Standards

Enduring Understandings

• Maps, globes, and geographic tools are used to locate information about places.
• Developments in technology have changed societies throughout history.
• The exchange of goods and services leads to trade and interdependence.
• Human activity changes and is changed by the physical environment.
• Individuals and groups make, enforce, and apply rules and laws (government).
• Human activity changes and is affected by the physical environment.
• Geography helps explain changes in places over time.
• Citizens have rights, roles, and responsibilities.
• Resources are used to produce and distribute goods and services.

Essential Questions

• How did Colorado settlers alter their environment to facilitate communication and transportation within and outside of Colorado?
• How did developments in technology change the way people lived?
• How did developments in technology affect trade, exchange and interdependence?
• How did developments in technology affect the physical environment?
• Which branch of government has the most power? Explain.
• How does the physical environment affect human activity today?
• How does human activity affect the environment?
• How has human interaction with the environment changed since Colorado became a state?
• What are the most important rights, roles, and responsibilities of the citizens of Colorado?
• What goods and services are produced in Colorado?  How, why, and for whom are they produced?
• How do we make decisions about how to use scarce resources?

Standards

Standard History 4:  Students understand how science, technology, and economic activity have developed, changed, and affected societies throughout history.

Benchmark A:  Students understand the impact of scientific and technological developments on individuals and societies.

Standard Geography 1:  Students know how to use and construct maps, globes, and other geographic tools to locate and derive information about people, places and environments.

Benchmark A:  Students know the physical and human characteristics of places.

Standard Geography 5:  Students understand the effects of interactions between human and physical systems and changes in meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

Benchmark A:  Students know how human actions modify the physical environment

Benchmark C:  Students know the changes that occur in the meaning, use, location, distribution, and importance of resources.

Standard Geography 6:  Students apply knowledge of people, places, and environments to understand the past and present and to plan for the future.

Benchmark B:  Students know how to apply geography to understand the present and plan for the future.

Standard Civics 2:  Students know how to use structure and function of local, state, and national government, and how citizen involvement shapes public policy.

Benchmark A:  Students know the organization and functions of local, state, and national governments.

Standard Civics 4:  Students understand how citizens exercise the roles, rights, and responsibilities of participation in civic life at all levels.

Benchmark D:  Students know how citizens can participate in civic life.

Standard Economics 2- Students understand how different economic systems impact decisions about the use of resources and the production and distribution of goods and services.

Benchmark A:  Students understand that different economic systems employ different employ different means to produce, distribute and exchange goods and services.

Standard Economics 3:  Students understand the results of trade, exchange, and interdependence among individuals, house holds, businesses, governments, and societies.

Benchmark A:  Students understand that the exchange of goods and services creates economic interdependence and change. 

District 11 Diamond Units/Lessons Overview - includes information about the purpose, goals and structure of these sample instructional units:

Lesson 1: Lesson 1 Title
Duration: @ 1 class period

Integrated Reading and Writing:

Parent Resources

ABCs of Elementary Years: These ABC Tips are designed to help you support your child’s learning in social studies during their years in elementary school.