Students in 4th grade begin to see outside of their previously egocentric world to discover the bigger world around them. They begin to realize the impact they and others around them can make on their world. This is to satisfy the student survey question: The students connect what they learn in school to what they do outside of school. The students will research the early beginnings of our constitution and the purposes, structures, and principles behind our democratic government. Students will research history of the Declaration of Independence to be able to use the Internet to research topics, as stated on the student survey. According to the Social Studies, Curriculum Framework, under History standard, they will be able to address historical events and trends in order to interpret historical information and put it in the context of the past, present, and future. In addition, they will learn to analyze, interpret, and evaluate the rights, responsibilites, and privileges of citizens living in a democratic society.