3rd Grade Social Studies: Full-Year Curriculum BUNDLE. No-Prep!

This 3rd Grade Year-Long Bundle provides a complete social studies curriculum with a focus on literacy development, reading comprehension, and active learning. Student workbooks include informational reading passages, meaning no textbook is needed! In addition, student workbooks and PowerPoints are Google compatible, which allows for digital learning.

In this bundle, 21st Century skills are emphasized with annotation and reading skills development, interactive hands-on activities, research, and more. All units are easy to use with independent learners, teacher-guided instruction, or a mix of both. **This bundle best aligns to the reading levels, ability levels, and state standards of 3rd, but can also be used with other grade levels.

Looking for another grade-level bundle? Check these out:

*4/5th GRADE CURRICULUM- (Bundle 1)

*6th GRADE CURRICULUM BUNDLE

Please note: Resources are not editable. For a better understanding of the lessons provided in this bundle, please click “View Preview” near the thumbnails at the top of the page and continue reading below, where specific topics in each unit are described. You can get more information and a suggested order of units/pacing guide by clicking HERE!

**INCLUDED:

– 7 Full Units

– 2 Read & Research Units

– 3 Mini-Books for mini-units

– A “Social Studies Accessories” Package, as well as classroom posters for Social Studies themes and Reading Skills.

——— Included in FULL UNITS ———

• Student Workbooks with Informational Text- No textbook needed!
• Embedded Reading Skills Tasks: Annotations Directions, Guided Notes, Checks for Understanding (Main Idea, Summarize, Cause & Effect, Draw a Conclusion, Compare & Contrast).
• Study Guide.
• Interactive Notebook / Lapbook Activities for hands-on learning.
• PowerPoints for teacher read alouds (fully aligned with the Student Workbook).
• A Teacher Guide: Scripted Lesson Plans, Teacher Prep Checklists, Learning Goals, Answer Keys.
• An End-of-Unit Test
• Google Compatible Workbooks and PowerPoints (Google Slides)

——– Included in READ & RESEARCH UNITS ———

• Student Workbook with Informational Text- No textbook needed!
• Embedded Reading Skills Tasks: Annotations Directions, Checks for Understanding (Make a Connection, Summarize).
• An optional research task- included in the Student Workbook.
• Interactive Flip Book.
• PowerPoint for teacher read alouds (fully aligned with the Student Workbook).
• A Teacher Guide: Unit Preparation Page with suggested websites for research, Answer Keys.
• An End-of-Unit Test
• Google Compatible Workbooks and PowerPoints (Google Slides)

——– Included in MINI-BOOKS ———

• Student-friendly directions for mini-book creation.
• Informational Reading Passages with directions for annotating and embedded reading skills tasks.
• Interactive Flip Cards to summarize content.
• An Assessment with Answer Key.

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**UNITS & TOPICS:

SOCIAL STUDIES BASICS (7-10 day lesson):

• Topics: What is Social Studies (5 Themes, types of Social Scientists). Think like a Social Scientist: 1. Perspective, 2. Fact v. Opinion, 3. Reliable Sources (Primary & Secondary).

GEOGRAPHY (Read & Research Unit):

Topics:

1- What is Geography?

• Definitions
• Geography Basics
• Map Reading Basics

2- Location:

• Definition, How it is important to geography
• Examples (Hemispheres, Continents & Oceans, Regions)

3- Landforms:

• Definition, How they are important to geography
• Examples (Mountain, Hill, Plain, Plateau, Canyon, Valley, Peninsula, Island)

4- Bodies of Water:

• Definition, How they are important to geography
• Examples (Ocean, River, Lake, Sea, Bay, Gulf, Strait)

5- Climate:

• Definition, How it is important to geography
• Examples (Climate Zones- Tropical, Dry, Temperate, Continental, and Polar)

6- Resources:

• Definition, How they are important to geography
• Examples (Fossil Fuels, renewable v. non-renewable, plants, animals, precious metals & stones)

7- Humans & Geography:

• Human interactions with the environment
• Examples (Landmarks, Farming & Industry, Community-building, Pollution, Deforestation, Climate Change)

CONTINENTS, OCEANS, & MAP SKILLS (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: Overview of the Earth

Lesson 2: The Oceans

– Pacific

– Atlantic

– Indian

– Arctic

– Southern

Lesson 3: The Continents

– Asia

– Africa

– Europe

– North America

– South America

– Australia / Oceania

– Antarctica

Lesson 4: What is Latitude and Longitude?

