Colorado

1 History develops moral understanding, defines identity and creates an appreciation of how things change while building skills in judgment and decision-making. History enhances the ability to read varied sources and develop the skills to analyze, interpret and communicate.

• 1 Organize and sequence events to understand the concepts of chronology and cause and effect in the history of Colorado

  • a Construct a timeline of events showing the relationship of events in Colorado history with events in United States and world history

  • b Analyze primary source historical accounts related to Colorado history to understand cause-and-effect relationships

  • c Explain the cause-and-effect relationships in the interactions among people and cultures that have lived in or migrated to Colorado

  • d Identify and describe how major political and cultural groups have affected the development of the region

• 2 The historical eras, individuals, groups, ideas and themes in Colorado history and their relationships to key events in the United States

  • a Analyze various eras in Colorado history and the relationship between these eras and eras in United States history, and the changes in Colorado over time

  • b Describe interactions among people and cultures that have lived in Colorado

  • c Describe the development of the political structure in Colorado history. Topics to include but not limited to an understanding of the Colorado Constitution and the relationship between state and national government

  • d Describe the impact of various technological developments. Topics to include but not limited to the state of Colorado, including changes in mining technology; changes in transportation; early 20th century industrial changes; and mid- to late 20th century nuclear and computer technological changes

    • John Deere (3-K.4)
    • Bill Gates (3-M.5)

2 Geography provides students with an understanding of spatial perspectives and technologies for spatial analysis, awareness of interdependence of world regions and resources and how places are connected at local, national and global scales.

• 1 Use several types of geographic tools to answer questions about the geography of Colorado

  • a Answer questions about Colorado regions using maps and other geographic tools

  • b Use geographic grids to locate places on maps and images to answer questions

    • Use lines of latitude and longitude (4-I.3)

  • c Create and investigate geographic questions about Colorado in relation to other places

  • d Illustrate, using geographic tools, how places in Colorado have changed and developed over time due to human activity

  • e. Describe similarities and differences between the physical geography of Colorado and its neighboring states

• 2 Connections within and across human and physical systems are developed

  • a Describe how the physical environment provides opportunities for and places constraints on human activities

  • b Explain how physical environments influenced and limited immigration into the state

  • c Analyze how people use geographic factors in creating settlements and have adapted to and modified the local physical environment

    • Jamestown: the early years (4-A.1)
    • Jamestown: growth of a colony (4-A.2)
    • Plymouth (4-A.3)
    • New England colonies: economy and conflict (4-B.2)
    • Middle colonies: founding and government (4-B.3)
    • Middle colonies: economy and society (4-B.4)
    • Southern colonies: founding and government (4-B.5)
    • Southern colonies: economy and slavery (4-B.6)

  • d Describe how places in Colorado are connected by movement of goods and services and technology

3 Economics teaches how society manages its scarce resources, how people make decisions, how people interact in the domestic and international markets, and how forces and trends affect the economy as a whole. Personal financial literacy applies the economic way of thinking to help individuals understand how to manage their own scarce resources using a logical decision-making process of prioritization based on analysis of the costs and benefits of every choice.

• 1 People respond to positive and negative incentives

  • a Define positive and negative economic incentives

  • b Give examples of the kinds of goods and services produced in Colorado in different historical periods and their connection to economic incentives

  • c Explain how the productive resources – natural, human, and capital– of Colorado have influenced the types of goods produced and services provided

• 2 The relationship between choice and opportunity cost

  • a Define choice and opportunity cost

  • b Analyze different choices and their opportunity costs

    • Opportunity cost (4-R.3)

  • c Give examples of the opportunity costs for individual decisions

    • Costs and benefits (4-R.2)

  • d Identify risks that individuals face

  • e Analyze methods of limiting financial risk

4 Civics teaches the complexity of the origins, structure, and functions of governments; the rights, roles and responsibilities of ethical citizenship; the importance of law; and the skills necessary to participate in all levels of government.

• 1 Analyze and debate multiple perspectives on an issue

  • a Give examples of issues faced by the state and develop possible solutions

  • b Provide supportive arguments for both sides of a current public policy debate

  • c Discuss how various individuals and groups influence the way an issue affecting the state is viewed and resolved

• 2 The origins, structure, and functions of the Colorado government

  • a Explain the origins, structure, and functions of the three branches of the state government and the relationships among them

    • State government (4-O.2)
    • Checks and balances (4-O.6)

  • b Identify and explain a variety of roles leaders, citizens, and others play in state government

    • State government (4-O.2)

  • c Identify and explain the services state government provides and how those services are funded

    • State government (4-O.2)

  • d Explain the historical foundation and the events that led to the formation of the Colorado government

  • e Describe how the decisions of the state government affect local government and interact with federal law

    • Local government (4-O.1)
    • State government (4-O.2)
    • Checks and balances (4-O.6)