crops to the English, including
showed the colonists settlers how to plant corn and tobacco.
Over time, The Powhatan people the native peoples realized the English
settlement would continue to grow.
The Powhatans native peoples saw came to see the colonists settlers as
invaders that who would take over their land.