Indiana Social Studies 4.H.12

Social Studies4th GradeHistory

The Standard

Research Indiana’s modern growth, emphasizing manufacturing, new technologies, transportation, and global connections.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use short sources and maps to learn how Indiana's factories and transportation have changed. They explain how new technology and connections to other countries affect work in the state.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use a source to describe how robots help make cars in Lafayette. They can trace I-65 as a possible truck route and explain how the plant's Japanese ownership connects Indiana to another country.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think Indiana's economy is only about farming or that all factory work is done by hand. They may think a Japanese-owned factory in Indiana makes its cars in Japan.
How to Assess It: Give students a short fact card about the Lafayette car plant and an Indiana highway map. Ask them to name one technology at the plant, trace a possible truck route, and explain its link to Japan.

Lesson moves

On a printed Indiana map, mark Lafayette and use yarn to trace I-65 to Indianapolis as a possible truck route.
Read a short card about robots at the Lafayette car plant, then ask: How might robots change what workers do?
Sort cards labeled Gary steel, factory robots, I-65 trucks, and Japanese ownership into manufacturing, technology, transportation, and global connections.
Find a classroom object made outside the U.S., then draw a possible ship-and-truck route it took to Indiana.

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