California History – 4th Grade Standards Alignment
Our California History (9,000 B.C. – 1950 A.D.) curriculum is designed to align closely with the California 4th Grade History–Social Science Standards. Each unit in the course clearly notes which standards it covers so you can easily see how your child is meeting state expectations.
Below is a summary of the standards and how they connect to each unit. For a detailed, unit-by-unit breakdown, download the full alignment PDF.
California History Standards:
Download the California History 4th Grade Standards Alignment PDF Here
How This Course Aligns with California 4th Grade Standards
The California History–Social Science Standards for 4th grade are organized into five main strands:
- 4.1 – California’s physical and human geography
- 4.2 – Pre-contact California, Indigenous peoples, European exploration, missions, and ranchos
- 4.3 – Mexican rule in California and the Gold Rush
- 4.4 – Economic, social, and political life in California as the state grows
- 4.5 – California government and its relationship to the United States
Our curriculum is built to walk students chronologically through each of these strands in a story-rich, activity-based way.
Standards Covered by Unit
Unit 1 – California Geography & History Overview
Covers: 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5
Students learn about California’s regions, maps, landforms, climate, and how geography affects where people live and work.
Unit 2 – California Indigenous People (9,000 B.C.–1530 A.D.)
Covers: 4.2.1
Students explore the daily life, dwellings, food, and culture of Indigenous tribes and how they adapted to diverse environments.
Unit 3 – European Exploration (1530–1579)
Covers: 4.2.2, 4.2.3
Students study early European explorers, their routes, motives, and first contacts along the California coast.
Unit 4 – Spanish Missions & Ranchos (1769–1834)
Covers: 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.6
Students learn why missions and ranchos were established, how they changed the land and native communities, and how power shifted in California.
Unit 5 – The Bear Republic & Becoming a State (1840–1850)
Covers: 4.2.7, 4.2.8, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.5
Students follow the path from Mexican rule to the Bear Flag Revolt, the Mexican–American War, the Oregon and California Trails, and statehood.
Unit 6 – The Gold Rush (1848–1855)
Covers: 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.4.2
Students investigate the discovery of gold, “forty-niners,” boomtowns, economic change, and the impact on Indigenous peoples and the environment.
Unit 7 – Booming California (1854–1950)
Covers: 4.3.4, 4.4.1, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.4.6, 4.4.9
Students explore the Pony Express, the transcontinental railroad, natural disasters (like the 1906 earthquake), agriculture, industry, and California’s growing role in the nation.
Unit 8 – California State Government
Covers: 4.4.4, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 4.5.4, 4.5.5
Students learn about the three branches of government, the California Constitution, and how state government relates to the U.S. government.
How to Use This Alignment
- Homeschool families: Use this page and the PDF as a quick checklist to document which 4th grade standards your child is meeting as you move through each unit.
- Charter schools: The linked PDF provides a clear, unit-by-unit breakdown of standards that supports curriculum approval and student work samples.
If you need help explaining how this course fits your school or state requirements, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help.