OHIO
By:
Christie Rogers
Cheryl Anderson
Tami Clouse
Rationale:
This thematic unit enables 4th
grade students to gain
a better understanding of Ohio and
its past, people and
institutions.
Objectives
Students will:
•understand Ohio’s historical eras, documents and artifacts
•explore how Ohio’s cultural background developed
•use maps to locate and identify Ohio’s different cultural groups
bodies of water and significant landforms
•explain the importance of Ohio’s resources and what they are
used for
•understand the functions of Ohio’s state and local governments
•understand issues facing Ohio’s local and state governments
AMERICAN
HERITAGE
WEB SITES

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maggieoh/highway.html
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Http://www.ohio200.org/
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Http://www.earlyamerica.com

Http://www.ohiokids.org/ohc/history/h_indian/index.cfm

Http://www.tolatsga.org/shaw.htm/

Http://www.50states.com/ohio.htm
ACTIVITIES
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Have students follow the migration routes of pioneers
marking them on a map.
Have students do research on Ohio and come up
with their own design for the Ohio quarter.
Have students write a newspaper article on an
historical event that happened in Ohio.
Students pick a person in Ohio history and create a
time line of their life.
Discuss the seal of Ohio as a prominent symbol of
the state and then have each student redesign the
symbol.
People in Societies
WEB SITES

http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/

http://www.ohiokids.org/games/ohv/index.html

http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/index.cfm?id=561-555

http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/build/mig/clne/
migclne1790.html

http://www.logs.org/people.html
ACTIVITIES
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Discuss African influence on our society and allow
students to create a song using African instruments.
Have students make a mobile of a famous Ohioian.
Use maps to locate sources of major migration to
North America.
Have students choose a role model and write about
the reasons that they choose this person.
Reenact an Indian ritual while studying the influence
of their culture in Ohio.
WORLD
INTERACTIONS
WEB SITES

http://www.unicef.org

http://www.nationalgeographic.com

http://maps.excite.com

http://pages.yahoo.com/nhp?h=/regional/u_s_states/
ohio

http://www.mapquest.com
ACTIVITIES

Visit Indian Mounds throughout Ohio

Describe why the Ohio River and the Great Lakes are
important to other states besides Ohio

Compare the growth and development of Ohio to
other states

Compare and contrast Ohio’s historical events with
other states

Identify major landforms, bodies of water, etc. using a
map of Ohio
DECISION MAKING AND
RESOURCES
WEB SITES

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http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/edu/RSE/RSEyello
w/gnb.html
http://www.nthp.org
http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu:80/edu/ilm/resource
s/educators/subject/SRESeconomy.html
http://www.clev.frb.org
ACTIVITIES

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Gain a better understanding of Ohio’s resources and
explain why they are important
Students will invent and market their own product
Students will conduct an interview with their parents
discussing the distribution of their income
Visit Caesar's Creek and excavate fossils
Students will learn how to maintain their very own
budget
DEMOCRATIC
PROCESSES
WEB SITES

http://www.pittsford.monroe.edu/Schools/Jeffe
rson/GOVERNMENT/GovFrame.html
http://www.vote-smart.org
http://www.state.oh.us/
http://www.americanpromise.com/home.html

http://www.statelocal.gov/
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ACTIVITIES
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Write a report on how the state government works
Students will chose a government official to write or
e-mail a letter to
Take a field trip to a government building
Give presentations to the class regarding the purpose
of each branch of government
In small groups students will be given a case study of
a city that is near disaster and their assignment is to
find ways to save that city
CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS
AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
WEB SITES

http://www.kidsvotingusa.org

http://www.issues2000.org

http://www.thirteen.org/newyork/laic

http://www.bensguide.gpo.gov/

http://www.stateline.org/ohio/
ACTIVITIES
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Students will compare and contrast different
viewpoints on specific issues
Write a paper on how to be a good citizen
Give students a ballot that contains very little
information and have them vote. Then give students
another ballot that contains more information and
have them vote. Ask students to compare the two
ballots, etc…
Students will simulate a debate on an issue that our
state government is facing
Have a mock election in which the students will come
up with their own issues
CONCLUSION
We feel that it is crucial for Ohio history to
be included in the fourth grade curriculum.
The activities and web sites we have provided
are just a few of the many available for use
in the classroom. It is important for students
to learn about Ohio’s past, people, and
institutions.