Utah Studies

Quarter 1 September
Enduring Understandings:

- Geography influences the inhabitants who contribute to Utahs culture

- Where we are from influences how we see ourselves
- When different cultures meet there is an important exchange of goods, ideas, etc.
- People are constantly adapting to the environment and one another

Essential Questions Relevant Topics Concepts/Content

How does geography influence settlement
and life in Utah?
How have different groups in Utah adapted
to and modified Utahs environment?
How have cultures interacted with each other
throughout Utahs history?
How have different groups of immigrants
contributed to Utah?
- Landforms: major mountains, valleys,
bodies of water
- Climate: latitude, elevation, distance
from ocean
- Utahs renewable and non-renewable
natural resources
- Historic and Pre-historic Indian tribes
of Utah
- Migration
- Reasons and outcomes of exploration
- Recognize/use different types of
maps: political, physical,
topographical
- Locate and identify important
physical features, counties, and
major cities of Utah on a map
- Identify aspects of Utah Native
American Indian culture & traditions
- Patterns of Utah settlement
- Influence of Utah settlers past &
present
Geography (Standard 1.1-1.4)
- 5 themes
- Map skills
- Population
- Ecosystems and Natural resources
Native Peoples (Standard 2.1, 5.1, 5.2)
- Prehistoric and historic groups
- Human environment interaction
- Traditions
- Contributions and influences
Exploration (Standard 2.2)
- Spanish
- Mountain men
- US Government Explorers
- Other
- Contribution/Influences of Explorers
Pioneers (Standard 2.3)
- Mormon Pioneers
- New Pioneers
- Reasons and patterns of migration
- Contributions and influences
 Quarter 1 October
Enduring Understandings:

- Utahs transition from territory to statehood was a struggle that resulted from its unique history
- When different cultures meet there can be conflict
- Culture is both a unifying and divisive force in human relations
- Different groups often interpret the same events differently
- Aspects of culture can affect how groups interpret events
- People respond to and resolve conflicts in a variety of ways

Essential Questions Relevant Topics Concepts/Content

How is life in Utah unique?
What was life like in the Utah Territory?
Why did Utah seek statehood?
What were the stumbling blocks to Utah
achieving statehood?
How does Utahs statehood contribute to the
United States?
- State of Deseret
- Compromise of 1850
- Territorial Governors: (Brigham
Young, Alfred Cumming)
- Utah War (Johnstons Army)
- Chief Wakara
- Black Hawk War
- Mountain Meadows Massacre
- Bear River Massacre
- Transcontinental Railroad
- Reynolds vs. The United States
- Edmonds-Tucker Act 1887
- Political Parties
- Womens Suffrage
- Separation of Church and State
- Mormon Monopolies
Struggle for Statehood (Standard 3.1)
- Territorial and state government
organization
- Benefits of statehood over territorial
government
- Relationship between Native
American Indian nations and Utah
and US governments
- How government services affect
residents of states

Enduring Understandings:
- The structure and function of Utahs government impacts life in our state
Essential Questions
What is the role of local government?
What is the relationship between local and
state government?
How does the organization of state
government influence its function?
Quarter 2 November
2 weeks
Relevant Topics
- Organization of Township
- Organization of City Government
- Organization of County Government
- Utah State Constitutional Convention
- Local officials & responsibilities
- State legislative, judicial and
executive branches of government
- Balance of State power, checks &
balances
- Utah State Constitution -Local
precincts and voting districts
Concepts/Content
Government (Standard 3.2-3.3)
- Compare and contrast territorial
government and state government
and Sovereign Native American
Indian nations
- Levels and Branches of Government
- Local officials and their
responsibilities
- Government services provided by
different levels of government
- The Utah Constitution compared to
US Constitution
- Citizen Rights and Responsibilities
 Quarter 2 November-December
4 weeks
Enduring Understandings:

- Major contemporary events impact the land, economy and people of Utah
- Events happening in the world affect Utah and events happening in Utah affect the world
- Cultures and economies change over time in order to adapt to a changing world

Essential Questions Relevant Topics Concepts/Content

How is land essential to Utahs economy?
What influence did WWI have on Utah?
Why did the Great Depression impact Utah
more than most states?
What effect did WWII have on Utah?
How do current events continue to impact
life in Utah?
- Agriculture (and diversity of) in Utah Economy (Standards 6.1, 4.2. 4.3, 4.4)
- National Parks & Monuments - Investigate the role of agriculture in
- Utah Copper Company the past and present
- Japanese Immigrants - Impact of the Great Depression on
- Utah Labor Union agriculture
- Stock Market Crash - Examine aspects that have
- Utahs Great Drought of 1934 broadened Utahs economy
- Utahs Dust Bowl - Cultural legacy of agriculture in Utah
- New Deal in Utah
- LDS Church Welfare system
- Unemployment Rate before, during
and after the Great Depression in
Utah
- Pearl Harbor (USS Utah)
- Victory Gardens and Utahs defense
industries
- Rationing -Utahs WWII home front
- Navaho Code Talkers
- Nuclear Testing
- Topaz Relocation Camp
- Ski Industry/Olympics/Arts/Sports,
Recreation
 Quarter 2 December- January
4 weeks
Enduring Understandings:

- Utahs diversity contributes to its unique culture and economy and continues to shape the states future
- Utah is home to a variety of people from around the word who are pursuing the American Dream

Essential Questions Relevant Topics Concepts/Content

How has the culture and economy of Utah
changed since Statehood?
What continues to draw people to Utah?
What contributions do religious and ethnic
groups make to Utahs culture and economy?
How do different cultural, ethnic and
religious groups maintain their identities in
Utah?
How will diverse points of view influence
Utahs future?
- Mining /Coal Mining -Silver Mining
- Ski Industry
- The Arts
- Transportation: railroads, roads,
Interstate Highways
- Utah immigrants: Greek, Hispanic,
Northern European, Jewish, Catholic,
Italian, Black
- Technology and Dry Farming
- Agricultural Industry
- Current Utah immigration
demographics and policy
- Patterns /waves of immigration from
Statehood to present
- Immigration push/ pull factors
(construction boom, highway
development, etc.)
- Utahs current employment rate
- Major religions of Utah
- Major cultural and ethnic groups
- Civil Rights -Todays events
Economy (standards 4.1-4.4, 5.1-5.3, 6.1)
- Explore the components of Utahs
economy
- Investigate past and present of
agriculture
- Increasing global trade
interdependence since the railroad
- Labor history
- Assess cultural diversity of Utah
- Investigate contributions of Utahs
religious and ethnic groups
- Assess diverse cultural and
recreational opportunities available
in Utah
- Identify and investigate
contemporary events