Grade 4 Social Studies Unit 3

Colonial and Revolutionary Period in New York

Unit description:  In this unit, students will study how European exploration led to the colonization of the region that became New York State and how important Colonial New York was during the Revolutionary Period. Students will study how Colonial New York became home to many different peoples, including European immigrants, and free and enslaved Africans and the relationships that existed between colonizing people and the Native Americans. In addition, students will examine the many conflicts between England and the 13 colonies over issues of political and economic rights.

Download the complete Grade 4 Social Studies Unit 3 framework to customize for your own planning.

Standards

Standards: 1, 3, 4; Themes: MOV, TCC, GEO, SOC, GOV

Essential Questions and Big Ideas

Big idea of the unit: The Colonial and Revolutionary period was an extremely important time in New York’s history.

• How did European exploration lead to the colonization of the region that eventually became New York State?
  • Europeans in search of a route to Asia explored New York’s waterways. Early settlements began as trading posts or missions.
• Beginning in the early 1600s, how did New York become home to so many people from different countries? 
  • Colonial New York became home to many different peoples, including European immigrants, and free and enslaved Africans. Colonists developed different lifestyles.
• What events led to the American Revolution and what role did New York State play? 
  • Growing conflicts between England and the 13 colonies over issues of political and economic rights led to the American Revolution. 
    New York played a significant role during the Revolution, in part due to its geographic location.
• What was the role of Native American’s and African American’s during the time of the Revolution? 
  • African Americans and Native American’s volunteered to fight for both sides during the Revolutionary War.