Grade 4 - Social Studies

In fourth grade, students focus on how society has changed and stayed the same over time. Students see how change is inevitable and the patterns and consequences of change across different historical eras.

Inquiry Anchor Standard

Constructing Compelling Questions

SS.4.1. Explain how a compelling question represents key ideas in the field.

Constructing Supporting Questions

SS.4.2. Use supporting questions to help answer the compelling question in an inquiry.

Developing Claims and Using Evidence

SS.4.3. Cite evidence that supports a response to supporting or compelling questions.

Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions

SS.4.4. Construct responses to compelling questions using reasoning, examples, and relevant details.

Taking Informed Action

SS.4.5. Identify challenges and opportunities when taking action to address problems, including predicting possible results.

SS.4.6. Use a range of deliberative and democratic procedures to make decisions about and act on civic problems in their classrooms.

Content Anchor Standard

Behavioral Science

Recognize the Interaction Between the Individual and Various Groups

SS.4.7. Explain causes of conflict or collaboration among different social groups.

Civics/Government

Apply Civic Virtues and Democratic Principles

SS.4.8. Evaluate how civic virtues and democratic principles have guided or do guide governments, societies, and/or communities.

Interpret Processes, Rules and Laws

SS.4.9. Explain how the enforcement of a specific ruling or law changed society.

SS.4.10. Describe how societies have changed in the past and continue to change.

Economics

Engage in Economic Decision Making

SS.4.11. Describe how scarcity requires a person to make a choice and identify costs associated with that choice.

Critique Exchange and Markets

SS.4.12. Using historical and/or local examples, explain how competition has influenced the production of goods and services.

SS.4.13. Compare and contrast different ways that the government interacts with the economy.

Evaluate the National Economy

SS.4.14. Explain the reasons why the costs of goods and services rise and fall.

Financial Literacy

Create a Saving and Spending Plan

SS.4.15. Identify factors that can influence people’s different spending and saving choices.

Measure Risk Management Tools

SS.4.16. Determine the consequences of sharing personal information with others.

Geography

Create Geographic Representations

SS.4.17. Create a geographic representation to illustrate how the natural resources in an area affect the decisions people make.

Evaluate Human Environment Interaction

SS.4.18. Describe how environmental and cultural characteristics influence population distribution in specific places or regions.

Analyze Human Population Movement and Patterns

SS.4.19. Explain influences on the development and decline of different modes of transportation in U.S. regions.

History

Analyze Change, Continuity, and Context

SS.4.20. Compare and contrast events that happened at the same time.

Compare Perspectives

SS.4.21. Analyze conflicting perspectives on historical and current events/issues.

Critique Historical Sources and Evidence

SS.4.22. Infer the purpose of a primary source and from that the intended audience.

Justify Causation and Argumentation

SS.4.23. Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments.

SS.4.24. Develop a claim about the past and cite evidence to support it.

Iowa History

SS.4.25. Analyze the impact of technological changes in Iowa, across time and place.

SS.4.26. Explain how Iowa’s agriculture has changed over time.

Iowa Social Studies Standards Document