Grade 4 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 4, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Oh, California

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 4, Lesson 1: Traders in California (pp. 86-89)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Change Mexico's independence from Spain meant new trade for California.

With students' help, make a flow chart on the board showing: Mexico's fight for independence --> Spain stops sending supply ships to California --> Russia, England, and the United States begin trade --> Californians bartered for goods. Point out how Spain's absence opened opportunities for the other nations to fill. As you fill in the main ideas, encourage students to discuss the details that led from one event to another as California's trade doors opened.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Have students write a diary entry from the point of view of a trader on a ship from Boston or as a Californian trading with the ship. Students might refer to the illustrated flow chart on page 89 for ideas.
Have students draw a product map. They should draw the products Californians and the products Boston produced and traded. Both locations should be marked on the map as shown on page 89.

Social Studies Center | Houghton Mifflin Social Studies | Grade 4 Home
Education Place | Site Index

You may download, print, and make copies of Lesson at a Glance pages for use in your classroom, provided that you include the copyright notice shown below on all such copies.