– Latitude and Equator

– Longitude and Prime (Greenwich) Meridian

Lesson 5: The Hemispheres and Directions

– Hemispheres

– Directions and Compass Rose

TYPES OF MAPS (Full Unit):

Lesson 1: MAP BASICS

Lesson 2: POLITICAL MAPS

Lesson 3: PHYSICAL MAPS

Lesson 4: ROAD MAPS

Lesson 5: CLIMATE MAPS

Lesson 6: RESOURCE MAPS

Lesson 7: THEMATIC MAP

COMMUNITES (Full Unit):

Lesson 1- What is a Community?

• Basic Needs
• Relationships
• Safety
• Services

Lesson 2- Shaping Communities:

• Physical Characteristics
• Human Characteristics

Lesson 3- Communities Big and Small:

• Global Communities (Continent, Country, State, City/Town)
• Urban, Suburban, Rural communities

Lesson 4- Communities Create Culture:

• What is culture?
• Language
• Values
• Traditions
• Food & Entertainment

Lesson 5- Communities: Then & Now:

• Using Artifacts & Primary Sources to understand the past.
• Then and Now: Health & Medicine
• Then and Now: Communication
• Then and Now: Transportation
• Then and Now: Goods & Services

GOVERNMENT & CIVICS (Full Unit):

Lesson 1- Introduction to Government & Civics:

• What is government?
• Types of Government- Democracy
• The importance of Citizens and Civics

Lesson 2- Government:

• Purpose of Government: Rules & Laws, Services
• Levels of Government (Federalism): Federal, State, Local
• Separate Powers- The Three Branches of Government: Executive, Legislative, Judicial
• Checks and Balances

Lesson 3- Civics:

• Citizenship: Citizens of many communities
• The Common Good
• Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens: Bill of Rights, Social Contract
• Voting and Elections

Lesson 4- Social Responsibility:

• What are human rights?
• Discrimination and Prejudice
• Getting involved in Social Change

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE- (Mini-Book):

– Founding Fathers and the Committee of Five

– Reasons for Declaring Independence

– Signing the Declaration and Legacy

U.S. CONSTITUTION- (Mini-Book):

– Constitutional Convention

– The Framers

– Great Compromise

– The Preamble

– The Articles

– The Bill of Rights

– Ratification (Federalists v. Anti-Federalists)

 

BILL OF RIGHTS- (Mini-Book):

– Amendments 1-10 Defined

– Legacy

ECONOMICS (Full Unit):

Lesson 1- Economics: The Basics:

• What is economics?
• Goods & Services, Producers & Consumers
• Microeconomics v. Macroeconomics

Lesson 2- Resources:

• Natural Resources
• Human Resources
• Capital Resources

Lesson 3- Supply & Demand:

• What is Supply and Demand?
• Needs v. Wants
• Surplus v. Scarcity
• Free Market

Lesson 4- Financial Literacy:

• What is Financial Literacy?
• Capital, Money, and Banks
• Balancing a Budget
• Owning a Business; Entrepreneurship

CULTURE & SOCIETY (Read & Research):

Topics:

1- What is Culture & Society?

• Definitions
• “Melting Pot” culture

2- Food:

• Definition, How it connects people in a society
• Global Examples

3- Language:

• Definition, How it connects people in a society
• Global Examples

4- Beliefs:

• Definition, How it connects people in a society
• Global Examples

5- Traditions:

• Definition, How it connects people in a society
• Global Examples

6- Art & Entertainment:

• Definition, How it connects people in a society
• Global Examples

7- Advancements:

• Definition, How it connects people in a society
• Global Examples

5 U.S. REGIONS (Full Unit):

Lesson 1- An Introduction: The Five Regions of the United States

Lesson 2- Northeast:

• Geography (Landforms & Water- Appalachians, Great Lakes, Niagara Falls, Atlantic Ocean, Rivers- Hudson, Connecticut, Potomac. Climate. Natural Disasters)
• Economy (Resources- lumber, stone, iron ore, coal, water, crops. Industries- Lumber, fishing, manufacturing. Goods)
• History (Indigenous Peoples- Algonquin, Iroquois. Settlers- England, Plymouth. Statehood)
• Culture (Cities- Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, D.C., Baltimore. Landmarks- Niagara Falls, Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell, Time Square, Acadia National Park)

Lesson 3- Southeast:

• Geography (Landforms & Water- Blue Ride Mountains, Coastal Plains, Everglades, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River. Climate. Natural Disasters)
• Economy (Resources- fruit, crops, natural gas, oil, coal, lumber. Industries- agriculture, mining, drilling. Goods)
• History (Indigenous Peoples- Five Civilized Tribes. Settlers- England, Spain, Jamestown, St. Augustine. Statehood)
• Culture (Cities- Jacksonville, Charlotte, Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville. Landmarks- Disney, Kennedy Space Center, Grand Ole Opry, Smokey Mountains)

Lesson 4- Midwest:

• Geography (Landforms & Water- Great Plains, Black Hills, Great Lakes, Rivers- Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio. Climate. Natural Disasters)
• Economy (Resources- granite, gold & minerals, wind and water, iron ore. Industries- Agriculture, shipping, manufacturing. Goods)
• History (Indigenous Peoples- Sioux, Blackfoot, Cheyenne. Settlers- France, French & Indian War. Statehood)
• Culture (Cities- Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis, Columbus. Landmarks- Mount Rushmore, Cloud Gate, Gateway Arch, Badlands National Park.)

