The 5th grade journey begins with understanding the importance of the 5 themes of geography – Movement, Region, Human/Environment Interaction, Location and Place. The students know this as “MR. HELP”. Looking at the world through the “eyes” of MR HELP will help the students understand the places we study. Meaningful connections are made when the students are encouraged to think like a Geographer.

In addition to making connections and thinking like a geographer, the students will learn how to think like a Political Scientist, an Economist, an Anthropologist, and a Historian. Different perspectives will be revealed throughout the year as we develop questions, gather and evaluate evidence, and determine how to respond to newly formed opinions and outcomes. We will notice a more critical level of understanding about the world and our part in it.

Once we have a firm grasp of geography concepts, our 5th grade journey continues as it takes us from a barren North American continent occupied by few natives thousands of years ago to a culture-rich continent filled with diverse groups of people, difficult decisions, and a newly crafted U.S. Constitution that is quickly and often put to the test. Learning about U.S. history will be an interesting and thought provoking experience. The culminating 5th grade experience is the State Visitor Center (the "state project") created by the students. Each student will research a state in the U.S. and will showcase their findings in a variety of exciting ways.

5th grade topics:

• Maps/Atlases/Five Themes of Geography
• Daily Geography
• Early Peoples
• Native Americans
• Explorers
• New World & The Americas
• Colonization
• The American Revolution (with an introduction to the U.S Constitution)
• U.S. State project