Tar Heel Jr. Historian’s Fourth Grade AIG North Carolina Project
Name:___________________________________________________________________________
Common Core Standards: This project will meet standards for social studies, ELA and technology. Here are
several broad standards that each assignment will meet. Specific standards will be on each detailed assignment
for each month.
• RI.4.1. Refer to details and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
• RI.4.2. Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it
is supported by key details; summarize the text.
• RI.4.3. Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a
historical, scientific, or technical text, including what
happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
4.H.1 Analyze the chronology of key historical events in North
Carolina history.
4.H.2 Understand how notable structures, symbols, and place
names are significant to North Carolina.
4.C&G.1 Understand the development, structure and function of
North Carolina's government.
4.C&G.2 Analyze the North Carolina Constitution
4.G.1 Understand how human, environmental, and
technological factors affect the growth and development of
North Carolina.
4.G.1.1 Summarize the changes that have occurred in North
Carolina since statehood (population growth, transportation,
communication, landscape.
4.G.1.2 Explain the impact that human activity has on the
availability of natural resources in North Carolina.
4.G.1.3 Exemplify the interactions of various peoples, places and
cultures in terms of adaptation and modification of the environment.
4.G.1.4 Explain the impact of technology (communication,
transportation, inventions, etc.) on North Carolina's citizens, past
and present.
4.C.1 Understand the impact of various cultural groups in North
Carolina
4.C.1.1 Explain how the settlement of people from various cultures
affected the development of regions in North Carolina.
4.C.1.2 Explain how the artistic expression of various groups
represents the cultural heritage of North Carolina.
• W.4.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development and organization are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
• W.4.5. With guidance and support from peers and adults,
develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning,
revising, and editing.
• W.4.6. With some guidance and support from
adults, use technology, including the Internet, to
produce and publish writing as well as to interact and
collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of
keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single
sitting.
• W.4.7. Conduct short research projects that build
knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a
topic.
• W.4.8. Recall relevant information from experiences or
gather relevant information from print and digital sources;
take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of
sources.
• W.4.9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts
to support analysis, reflection, and research.
North Carolina Essential Standards
Fourth Grade Social Studies
Fourth Grade is the first formal introduction to North Carolina, its ethnic diversity, its rich culture, the economic
energy of its people, and its geographic regions. Fourth Grade students explore the social disciplines of its history,
geography, civics and government, culture and economics through the context of North Carolina. Building on early
social studies knowledge, students will apply new concepts to the increasingly complex social environment of our
state.
Materials Needed: 2” Binder – page protectors, tab dividers, internet access, and computer/laptop
Description:
This is a year-long Social Studies Project that will have assignments due each month. The design of this project
should reflect the individual style of the student. This will be an opportunity for you to work with your child as they
discover what makes North Carolina a wonderful place to live. The paragraphs and descriptions should be typed.
All work must be the child’s work and not copied word from word from the internet. We will spend time in class
discussing plagiarism and how that is a form of cheating and stealing other people’s work. Drawings and
illustrations may be created by the student, images can be copied from the internet, and pictures may be cut and
pasted from magazines. Some of this project will be completed at home, some at school. I would encourage your
child to have this project with them at school and at home daily in the event of any spare time, the student may
pull it out and work on it as their homeroom teacher permits. Time will also be used during AIG classes initially to
help students begin the project on the right track for each assignment.
Sections, Overview and Due Dates:
1. About the Author – Completed in Class – September 15th
• Picture of yourself, with information including place of birth, where you live, hobbies, family,
interesting facts about you, etc.
2. Symbols of the State – Due: September 30th
• Two good descriptive sentences for each symbol. Choose 10 of them, (#3 – #24) of the following
state symbols. Everyone must complete numbers 1 and 2, they are required.
1. *State Seal & Motto (required)
2. *State Flag (required)
3. State Bird
4. State Tree
5. State Flower
6. State Mammal
7. State Dog
8. State Reptile
9. State Insect
10. State Shell
11. State Fish
12. State Sport
13. State Dance
14. State Butterfly
15. State Art Medium
16. State Wildflower
17. State Boat
18. State Rock
19. State Precious Gem
20. State Beverage
21. State Vegetable
22. State Fruit
23. State Berries
24. State Nickname
3. ABC’s of North Carolina – Due: October 28th
Each letter of the alphabet will explain something important about North Carolina.
•A&B–
• C, D, E –
• A – E – (Editing, if needed)
• F, G H, I –
• J, K, L, M–
• N, O, P, Q, R –
• S, T, U, V –
• W, X, Y, Z -
4. Geography – November 25th
• Where in the world is North Carolina? (Maps)
• 100 counties-labelled
• Regions: Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plains (Identify Regions on the map)
5. Vacation Destination – Due: December 16th
- Select a fun or interesting place to visit in North Carolina and create a brochure advertising this
place, its attractions, and why someone should visit.
6. Moments in North Carolina’s History – Due: January 27th
Select two of the following topics to investigate:
• The Lost Colony
• Town Creek Indian Mound
• North Carolina Gold
• First in Flight
• The Greensboro Sit – In
7. Famous North Carolinians – Due: February 24th
• Choose 2 famous people who live or lived in North Carolina and write a fact filled, descriptive
paragraph about each one. Include a picture if you can find one.
• Write about someone from your family that lives in North Carolina that is important to you and
why. (Parent, Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Brother, Sister, etc.)
8. Lighthouses of North Carolina – Due: March 31st
• Select one of North Carolina’s lighthouses and choose between writing an informational paper,
creating a PowerPoint, or making a brochure/newsletter about the lighthouse.
 Cape Hatteras
 Cape Lookout
 Bodie Island



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Currituck Beach
Ocracoke
Oak Island
Bald Head Island
9. Native Americans of North Carolina – Due: April 28th
Pick one of the following Native American Tribes - Pee Dee, Cherokee, Lumbee, Tuscarora,
Catawba to research.
10. Branches of Government – May 12th
• Constitution of North Carolina (What is written in the Constitution of NC, and what purpose does
it serve? Can you find a picture? Where is it located? When was it written? Do you agree or
disagree with its’ contents? Should we—as the citizens of NC revise it? Why or why not?)
• Tree Map of the Three Branches of Government
Sign and return this part of the handout. Keep the rest of this handout in a safe place so that you
can use it as a reference throughout the school year.
I have read and understand that I will have an assignment due each month for my North Carolina
AIG project. If I need assistance with assignments I will ask Mrs. Alford as soon as possible.
____________________________________ (Student Signature)
I have read the outline for the North Carolina project that my student will participate in this year
in fourth grade. Along with Mrs. Alford, I will help to keep my student on task and turn in each
assignment on time. If I need help with materials, research or have questions, I understand that I
may contact Mrs. Alford via email at any time.
____________________________________ (Parent/Guardian Signature)
North Carolina AIG Project
Due Dates Checklist
Due Dates
th
Sections Due
Sept. 15 , 2014
1
Sept. 30th, 2014
2
Oct. 28th, 2014
3
Nov. 25th, 2014
4
Dec. 16th, 2014
5
Jan. 27th, 2015
6
Feb. 24th, 2015
7
Mar. 31st, 2015
8
Apr. 28th, 2015
9
May 12th, 2015
10
Teacher Initials
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