What Your Child Is Learning in Unit 5, "Modern California"

In this unit, your child will see how events of the past century have shaped our world. He or she will learn about famous individuals whose social and political contributions helped build a better California. Your child will also understand the ways in which ordinary citizens can work together to meet challenges.

Activities You Can Do at Home to Support Your Child's Learning

Chapter 10 Building a Better California

• Encourage your child to read a book about a twentieth-century event that has impacted the lives of Californians, such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake or the Great Depression. Discuss how people helped each other during the event.

Chapter 11 World War II and Beyond

• Look at a book with pictures of a modern California farm with your child. Take turns pointing out some of the advances in technology over the past one hundred years, such as motorized tractors and harvesting equipment. Help your child understand that many of the machines were not available in the 1800s and early 1900s. Discuss how these advances have promoted growth in farming.

Chapter 12 New Steps Forward

• Walk around your neighborhood or a nearby town with your child. Look for evidence of the daily life of one or more of California's many minority groups. Such evidence might be found in restaurants and in grocery stores, at newsstands, and in the conversations of people around you.

Chapter 13 Decisions for the Future

• With your child, follow an environmental issue, such as water conservation, global warming, or the protection of an endangered species, for two weeks in a newspaper, magazine, or on television. Point out the different points of view expressed and discuss how people are working together to solve the problem.