4th Grade Social Studies Review

Target Curriculum: History and Social Science

Target Grade: 4

SOLs: HSS.4.1   HSS.4.2   HSS.4.3   HSS.4.4   HSS.4.5   HSS.4.6  
Time: three 45 minute sessions

Objective:
To help fourth grade students review for the Social Studies SOL test.

Purpose:
Use the Internet to provide an opportunity for 4th grade students to review SOL Virginia History topics during Computer Lab. The questions and answers cover a variety of SOL topics. There are three separate review web pages (one page each 45 minute session) These web pages were created by fifth grade students in the computer lab. Their goal was to create a database of SOL questions and answers (Computer/Technology SOL 5.4).

Materials:
1. Computers (Lab access preferable)

2. Internet Access

3. Copy of the questions on the Web page printed for each student, with enough space provided for them to write the answer.

4. Pencil

Procedure:
Students use the Computer Lab (preferably) and go to:
http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/jr/4thgradereview.html

The worksheet questions correspond to the web page on their monitors. Students read the question, and select the link (Click to find the answer). The web pages were designed to provide the answer quickly, so that they can write the answer down on their worksheets (to help with retention of the information). Then they click back to the review page and go on to the next question.

Observations:
The students work at their own pace. Students may need to be reminded that the answers are at the TOP OF THE PAGE. Students will be asked to look at a list, or read a sentence, or look for a phrase. They will write the answer on the worksheet and click the back button to go to the next question. This goes on until they have finished all the questions on that page.

Conclusions:
When everyone is finished. Go over the questions outloud with the class. This activity is designed to provide a review. It's not a quiz, where they "guess" what the answer is...everyone gets the RIGHT ANSWER (if not during the activity...at the end). It's a very straight forward attempt for students to review material from the beginning of the year. Students love doing this activity because it gives them a chance to be on the internet. Next year, THESE 4th grade students will be creating more web pages for the "Virginia Social Studies Revisited" web page.

Extension:
Many of these web pages contain links to other appropriate sites about the topic. Students could access these sites to further extend their knowledge.,

Class Discussion Questions:
Students should have prior knowledge of using links and the "back" button on the toolbar. Students should be clear on these before they start.

The activity of writing down the answers should help with retention and transfer of information because the CORRECT answer is in front of them...there's no guesswork involved.

Cautions and Concerns:
They may need help arranging their screens so they can track the questions.

Students must have copies of the questions printed out for this to be useful. You might want to COPY and PASTE straight from the main page onto a word processing document.