Fourth grade students first learn geographic knowledge of the state, including its different regions, such as the Chesapeake and Blue Ridge Mountains, and the different rivers, like the Shenandoah and Rappahannock. Students also learn where the border states lie and about the traditional land that was controlled by the Native Americans.
Children in the fourth grade also learn about the colonization period. They first are taught England's reasoning for and the appeal of colonies. They also learn about the struggles of the Jamestown colony, relations with Native Americans and the eventual success of the colonies. Finally, they must understand the development of self-governance and the eventual growth and maturity of the colonial system.
Another important social studies topic is the Revolutionary War. Some of the most famous battles and revolutionaries were in Virginia. George Washington, George Mason, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, who said "Give me liberty or give me death," were all Virginians. Students must learn about this historic period as well as the government formed afterward, including the Articles of Confederation and Constitution.
Fourth grades students in Virginia must also learn about the Civil War and its consequences. Virginia was a major slave-holding state and Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. The most famous Confederate, General Robert E. Lee, was a Virginian and the Battle of Bull Run was one of the largest fought in the war. Students should also learn about the consequences of the Civil War in terms of the Constitution, slavery and social factors.