3rd Grade

This unit alignment was created as a reference guide for lesson planning. It shows how the various curricular materials offered by CMS Social
Studies align with CMS units. This is not a required order, simply a guide for how the different lessons line up with one another. This may be used in
conjunction with different lessons based on the needs of teachers, students, and classrooms.

CMS Unit HMH Book Bundles Inquir(y/ies) Cornerstone(s) Assessment

Unit 1: Culture
Unit Guide
U1 Sample Planning
Guide
Essential Question:
How does cultural
diversity affect
individuals and
societies?
NCES: ​3.C.1
Unit 1 Digitized and Printable Primary Sources
● The Art of Freedom: How Artists See “How does cultural Unit 1 Performance Task
America​ by Bob Raczka diversity affect and Rubric
● Clothes in Many Cultures​ by Heather individuals and
Adamson societies?”
● Evening Meals Around the World​ by
Michele Zurakowski
● American Culture​ by Jeanne Dustman
● What is Culture?​ By Bobbie Kalman
● Native North American Foods and Recipes
by Bobbie Kalman
● The Irish Potato Famine: Irish Immigrants
Come to America (1845-1850​)​ by Jeremy
Thornton

Unit 2: Civics and
Government
Unit Guide
U2 Sample Planning
Guide
Essential Question:
Does it make a
difference whether or not Unit 2 Digitized and Printable Primary Sources
we have rules and laws
in our community?
● Government in Your City or Town​ by Karen “Does it make a Unit 2 Assessment
Kenney difference whether or
● Citizenship​ by Lucia Raatma not we have rules and
● Government Leaders Then and Now​ by laws in our
Lisa Zamosky community?”
● Police Then and Now​ by Melissa A. Settle
● Volunteers​ by Sue Ledington “Can kids help in times
● Mayor​ by Jacqueline Laks Gorman of crisis?”
● Civic Responsibilities​ by Karen Kenney

Created by Stephanie Weiler and Carrie Alexander

NCES: ​3.C&G.1,
3.C&G.2

Unit 3: Geography of ● Southern Atlantic Coast Region​ by Sue “What do I do every One Big City: How Unit 3 Performance Task
the Piedmont Vander Hook day to create change?” can the city of
● Community Needs: Meeting Needs and Charlotte best Unit 3 Task Rubric
Unit Guide Wants in Communities​ by Jake Miller support a growing
● Community Resources: The Land and the population?
U3 Sample Planning People in Communities​ by Angela Catalano
Guide ● America’s Natural Landmarks​ by Jennifer Neighborhood
Overend Prior Growth: How and
Essential Question: ● Mapping Communities​ by Melanie Waldron why do people
How does the ● Mountain Region​ by Anastasia Suen change their
environment around me ● West Coast Region​ by Sue Vander Hook environment?
shape my life?
Unit 3 Digitized and Printable Primary Sources
NCES: ​3.G.1

Unit 4: History ● Henry Ford and the Model T​ by Micael “How have historical One Big City: How Unit 4 Performance Task
O’Hearn events and people can the city of and Rubric
Unit Guide ● Food in Colonial America​ by Mark Thomas shaped our society Charlotte best
● Cooking and Eating: Comparing Past and over time?” support a growing Other options:
U4 Sample Planning Present​ by Rebecca Rissma population? Summative Performance
Guide ● Marian Anderson​ by Emma E. Haldy “Can kids help in times Tasks from either
● Chief Joseph​ by Barbara Kiely Miller of crisis?” Neighborhood inquiry:
Essential Question​: ● Find Out Firsthand: Using Primary Sources Growth: How and ● “Can kids help in
How have historical by Kristin Fontichiaro “Can we ever really why do people times of crisis?”
events and people ● The Colonial Cook​ by Bobbie Kalman and know what’s true?”​* change their ● “Can we ever really
shaped our society over Ellen Brown environment? know what’s true?”
time? “What event in
Unit 4 Digitized and Printable Primary Sources Charlotte’s history had Matthews Heritage
NCES: ​3.H.1, 3.H.2 the most influence on Museum Unit -
HMH Authentic Task #4 - Create a Virtual it’s growth?” Tank Town: A Good
Museum Place to Live
Unit Part 1
Unit Part 2

Created by Stephanie Weiler and Carrie Alexander

Unit 5: Economic and ● America’s Natural Resources​ by Robert “How do the locations Entrepreneurship in Unit 5 Performance Task
Financial Literacy McAneney of specific regions as NC: What makes a and Rubric
● Cities Around the World​ by Kathleen Leslie well as the natural successful
Unit Guide ● Life in a Farming Community​ by Lizann resources found within entrepreneurship?
Flatt the regions affect the
U5 Sample Planning ● Rivers, Streams, and Lakes​ by Jan market economy and
Guide Anderson entrepreneurship in
● George Washington Carver: Agriculture those regions?”
Essential Question​: Pioneer​ by Stephanie Macceca
How do the locations of ● Living Beside a River​ by Ellen Labrecque
specific regions as well ● Living Beside the Ocean​ by Ellen
as the natural resources Labrecque
found within the regions
affect the market Unit 5 Digitized and Printable Primary Sources
economy and
entrepreneurship in
those regions?

NCES: ​3.E.1, 3.E.2

*Addresses standards within the unit but loosely related to unit Essential Question.

Created by Stephanie Weiler and Carrie Alexander