History & Social Studies
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
Students in grade three learn more about our connections to the past and the ways in which particularly local, but also regional and national, government and traditions have developed and left their marks on current society, providing common memories. Emphasis is on the physical and cultural landscape of California, including the study of American Indians, the subsequent arrival of immigrants, and the impact they have had in forming the character of our contemporary society. (California History & Social Studies Content Standards)
Resources
Social Studies Standards for 3rd Grade
3.1 Students describe the physical and human
geography and use maps, tables, graphs, photographs, and charts to organize
information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.
This virtual guidebook site has a
short description and wide angle pictures of a wealth of key sites in northern
California, including the Klamath Trinity Mountains and North Coast Ranges, Lake
Tahoe and the Northern Sierra, Marin County, the Mendocino Coast, Mount Lassen
and the Modoc Plateau, the Mount Shasta Area, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and
much more. Standard 3.1 all
The photos are large enough for whole class projection.
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Don Bain's
Images of the California Environment
Description: This site has photograph sets on Agriculture, Energy,
Forestry, Geography, Habitat Restoration, Mining, Native Americans, Natural
Vegetation, Open Space, Parks, and Wilderness, Pollution and Solid Waste, Urban
Environment, Water Resources, and much more. Standard 3.1, 4.1.3 and 4.1.4
3.2 Students describe the American Indian nations in
their local region long ago and in the recent past.
Description: This site has links to a large collection of Native American
art and artists. The text accompanying the pictures explains the making of or
history of the work.
Description: This is a large collection of Native American myths and legends organized by geographic location in the U.S.. There are wonderful illustrations and a real sense of listening to the stories first hand.
3.3 Students draw from historical and community resources to organize the sequence of local historical events and describe how each period of settlement left its mark on the land.
European Immigrant Journey - A Virtual Museum
Follow the journey of immigrants from Europe as they prepare for their journey
to America, sail across the ocean, arrive in the new world and migrate to their
new home across the U.S. This site is a perfect companion to Joan Sandin's books
"Long Way to a New Land" and "The Long Way Westward." Standards 2.1.1, 2.1.2,
2.2.3, 3.3.1, and 4.4.3 
Luther Burbank Virtual Museum
Welcome to the Luther Burbank Virtual Museum. Tour the home and gardens as they
appear today or see how they looked when Mr. Burbank was alive. See all the
plants that Luther Burbank developed and meet the people that he knew. There are
also many interesting activities along the way. Standard H3.3.3
California Gold Rush Treasure Hunt
Description: Learn fascinating facts about the California Gold Rush and
how to navigate the Internet at the same time.
3.4 Students understand the role of rules and laws in our daily lives and the basic structure of the U.S. government.
Description: This well designed site explains information about the U.S. government in a student friendly manner. You will find a map, a simple explanation of the brnaches of national government, a flow chart on how laws are made, links to key U.S. documents, the differences between state and national government, synbols of the U.S. and a glossary.
Description: Would you like to be President of the United States? It may
seem like an easy job that is all shaking hands and kissing babies. You may
change your mind after finding out the president's daily schedule!
Women in the American
Revolution
Description: Everyone's heard of Paul Revere, George Washington, Benedict
Arnold, and Peyton Randolph, but who knows about Molly Pitcher, Penelope Barker,
Esther Reed, or Patience Wright? Well, if you haven't, you've come to the right
place.
3.5 Students demonstrate basic economic reasoning
skills and an understanding of the economy of the local region.
Econopolis
Description: This ThinkQuest makes learning economics an interesting and
fun process. The host for this interactive journey is Mega Money, a lovable
dollar sign. With his horse, Bill, and his dog, Dollar, Mega Money teaches the
basics of economics. Instead of a single teaching environment, he teaches in
many environments including a farm, a museum, a factory etc.
Student Experimental Farm
Ever thought of being a farmer? See if it's the career for you by taking this
virtual fieldtrip to The Student Experimental Farm at the University of
California Davis. Learn geography by reading the maps to get there. Learn about
farming after you arrive including how to prepare soils, how to plant, and how
to harvest. For each part of the trip there are interesting activities to do.
Exchange City: Learn About Bartering and Trade
Learn about the process of bartering by exchanging with another child an item
that is more valuable to you, but has approximately the same cost in the store.
Standard 3.5.3
Web Quests
Students can use the following WebQuests to further explore 3rd grade history and social studies standards.
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The USA Flag |
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America The Beautiful |
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A
Nation Divided Students research and write a letter to their partner on the opposite side of the war. |
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And They Came to the Streets That
Were Paved With Gold
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 Write a Gold Rush play based upon historical research. |
