Every state has famous residents, and exploring these people gives insight into the historical time period when they lived. Andrew Jackson and James Polk were presidents from Tennessee, so they can be studied in conjunction with government in general or when looking at a particular time period. Davy Crockett, the well known frontiersman born in Tennessee, served in the Tennessee militia during the War of 1812, the Tennessee state legislature and the Federal House of Representatives.
The Civil War gives many opportunities for lessons about Tennessee, which was part of the Confederacy. Hardin, Humphreys, Lauderdale, Stewart and Williamson counties were all home to battles fought during the war. The Battle of Shiloh in Hardin County was the bloodiest single day in the war with more than 24,000 dead, wounded or missing. The Battle at Fort Donelson left Nashville open to Union invasion and gave General Grant his "Unconditional Surrender" nickname. Studying these battles and then possibly taking field trips to the battlefields helps students get a more complete picture of events.
Looking at state government helps children learn about their environment and how it's connected to larger areas. The 95 counties in Tennessee developed around courthouses in the 19th century. Each county's government interacts with the state, so every school has the opportunity to see how their area contributes to Tennessee as a whole. Field trips to the County Courthouse give another hands-on activity that fourth graders appreciate. Comparing current government procedures with the way government worked when the state was part of the Confederacy shows how policy evolves.
Numerous tribes of Native Americans once occupied Tennessee, including Cherokee, Chickasaw, Koasati, and Shawnee. These cultures interacted with each other, and eventually with European settlers. Students can learn to write their names in Cherokee, or what Tennessee animal names are in other Native American languages. They can work on map skills by comparing tribal boundaries with the current counties. A study of Native Americans wouldn't be complete without looking at the Trail of Tears, which transplanted Native Americans in Tennessee to Oklahoma.