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Fourth Grade Core Knowledge History & Geography Organization Guide
Fourth Grade

Fourth Grade Core Knowledge History & Geography Organization Guide

January 11, 2022

Welcome to the organization guide! This information will help you get organized and prepared to teach fourth grade social studies to your student.

Download This Guide

Free Resources

How-to Videos: Watch the videos to learn to use the CKHG curriculum to homeschool.

Unit-Specific Prep Checklist: View and download the unit-specific prep checklist. Includes notes for each unit of the curriculum including which activity pages to print, library books that may be needed, required advanced preparation broken out by lesson, as well as a list of additional unit-specific supplies.

Daily Schedule: View and download the free daily schedule for homeschooling fourth grade using the Core Knowledge curriculum and MEP Math curriculum.

Primary Materials

Units: There are 10 units in the Grade 4 CKHG curriculum. All students start with Unit 1 and progress through the units in order. You will download each unit separately from the CK website. Each unit will be downloaded as a file folder containing multiple files including the Teacher’s Guide and Student Reader.

Teacher’s Guide: This is the primary resource for history and geography lessons. When you are ready to start a lesson with your student, you will simply open the PDF file for the Teacher’s Guide on your tablet or laptop, navigate to the lesson indicated on the daily schedule, and work through the instructions in the Teacher’s Guide for that lesson.

Student Reader: This reader contains both images and text and is used on most school days. This reader can be accessed as a PDF file on your student’s device.

Timeline Cards: This file is included for most units. The Teacher’s Guide will specify when to use the Timeline Cards in a lesson. Information on how Timeline Cards are used can be found on pg. 9-10 of the Unit 3 (Medieval Europe) Teacher’s Guide. While printing and displaying the Timeline Cards is ideal, the file can also be accessed and reviewed periodically instead. The Teacher’s Guide will prompt you to use Timeline Cards during lessons.

Online Resources Website: Many lessons call for accessing this website which contains additional lesson resources:
https://www.coreknowledge.org/curriculum/history-geography/ckhg-online-resources/

To find a specific resource, click on the name of the unit and click on the chapter number. Save this website so you can access it easily during lessons.

Getting Organized

Activity Pages: Activity pages (and the answer key) for each unit are found in the back of the Teacher’s Guide for each unit. More information will be available in the unit-specific prep checklist. Activity pages are often used over multiple school days. Save all activity pages until you have completed the unit.


Unit Assessments: Each unit ends with a day for student assessment. The assessment document and answer key are found in the back of the Teacher’s Guide in the Teacher Resources section. You will need to print the assessment pages.

Organization & Time-Saving Tip: Print all the assessment and activity pages for all 8 CKHG units at the beginning of the school year (these pages are always located in the back of the Teacher’s Guide). Place all the pages in a binder together or have the pages spiral-bound at your local office supply store. This not only saves you from having to print pages at the beginning of every unit, it also ensures you always have previous activity pages handy as many pages (particularly maps) are used over a number of lessons.

Performance Task Activity: Each unit’s Teacher’s Guide contains a Performance Task Activity at the end of the unit to reinforce what was learned in the unit. These activities are scheduled on the daily schedule for the end of each unit. The materials for this activity are located in the Teacher’s Resources section in the back of the Teacher’s Guide.

Combined Unit Documents: The Teacher’s Guide, Student Reader, and Timeline Card files for Unit 1 (Using Maps) and Unit 2 (World Mountains) are combined. The first part of each file covers Unit 1. For example, the Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-78 are for Unit 1 and pg. 79-136 are for Unit 2. Similarly, the Student Reader pg. 1-55 are for Unit 1 and pg. 57-92 are for Unit 2. If you downloaded both the Unit 1 and Unit 2 materials from the CK website, these files are duplicates.

The Teacher’s Guide, Student Reader, and Timeline Card files for Unit 4 (Medieval Islamic Empires) and Unit 5 (Early and Medieval African Kingdoms) are combined. The first part of each file covers Unit 4. For example, the Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-70 are for Unit 4 and pg. 71-177 are for Unit 5. Similarly, the Student Reader pg. 1-44 are for Unit 4 and pg. 45-111 are for Unit 5. If you downloaded both the Unit 4 and Unit 5 materials from the CK website, these files are duplicates.

The Teacher’s Guide, Student Reader, and Timeline Card files for Unit 9 (Early Presidents) and Unit 10 (Social Reformers aka American Reformers) are combined. The first part of each file covers Unit 9. For example, the Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-102 are for Unit 4 and pg. 103-172 are for Unit 10. Similarly, the Student Reader pg. 1-75 are for Unit 9 and pg. 77-116 are for Unit 10. If you downloaded both the Unit 9 and Unit 10 materials from the CK website, these files are duplicates. Additionally, Unit 10 is labeled two different ways depending on the resource: Social Reformers and American Reformers. Both of the these titles refer to Unit 10.

Important Tips

Library Books: The introduction section for most units includes a list of recommended books and websites. Whenever possible please select several of the recommended books and request them from the library in advance. These books can be used as time allows, when specifically called for in a lesson, or can be left out for your child to read on their own in their free time. If library books are not an option, YouTube often has videos of books being read aloud and these can be used as an alternative.

Art History: A number of lessons call for displaying and discussing a piece of art with the student. These art images can be Googled or if you prefer a hard copy, Core Knowledge sells an art pack for each grade level that includes high quality prints on card stock. Please note, the hard copy art pack does not line up exactly with all art images in the Teacher’s Guides for the units. Additional pieces of art studied can be Googled.

Globe and Maps: Many lessons suggest using a globe, world map, and/or US map. If you do not have one, most CKHG Teacher’s Guides have at least one world map in the back with the student pages. Units covering US history typically have a US map in the back of the Teacher’s Guide. Alternatively, you can Google map images and save the links for future use.

White Board: Many lessons suggest using a white board, chalk board, or board/chart paper. If you do not have one available, you can use a plain piece of paper to write out or draw the information called for in the activity.

Classroom-Based Activities: Some activities in this program are clearly designed for a classroom setting. Please adjust the activity as needed for your situation. For example, for an activity that suggests students work in teams, you can act as your student’s teammate. For activities that involve putting on a play or presentation, your student can present one part of the information or you can make the activity a family activity and involve siblings, etc.

Topic Duplication: You may notice what appears to be duplication between topics in the CKHG lessons and the CKLA lessons. This is intentional and provides the opportunity to reinforce key concepts by approaching them from multiple perspectives. For example, a student will have a CKLA unit covering the American Revolutionary War and then will also study that same war in a CKHG unit.

Time Constraints: This is a very full social studies curriculum. There are far more activities listed in the Teacher’s Guide than can reasonably be completed in a standard number of school days. The daily schedule lists what are generally the most important activities for each chapter but as a homeschooling parent, you are free to swap out chapter activities as needed to meet the needs of your student. Activities which are missed on the scheduled days can also happen on Friday when no CKHG lessons are scheduled. Alternatively, activities that don’t end up happening during the standard school year can also be used over the summer break as opportunities for review. Please do not feel pressured to complete all the available activities. No one, including private and public school teachers, have enough time to complete them all.

Unit-Specific Prep Checklist

This checklist will help you prepare for each new unit of the Core Knowledge Fourth Grade History and Geography curriculum. Please refer to the specific unit list prior to starting a new unit. It will guide you through what what documents to print, when a library book is needed, unit-specific supplies that should be gathered, and special notes for lessons in that unit.

Download This Checklist

Unit 1: Using Maps

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-11
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 53-75
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 76
  • Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
    • The materials for the Performance Task Activity scheduled for the final day of this unit (and future unit’s) are always located in the teacher resources section in the back of the Teacher’s Guide (TG pg. 58 for this unit).
  • Gather the Unit-Specific Supplies:
    • A paper map, such as a folded map of your state or area (Chapter 1)
    • Chalk (Chapter 3)
    • An atlas (Chapter 3, optional)
    • Timer, most cell phones have a stopwatch built into the standard clock app (Chapter 3)
    • Large clock, such as a wall clock (Chapter 4)

Unit 2: World Mountains

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 81-91
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 119-134
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 135
  • Review Unit-Specific Notes:
    • Chapter 4: TG pg. 111 suggests possibly splitting this chapter into two school days. On the daily schedule you’ll find the Chapter 4 core lesson scheduled for one school day with the domain vocabulary activity sheet scheduled for the second school day. You can also flex part of the chapter onto that second school day if desired.  

