Elementary American Studies

Castle Learning Online's Elementary American Studies is targeted to a fourth-grade reading level. This course explores the early history, government, geography, and technology of the United States with emphasis on New York State and North Carolina.

• The First Americans reviews Native Americans and their interaction with the environment, and contributions of Native Americans to our society.
• Three Worlds Meet in the Americas covers European explorers and the effects of exploration, the slave trade and immigration.
• Colonization and Conflict examines the establishment of the 13 Colonies, European influences on life in the American colonies, the geography, governments and economies of the colonies, and the causes leading up to the Revolutionary War.
• The Revolutionary War looks at the influence of geography and Native Americans on the war, war strategies, Loyalists and Patriots, and the effects of the American Revolution.
• The New Nation studies the foundations and purposes of government, the development of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the growth of democracy, and values and traditions that unite Americans.
• Industrial Growth and Expansion covers developments in transportation, inventions, communications and technology; immigration and the contributions of immigrants, geographic influences on industrialization, and the impact of urbanization.
• Local and State Government examines the structure and function of state and local governments, the election process, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and participation in government.
• Five Themes of Geography reviews the physical environment and cultural characteristics.
• Technology Influences Change discusses the impact, advantages and disadvantages of technology.

Many questions are beautifully illustrated with artwork, photos and maps. Questions are supplemented with a comprehensive vocabulary for flash card activities or review.

Units: (click to view Sections)

1. The First Americans
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Peopling the Western Hemisphere
   2. Native Americans
   3. Meeting Basic Needs: Food, Clothing, Shelter
   4. Influence of Environment and Native American Settlements
   5. Contributions of Native Americans in Our Community and State
2. Three Worlds Meet in the Americas: Europe, The Americas, Africa
   
   Sections:
   

   1. The Age of Exploration
   2. Effects of Exploration on Various Peoples
   3. Major Explorers
   4. The Slave Trade
   5. Immigration
   6. Ways that People Depend Upon and Modify Physical Environment
3. Colonization and Conflict
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Establishment of the Thirteen Colonies
   2. The Effects of the Lost Colony
   3. Dutch, English, and French Influences
   4. Geography of the Colonies
   5. Lifestyles in the Colonies
   6. Colonial Governments
   7. Colonial Economies
   8. Causes of the American Revolution
4. The Revolutionary War
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Geographic Features Influence War
   2. Native American Influence on the War
   3. War Strategy
   4. Loyalists and Patriots
   5. Leaders of the Revolution
   6. Effects of the American Revolution
5. The New Nation
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Foundations and Purposes of Government: Local, State, National
   2. The United States Constitution
   3. The Bill of Rights
   4. Growth of Democracy
   5. Values and Traditions that Unite All Americans
6. Industrial Growth and Expansion
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Transportation, Inventions, Communications, and Technology
   2. Immigration and Migration
   3. Contributions of Immigrants
   4. Geographic Influences of Industrialization and Expansion
   5. Economic, Social, and Political Impacts of Urbanization
7. Local and State Government
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Structure and Function of Local and State Governments
   2. The Election Process
   3. Citizenship in Local and State Government: Rights and Responsibilities
   4. Participation in Local, State, and National Government
8. Five Themes of Geography
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Major Landforms, Bodies of Water and Natural Resources
   2. Physical and Cultural Characteristics of the Regions
   3. Major Cities, Recreation Areas, Industry, and Farms
   4. Physical Environment, Past and Present
   5. Human Movement as it relates to the Physical Environment
9. Technology Influences Change
   
   Sections:
   

   1. Impact of Technology
   2. Effect of Technology on Citizens: Past, Present and Future
   3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology

Themes:

1. Change
2. Citizenship and Civic Life
3. Civic Values
4. Culture
5. Decision Making
6. Economic Systems
7. Empathy
8. Environment and Society
9. Factors of Production
10. Government
11. Human Systems
12. Identity
13. Interdependence
14. Needs and Wants
15. Physical Systems
16. Places and Regions
17. Technology

Attributes:

1. Map
2. Graph/Chart
3. Artwork/Photo/Diagram
4. Quotation/Reading Passage
5. Outline