Elementary Curriculum for
Third Grade - Social Studies

"Michigan Studies"

Knowledge

• Place major events in the development of the state of Michigan in chronological order.
• Recount the lies and characters of a variety of people from Michigan’s part.
• Compose simple narratives of events from the history of Michigan.
• Locate and describe the major places, cultures and communities of the state of Michigan.
• Explain how different people and cultures have adapted to and impacted the environment.
• Describe some of the major movements of goods, people, jobs and information within Michigan.
• Describe the geography of Michigan at major times in its history and explain the reasons for change.
• Distinguish between local and state governments and list the roles of government institutions.
• List state institutions that make, enforce and interpret laws.
• Investigate the links that connect Michigan to other parts of the world.
• Trace the national origin of common household items.
• Describe how businesses are involved in trade as producers, distributors, importers and exporters.
   

Skills

• Use narratives and graphic data to compare the past of the community and the state of Michigan with present day life.
• Sketch maps of community and state.
• Analyze how Michigan’s location has impacted its economic development.
• Interpret information about local and state communities, from maps, graphs and charts.
• Pose a question about Michigan, gather and analyze information and answer the questions.
• Compose a short essay expressing a decision on a local or state issue.
   

Democratic Values

• Identify problems from the past that divided their local community and/or the state of Michigan and analyze the interests and values of those involved.
• Select decisions made to solve past problems and evaluate them by today’s standards.
• Understand the rights and responsibilities of citizens and their role in Michigan.
• Identify rules at the state level and consider consequences for breaking them.
• Describe goods and services provided by the local and/or state government.
• Develop respect for state and local governments.
   

Civic Participation

• Participate in upholding school rules.
• Describe how citizens participate in election campaigns.
• Participate in group decision making.
• Recognize that there may be more than one interpretation of an event.
• Participate in peaceful resolution of disputes between students.
• Participate in cooperative efforts to promote the common good in their classroom, schools and communities.
   

Resources

• State of Michigan 12 x 18 Flags, 1 per teacher
• Michigan Resource Kit, 1 per teacher
• Michigan, the Wolverine State Theme Unit, 1 per teacher
• Michigan Classroom Flag with Stand, 1 per teacher
• Michigan Awesome Almanac, 1 per building
• Michigan Student Text 1992 by MacMillan McGraw-Hill, 1 set of 10 per building
• Paddle to the Sea by Holling, 1 class set per building
• Teacher Edition Paddle to the Sea, 1 per teacher
• Michigan State Outline Map, 1 set per teacher
• Michigan State Laminated Outline Map, 1 set per teacher
• Michigan State Outline Transparency, 1 per teacher
• Michigan by Capstone Press, 1 class set per teacher
• Michigan Activity Book 1999 by Mel Miller, 1per teacher
• Michigan Activity Masters, 1 per building
• Bunyan and Banjoes Cassette by Kitty Donohoe, 1 per building
• Learn with Rap Geography by Pat Murphy, 1 to preview
• Michigan Cookie Cutters, 1 per building
• Michigan and Its Land, Its People, 1 per teacher
• Making Connections: Michigan and the Wider World, 1 per teacher
• Student Maps of Michigan (Easy Finder) laminated, 1 student set of 33 per building
• Michigan the Wolverine State, 1 per student
• Kaleidoscope, USA, 1 per building (University of Missouri)
• Economics and Geography Lessons for Children’s Books (grades 1-5), Council on Economic Education in Maryland
• The Voyages of Christopher Columbus, 1 per building
• U.S. History:  Eyes on the Economy, 1 per building
• Michigan Adventures in Time and Place Activity Program, Mel Miller, McGraw Hill, 1 per teacher
• See L’Anse Creuse Social Studies Third Grade In-service Folder dated August 1998