This year our class will be learning about geography, early Native Americans, European Explorers, and early American government.

During the first quarter we will explore geography and learn about landforms and water on Earth.  This will get us ready to talk about the major events that have happened on our planet, and how people have interaction with the land and each other.

Next we learned about Native American tribes of North American regions and completed a big-time research project.

We will then learn about the European Explorers from the Renaissance period.  Students will be recreating the hardships of ocean voyages through a simulation, as well as reading about the most famous explorers.  The big question is:  What effects did these encounters have on our country and the people who were already here?

We also plan to use a text called “We the People,” which is unlike traditional social studies textbooks.  Instead of the memorization of dates and people, this program focuses on the ideals of the Founders, and how it relates to our students’ lives.  We explore rights and responsibilities, civic virtue, democracy, and the common food.

Check out this online link to our textbook: