A remix of Michigan social studies resources all in one place. In this foundational lesson students are introduced to the ways geographers look at places and the questions they ask. Students begin by reviewing the concept of ‘community’ and the geography of their local community by completing a class chart.

The Roadmap is a remix of Michigan resources all in one place. Students review relative and absolute (street address) location. They then use a Michigan map and cardinal directions to describe the relative location of their local community. Using a map of the United States and cardinal directions, students identify a variety of ways to describe the relative location of Michigan. The lesson concludes with a brief discussion of how location influences the development of a state. This lesson serves as the launching point for subsequent lessons in both history and economics.

After reviewing natural (physical) and human characteristics from Lesson 1, students use maps to identify and describe significant natural (physical) characteristics of Michigan including mountain ranges, sand dune areas, the Great Lakes, inland lakes and important rivers. In a connection to science students briefly explore how glaciers helped to create some of these natural (physical) characteristics. The lesson uses multiple resources including informational text, legends and photographs.

In this lesson students continue their study of the important natural (physical) characteristics of Michigan by exploring vegetation and climate. They begin by analyzing special purpose maps of forests and orchards. Next they are introduced to the concept of climate, connecting to science topics of weather and seasons from previous grades. In addition, they briefly explore the impact of the Great Lakes on climate. The lesson also includes a chart reading activity dealing with Michigan state symbols.

Important bodies of water include the Great Lakes, inland lakes, rivers and waterfalls. In a connection to science students briefly explore how glaciers helped to create some of these natural (physical) characteristics. The lesson uses multiple resources including informational text, legends and photographs.

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson students continue their study of the geographic theme of ‘place’ by exploring significant human characteristics of Michigan including bridges, cities, highways and lighthouses. In addition, students explore how people interact with natural (physical) characteristics by creating human characteristics (e.g. bridges are built over rivers, towns are built along bays.)

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. This lesson expands upon the concept of region by having students invent ways to divide Michigan into regions. Students compare the Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula of Michigan and then explore other ways in which Michigan can be divided into regions based on common characteristics (e.g., the Thumb, the Fruit Belt). Finally students examine regions to which Michigan belongs. (e.g., Great Lakes Region, Midwest).

This Roadmap is a remix of Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS put together all in one place. In this lesson students connect geography to economics as they explore how natural resources are used to produce goods and services in Michigan. They use specific examples such as the use of fertile soil to grow major crops. Students then use a Michigan product to dissect the resources necessary for production. In exploring Michigan products, the concept of entrepreneurship is introduced.

This Roadmap is a remix of Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson students connect geography to economics as they explore how natural resources are used to produce goods and services in Michigan. They use specific examples such as the use of fertile soil to grow major crops. Students then use a Michigan product to dissect the resources necessary for production. In exploring Michigan products, the concept of entrepreneurship is introduced.

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. This lesson begins with a scenario showing how scarcity results from the tension between limited resources and unlimited wants. Students then participate in a simulation involving economic decisions, choice, and opportunity costs. During the simulation, incentives such as sales are introduced. Students then apply these concepts to economic choices made in the state of Michigan by looking at how businesses and industries are affected by scarcity, choice and incentives.

This Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson students continue to explore the concepts of scarcity, choice, and productive resources as they examine different types of economic activities in Michigan. They begin by identifying goods and services produced in their own local communities. Next, they explore a wide variety of Michigan products by playing a simple game and then categorizing the Michigan products according to economic activities such as manufacturing, agriculture, and mining. Next they take a brief look at service industries and tourism as well as research and development. Throughout the lesson, they use their knowledge of Michigan’s physical and human geography to answer the question: “Why is this economic activity located here?”

This lesson begins with students connecting back to second grade and brainstorming reasons that people specialize (e.g., they have a special skill or talent, availability of productive resources, etc.). They then examine how specialization results in trade with others as they complete a graphic organizer depicting the relationship among specialization, trade, and interdependence. They expand their thinking as they consider how states and countries also specialize and are interdependent through an exploration of Michigan imports and exports.

This lesson involves students using what they have learned about Michigan’s economic activities to explore Michigan’s economic future. Students are introduced to the importance of business development and entrepreneurship for Michigan’s economic future through a short, simplified newspaper article on a small company producing wind turbines. Next, they explore why wind turbine production and wind farms may become a vital part of Michigan’s economic future.

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and pieces of the GIANTS all in one place. This lesson expands on students’ understanding of the concept of government which was introduced in grade 2. It begins with a small group activity where students explore what a community would be like without a government. After examining some of the important purposes of government, students study specific ways the Michigan state government works to fulfill these purposes.

This Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. This lesson serves as an introduction to the concept of levels of government. It begins with a review of the purposes of government. Students then explore the similarities and differences of state and local governments. Finally, they draw conclusions as to why state governments are needed.

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3, and GIANTS all in one place. Through a brief introduction to the concept of a republic, students learn that in our system of government, the power resides with the people. During the lesson, students identify their state representative and state senator.

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson students explore how the Michigan constitution limits the power of government by separating power. Students begin by creating a graphic organizer illustrating the organization of their local government. Students then examine how power is separated among the three branches of Michigan government and construct an organizer illustrating the branches.

This Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. This lesson explores some of the rights of citizens such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the right to vote. After students brainstorm a list of rights, they discuss how laws and governments protect people’s rights and how rights come with responsibilities. The lesson concludes with students creating a visual depiction of some of the rights and responsibilities of Michigan citizens.

The Roadmap is a remix of Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. This foundational lesson introduces students to historical reasoning through the analysis of primary sources, such as historical maps and photographs. They examine how historians are detectives of the past and use evidence from primary and secondary sources. Students then explore the chronology of the settlement of a village in Michigan and identify the causes and effects of the founding of the community.

The Roadmap is a remix of Michigan Open Book, MC3, and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson students apply what they have learned about the study of history to American Indian cultures in Michigan. They explore early American Indian groups in Michigan. Students then identify similarities and differences among the groups known as the “Three Fires.” Geography concepts are applied when students examine how American Indians used, adapted to, and modified the environment. The lesson concludes as students connect the past to the present by investigating American Indians in Michigan today.