Social Studies
Grade-Level Expectations  for
Fourth Grade

Standard 1. Principles of Constitutional Democracy

Identify and explain why Missouri has a constitution and why the state makes and enforces laws.   Identify rights included in the Bill of Rights, including freedom of religion, speech and press, to assemble peacefully, to petition the government and to be treated fairly by the government. Explain the major purpose of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Standard 2. Missouri, U.S. and World History

Identify and describe the significance of the individuals from Missouri who have made contributions to our state and national heritage; examples include Lewis and Clark, Mary Easton Sibley, John Berry Meacham, George Washington Carver, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mark Twain, Harry S. Truman and Thomas Hart Benton.  Locate and describe the settlements in Missouri of people of European and African heritage. Outline issues of Missouri statehood and the Missouri Compromise when Missouri became a state, why statehood was difficult to obtain and Missouri as a slave state.  Summarize the events in westward expansion, including people's motivation, their hardships and Missouri as a jumping off point to the West. State Missouri's role in the Civil War, ex. Missouri as a border state.   Describe the changes in Missouri since the Civil War in education, transportation and communication. Sequence and describe the importance of:         Evaluate the impact of westward expansion on Indians in Missouri.

Standard 3. Principles and Process of Governance Systems

Describe how authoritative decisions are made, enforced and interpreted with the state government. Identify and explain the functions of the three branches of government in the state government.

Standard 4. Economic Concepts and Principles

Compare saving and investment Explain supply and demand Interpret past, explain present and predict future consequences of economic decisions (decisions would be of a nature that is meaningful to fourth graders, such as decisions made by consumers and decisions pertaining to the environment). Explain how the state gets the money it needs to provide goods and services, especially by the collection of sales taxes. Explain how decisions of households businesses and governments affect one another.

Standard 5. Elements of Geographical Study and Analysis

Construct and interpret maps  Locate the cities of Kansas City, Springfield, St. Louis, Jefferson City, Columbia; and St. Joseph.   Describe various ecosystems in Missouri and the United States and draw conclusions about physical factors that influence them. Describe human characteristics of a place (population composition, architecture, kinds of economic and recreational activities, transportation and communication networks, etc.)  Describe how people are affected by, depend on, adapt to and change their environment.  Use geography to interpret the past (i.e. why rivers have played an important role in human transportation) and predict future consequences (i.e. what will likely happen if the population of a city increases considerably). Compare regions (i.e. explain how life in a city region is different from the life in a rural region or how landscapes in  mountainous regions look different from landscapes in plains regions).

Standard 6. Relationships of Individual and Groups to Institutions and Traditions

Analyze how needs are met by groups, and organizations (i.e. governments, businesses, schools, religious institutions, charitable organizations, etc.). Evaluation constructive processes or methods for resolving conflicts.

Standard 7. Tools of Social Science Inquiry

Identify, select and use visual, graphic and auditory aids. Use and evaluation primary and secondary sources (diaries, letters, people, interviews, journals and photos). Identify and use library and media resources (computers, dictionaries, encyclopedias, videos, periodicals, atlases, almanacs, telephone directors, books, newspapers, and cartoons). Identify and use artifacts (building structures and materials, works of art, representative of cultures, fossils, pottery, tools, clothing, musical instruments).

Written by
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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 created by Christine Crites
email:  ccrites@mail.ecarter.k12.mo.us
Updated 6/14/04