Lesson 5- Southwest:

• Geography (Landforms & Water- Sonoran & Chihuahuan Deserts, Great Plains, Guadalupe Mountains, Gulf of Mexico, Colorado Plateau, Grand Canyon, Rivers- Colorado, Rio Grande. Climate. Natural Disasters)
• Economy (Resources- Oil, natural gas, gold, copper, silver, uranium, sun. Industries- Drilling, Mining, Ranching. Goods)
• History (Indigenous Peoples- Pueblo, Navajo, Apache. Settlers- Spain, Santa Fe. Statehood)
• Culture (Cities- Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City. Landmarks- Grand Canyon, Alamo, Petrified Forest, Hoover Dam)

Lesson 6- West:

• Geography (Landforms & Water- Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Lake Tahoe, Redwood Forests, volcanoes, Pacific Ocean, Rivers- Colorado, Missouri. Climate. Natural Disasters)
• Economy (Resources- Lumber, oil, natural gas, gold, copper, silver, zinc, lead, sugar pineapple. Industries- Fishing, Mining, Farming, Ranching. Goods)
• History (Indigenous Peoples- Inuit, Nez Perce, Shoshone, Hawaiians. Settlers- Spain, France, Russia, Asia, Americans. Statehood)
• Culture (Cities- Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, Las Vegas. Landmarks- Hollywood sign, Space Needle, Arches National Park, Pike’s Peak, Yellowstone, Pearl Harbor, Golden Gate Bridge)

END-OF- YEAR SOCIAL STUDIES ACTIVITIES:

Included:

US MAPS ACTIVITIES

– Three Map Activities

• States & Capitals
• Physical Features
• 5 U.S. Regions

– Blank, printable maps.

– Student-friendly directions.

– “Check for Understanding” Self-Assessments.

– Sample, completed maps to use as guides.

– A Teacher Guide

• Teacher Outline
• Links to Google compatible resources
• Answer Keys for self-assessments

US SONGS AND ANTHEMS

Three Songs/Anthems:

• Pledge of Allegiance
• Start-Spangled Banner (National Anthem)
• America the Beautiful

– 1-page reading with song/anthem lyrics and background information.

– Scavenger Hunt Reading Tasks:

• “Find Me” short answers.
• “Complete Me” fill-in-the-blank answers.
• “Summarize Me” short-written response.

– “Make your own Word Wall” reading and craft activity.

Teacher Guide

• Teacher Suggestions.
• Link to a Google compatible resource.
• Answer Keys for scavenger hunt tasks.

‘JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY’ PROJECT OPTIONS:

Project 1- Social Studies on a String:

• Teacher Guide
• Images of Sample Project
• Student Directions
• Templates for three project themes- “Where I’ve Been”, “Who I met”, and “What was Awesome”.

Project 2- Cereal Box Collage:

• Teacher Guide
• Images of Sample Project
• Student Directions
• Student “Brainstorming Page”

Project 3- 3-D Community Project:

• Teacher Guide
• Images of Sample Projects
• Student Directions
• Student “Brainstorming Page”

– Editable Grading Rubric

– Editable Letter Home to Parent/Guardian

Extras:
SOCIAL STUDIES ACCESSORIES PACKAGE

– Great addition to your lesson planning and student experiences!

SOCIAL STUDIES THEMES: CLASSROOM AND STUDENT BINDER POSTERS

READING SKILLS & COMPREHENSION- CLASSROOM AND STUDENT BINDER POSTERS

**Friendly Reminder: LICENSING TERMS: This purchase includes a license for one teacher only for personal use in their classroom. Licenses are non-transferable, meaning they cannot be passed from one teacher to another. No part of this resource is to be shared with colleagues or used by an entire grade level, school, or district without purchasing the proper number of licenses. If you are a coach, principal, or district interested in transferable licenses to accommodate yearly staff changes, please contact me for a quote at tonythetourist1@gmail.com. Thank you for respecting my terms!

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Are your 3rd Graders focusing on Ancient World Culture? Try this:

ANCIENT WORLD CULTURES YEAR-LONG BUNDLE