The Studies Weekly approach to teaching is like no other. Now you can teach your state’s required standards in a fun and friendly format your students will love. And our publications have been proven to raise test scores-something everyone in education will appreciate. Students will eagerly devour each weekly unit as they page through exciting lessons, aided by stunning illustrations and primary-source photos that help them learn. And, unlike a textbook, they can mark and highlight right on their very own pages!

Florida Studies Weekly  - State History covers 100% of Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for fourth grade social studies. And all Studies Weekly publications are designed to meet required Common Core mandates, including 50% Informational Text, Staircase of Complexity, Text-Based Answers, Writing from Sources and Academic Vocabulary.

There is a comprehensive teacher supplement included for each weekly magazine. The supplement contains guided reading strategies, discussion questions, word wall words, words to know, literature links, language arts connections, math connections, and ESE strategies. There are also graphic organizers and best practices available in electronic format which may be downloaded for classroom use.

All subscribers have access to our iPad compatible, digitally-interactive version with thousands of primary records media connections as well as document based questions (DBQs) for every media experience. You can download and print teacher resources, analyze assessments and your students can earn virtual rewards for their online friend Revere The Rat!

Florida Studies Weekly Covers 100% of Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Fourth Grade Social Studies.

Florida Fourth Grade Scope and Sequence

Week 1: Welcome to Florida Studies Weekly - Students will examine the origins of Florida’s symbols.
Week 2: Three Branches of Government - Students will define a constitution and examine some examples from the U.S. Constitution. Students will learn about Congress, the three branches of government and the system of checks and balances.
Week 3: Government Functions - Students will compare the state government to the national government. They will also learn about government functions and jobs that make our way of life possible.
Week 4: Florida’s Physical Features  - Students will discuss Florida’s geology, climate and sea levels. They will also define the six great regions of Florida.
Week 5: Flora & Fauna of Florida - Students will define flora and fauna and examine various related terms for describing plant and animal life. Students will learn about Florida’s endangered species and other species native to the state.
Week 6: Natives of Florida - Students will learn about the first humans and animals that lived in Florida. Students will examine the cultures of various tribes.
Week 7: Spanish Explorers - Students will study the explorers who discovered Florida, emphasizing Ponce de Leon. They will learn about other Spanish explorers who sought treasure in Florida.
Week 8: Saint Augustine: French vs. Spanish - Students will study the sea battle between the French and Spanish over the land that is now Florida. Students will learn about conflicts and motives of the first Florida settlements.
Week 9: Spanish Missions  - Students will learn about Spanish missionaries who came to Florida seeking to bring their religion to the natives. They will discuss interactions between missionaries and natives.
Week 10: History of Castillo de San Marco - Students will learn about the construction of the Castillo de San Marcos. They will also learn about settlers who played important roles in the conflict between the French and Spanish.
Week 11: English Florida - Students will study the invasion of the British, the French and Indian War, and the historic geography of Florida. Students will also learn about the hardships of early settles in British Florida.
Week 12: American Revolution and Florida - Students will identify the role of Florida on the British side in the American Revolution. They will learn about significant points of the war and the outcome that returned Florida to the British.
Week 13: Florida Pirates & the Spanish Return - Students will study the role of pirates in Florida’s history. They will also discuss Spain’s neglect, which led to Florida becoming a pirate-filled state.
Week 14: Territorial Years - Students will study how Florida became a territory of the U.S. thanks to Andrew Jackson and Jean LaFitte’s pirates.
Week 15: The Seminole Wars - Students will be introduced to Florida’s Seminole Indians and their conflicts with settlers.
Week 16: Florida Statehood - Students will study how Florida became a state after hundreds of years of French, Spanish and British control. They will also study the controversial issue of slavery in the new state.
Week 17: Civil War - Students will learn the definition of civil war. They will examine important battles that took place in Florida and learn about the Emancipation Proclamation.
Week 18: Reconstruction - Students will be introduced to the Reconstruction Period. They will also be introduced to groups like carpetbaggers and scalawags that are associated with Reconstruction.
Week 19: Spanish American War - Students will study the reasons for the Spanish-American War and learn why it is called The Splendid Little War. Students will learn about the cities and people that were significant to the war.
Week 20: Modern Transportation - Students will think about different types of transportation. They will study the history of transportation in Florida as well as inventors who are important in transportation history.
Week 21: Modern Communication - Students will discuss the importance of new technology, such as e-mail, in communication. They will also study some of the major inventors in the history of communication.
Week 22: WWI - Students will study World War I and the ensuing Great Depression. They will look at Florida’s role in these events of history.
Week 23: WWII  - Students will study World War II and will learn how it brought many people to Florida. Students will learn about Eddie Rickenbacker and the effects of WWII at home.
Week 24: Florida’s Population - Students will discuss factors that helped Florida’s population rise.
Week 25: Florida Cities - Students will study Florida’s major cities and their histories. Students will discuss reasons for big cities as they compare various cities of Florida.
Week 26: Contemporary Wars - Students will learn about conflicts that the U.S. is involved in to defend freedom. They will discuss conflicts around the world and how Americans feel about these conflicts.
Week 27: Contemporary Florida Men and Women - Students will learn about important men and women from Florida who have affected the world in positive ways.
Week 28: Floridian Multi-Cultural Society - Students will discuss the variety of cultures found in Florida and their influence.
Week 29: Florida Industries - Students will look at the industries that create jobs for Floridians. Students will also learn about Florida’s natural resources.
Week 30: Spaceport of Planet Earth - Students will look at Florida’s space program and the importance of Cape Canaveral. Students will gain knowledge of specific programs that helped navigate space.
Week 31: Florida’s Tourist Industry - Students will study the importance of tourism as an industry in Florida.
Week 32: Florida Review - While reflecting on important people and places of Florida, students will design an itinerary for the tourists they have learned about.

Common Core

K-5 Required to Read 50% Informational Text - Meet or exceed the 50% Informational Text requirement in your state with Studies Weekly. Teach CCSS-aligned Social Studies and Science content during your literacy block!

Staircase of Complexity - Lexile levels gradually increase over the course of each grade level. We provide researched-based lesson plans with scaffolding/differentiated instruction so that all students succeed.

Text-Based Answers - Students are required to write about what they read, perform additional research, cite sources and consider other points of view. Assessment questions require students to recall, examine and analyze the text they have read.

Writing from Sources - Students will develop research and media skills using primary and secondary sources. We provide 2.0 digital tool suggestions for creating online products like videos, avatars, posters and slide shows.

Academic Vocabulary - With domain-specific vocabulary for each lesson, our lesson plans help you teach students how to determine the meaning of unknown words within a text (CCSS for ELA RI.4).

Computer-Based, Machine-Scored Assessment for Grades 3-5 - Online assessment is provided at eStudiesweekly.com. With instant analysis, including pie charts for every question, you.ll identify where re-teaching or additional test-taking strategies are needed.

Visit the Studies Weekly Blog to learn more about integrating Common Core Standards into your classroom.

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