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Wheeler Avenue School
3rd Grade Social Studies Curriculum Map

Essential Question(s)
1. Are all cultures more similar than they are different?
2. How do the geography and climate of an area influence the way people live?
3. How do maps communicate information?
4. How and why do people establish rules for interaction within a community, nation, and/or the world?

Month	Content	Concepts	Skills	Materials & Resources	Assessments
September	Maps Globes Keys Legends card dir Oceans, Continents Atlas program throughout the year	World Comm can be located on maps and globes	Directionality Read keys Locate places Draw maps	Junior Atlas Blow up globes Interfact Atlas	Test Report Oral contribution Atlas questions
October	Washington D.C. U.S. Government U.S. Culture (for comparative purposes)	Our country has developed government and organized rules and rights for society and to provide for people	Know meaning of nation/state democracy/citizens	Communities Boole Desk Top	Test Teacher observations Rubric for oral and written presentation Atlas questions
November	Elections Molly's Pilgrim Immigration (Introduction to culture)	Democracies have elections U.S. population is a melting pot "blend of cultures."	Reading Polls Identify some causes for emigration	Communities Molly's Pilgrim Molly's Pilgrim Internet Activities Molly's Pilgrim - Knowledge Network Molly's Pilgrim - Teachers' View Trade books about immigrant Newspapers	Rubric for oral and written presentation Teacher observation of student Teacher made tests, multiple choice, short and extended response and DBQs Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom
December	Culture - our own comparative culture Canada	Understanding roles of individuals and groups Understanding and respecting cultural diversity	Comparing/Contrasting	Primary source interviews	Rubric for oral and written presentation Teacher observation of student Teacher made tests, multiple choice, short and extended response and DBQs Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom
January	China/Chinese New Year	Basic skills from grid. Elements of society Location Traditions Geography Population Activities Natural resources Government	Complete grid of comparative culture	China Book Encyclopedia Culture Books A world of communities	Rubric for oral and written presentation Teacher observation of student Teacher made tests, multiple choice, short and extended response and DBQs Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom
February	International Celebrations	The diet of indigenous people reflects what is grown in the region	Comparing/contrasting	Foods Recipes	Rubric for oral and written presentation Teacher observation of student Teacher made tests, multiple choice, short and extended response and DBQs Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom
March	United Kingdom	Elements of society on grid Location Geography Traditions Population Activity Natural resources	Comparing/contrasting	A world of communities	Rubric for oral and written presentation Teacher observation of student Teacher made tests, multiple choice, short and extended response and DBQs Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom
April	Spring Holidays Comparative culture through celebrations	Diverse cultures have similar celebrations	Comparing/contrasting	Trade books Communities	Rubric for oral and written presentation Teacher observation of student Teacher made tests, multiple choice, short and extended response and DBQs Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom
May	Mexico Cinco de Mayo	Grid Location Tradition Geography Population Activities Natural Resources	Grid Compare/contrasting	Computer Community book	Rubric for oral and written presentation Teacher observation of student Teacher made tests, multiple choice, short and extended response and DBQs Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom
June	Symbols of the nation Flag day	Peoples and communities use monuments and memorials to represent symbols of nation	Recognize flags Respect for flag Plan vacation Make brochure	World Comm Encyclopedia Computer	DBQ of Flag Primary Documents - Speeches & Images Using DBQs in Classroom