Unit 3: Medieval Europe

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-16
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 191-213
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 214
  • Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
    • Timeline cards can be found in the folder of unit files you downloaded from the CK website. Please see TG pg. 9-10 for more information on how to use the timeline.
    • Art History Activities: The specific pieces of art for the art activities in this unit and future units can either be found via an internet search or the fourth grade art pack can be purchased from the Core Knowledge website.
    • Chapter 1: The first lesson for this unit begins with the Additional Activity listed for Chapter 1. Completing this map work prior to the Chapter 1 Core Lesson the next day, will help orient your student to the situation in Europe at the time the Roman Empire fell and the Medieval Period began. Please refer to the daily schedule.
    • Chapter 8: There are a number of wonderful Additional Activities listed for the chapter and there simply isn’t enough time in the daily schedule for this unit to formally schedule all of them. Currently one activity is scheduled for each of the two school days following the core lesson but please take a few minutes to read through the other options listed on TG pg. 90-95 to determine if there are other activities that would be of particular interest to your student.
    • This is a very full unit and in the interest of keeping your homeschooling day to a reasonable length, not all activities listed in the teacher’s guide will appear on the daily schedule. If you have additional time, if your student enjoys these sorts of writing projects, or if you feel they could use the additional practice with the lesson’s material, you may wish to consider adding one or more of these activities to their school day at some point during the unit:
      • Chapter 3: “West Versus East” (TG pg. 48). With a single homeschooling student, you would modify this activity to have them choose one of the two churches to research and report on their findings. If you have time yourself to research and report on the other church, you can then practice comparing and contrasting the two with your student.
      • Chapter 4: “A Monk or Nun’s Diary” (TG pg. 62).
      • Chapter 5: “Letter to Charlemagne” (TG pg. 71).
      • Chapter 7: “A Day in the Life of a Lord or Serf” (TG pg. 83)
      • Chapter 9: “A Squire’s Job Application (TG pg. 102)
      • Chapter 10: “Party Like a Serf” and “The Two Sides of a Serf’s Life: Diary Entries” (TG pg. 107)
      • Chapter 16: “Writing About the Power of Place” for Eleanor of Aquitaine (TG pg. 151)
      • Chapter 17: “Write a New Magna Carta” (TG pg. 157)
      • Chapter 18: “Writing: Compare and Contrast” parliamentary government (TG pg. 165)
      • Chapter 20: “Mount a Defense” for Joan of Arc (TG pg. 183)

Unit 4: Medieval Islamic Empires

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-12
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 50-68
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 69

Unit 5: Early and Medieval African Kingdoms

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 73-88
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 151-175
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 176
  • Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
    • Chapter 8: If time allows, see TG pg. 149 for additional online resources and activities related to the travels of Ibn Battuta.

Unit 6: Dynasties of China

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-13
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 75-91
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 92

Unit 7: The American Revolution

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-21
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 132-154
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 155
  • Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
    • Chapter 1: The first lesson for this unit begins with the Additional Activity listed for Chapter 1. Completing this map work prior to the Chapter 1 Core Lesson the next day, will help orient your student to the situation in the English Colonies at the beginning of the period leading to the Revolutionary War. Please refer to the daily schedule.

Unit 8: The United States Constitution

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-21
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 89-111
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 112
  • Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
    • Chapter 9: An optional activity requires a copy of the book That’s Not Fair! Getting to Know Your Rights and Freedoms by Danielle S. McLaughlin, ISBN 978-1771382083. Your library may have a copy to borrow or a Kindle version is also available.

Unit 9: Early Presidents

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 1-21
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 79-99
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 100
  • Review the Unit-Specific Notes:
    • None

Unit 10: American Social Reformers

  • Read the Unit Introduction: Teacher’s Guide pg. 105-120
  • Print the Assessment and Activity Pages: Teacher’s Guide pg. 159-171
    • Answers found on: Teacher’s Guide pg. 172

Last Updated April 3, 2022: Added Units 9 and 10

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Core Knowledge, CKLA, CKHG, and CKSci are registered trademarks of the Core Knowledge Foundation.
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MEP Math has been made available through the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching.

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About The Author

Julie

Welcome! My name is Julie and I'm a homeschooling mom with 4 kids ranging from kindergarden to high school. Over the last 11 years I've talked to so many friends and family members who needed advice on homeschooling. With this website, my goal is to take the guesswork and expense out of providing your kids with a high-quality education at home. I've put together how-to videos, organization guides, supply lists, and detailed daily schedules to get you up and running using the free, high-quality Core Knowledge curriculum and MEP Math curriculum.