5th Grade

Grade Level Key Themes

Physical and Human Systems

Students in grade 5 differentiate among various types of maps and examine maps from the Age of Exploration to 1763. They also understand the relationship between geography and human settlement, including how climate, physical features, exploration, colonization/settlement patterns, and land use affect the environment. Lastly, students describe the impact of human systems on the environment (i.e. colonization, building communities, land use, and depletion of resources)

Migration and Settlement

Students in grade 5 understand that many factors impact the movement and settlement of people, such as exploration, colonization, and settling new lands. They describe ways in which location and environment influenced settlement and land use in colonial America. They also identify natural resources used by people of colonial America and they describe the impact of human action on the physical environment. Finally, students explain and give examples of how Native Americans, Europeans, and free and enslaved Africans adapted to living in the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.

Economics and Trade

Students in grade 5 cite evidence of how supply, demand, and scarcity motivated European exploration and settlement in the Americas and describe triangular trade among the Americas, Europe, and West Africa during the colonial period. They explain the reasons for the French and Indian War and the economic impact on Britain resulting in unpopular policies on colonial America. Lastly, students describe how triangular trade led to economic interdependence and cultural diffusion, as well as how the agricultural and industrial specialization led to the development of regional economies in the colonies

Politics and Governance

Students in grade 5 compare and contrast the different types of government in colonial America and summarize the key ideas that influenced the development of colonial governments and their influence on and contributions to democracy in the United States. They also investigate basic rights and responsibilities of citizens in current day government.

Society and Culture

Students in grade 5 understand the impacts of expansion, exploration, trade, slavery, and colonization on culture. They describe the origins, characteristics, and expansion of indigenous cultures and groups (i.e., the Aztecs and Incas) that existed in the Americas prior to European exploration. They identify the religious motivations of early explorers and describe how the Columbian Exchange led to cultural diffusion after 1492. Lastly, students compare and contrast religious groups that settled colonial America and examine the role of religion in colonial communities.

Conflict and Compromise

Students in grade 5 understand the goals, challenges, and achievements of the major European powers that colonized the Americas to explain how interaction among indigenous peoples and Europeans and then Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans sometimes led to cooperation and trade and other times led to conflict. Students describe how alliances and conflicts between British and other countries in North America and British policies affected the colonies. In particular, students describe the key people, ideas, and events that led to the French and Indian War

Continuity and Change

Students in grade 5 construct timelines of key events in early American history, examine primary and secondary sources related to the pre-Columbian civilizations through 1763, and compare and contrast different points of view. They do this to understand how European exploration of the Americas changed the indigenous peoples, the Columbian Exchange brought new goods, people, ideas, innovations, and diseases to the Americas, Europe, and West Africa, and colonization led to the development of new economies and types of government.

Grade Level Standards

History

Standard 1: Historical Thinking Skills

Students use historical thinking skills to examine the influence of key people, ideas, and events in colonial America.

5.1.1 Create a timeline of key events in early American history from pre-Columbian civilizations to 1763
5.1.2 Examine primary and secondary sources to research early American colonial history from the Age of Exploration to 1763
5.1.3 Compare and contrast different points of view of key individuals and groups in early colonial American history to 1763
5.1.4 Produce clear and coherent writing for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences through the following tasks:

Standard 2: Key Events, Ideas, and People

Students investigate how key events, ideas, and people influenced the social, economic, and political development of the New World during the Age of Exploration.

5.2.1 Describe the origins, characteristics, and expansion of indigenous cultures and groups that existed in the Americas prior to European exploration
5.2.2 Identify early explorers and their motivations, challenges, and achievements
5.2.3 Describe the Spanish conquests in the Americas, including the impact on the Aztecs, Incas, and other indigenous peoples
5.2.4 Explain the course and consequences of the Columbian Exchange, including its cultural, ecological, economic, and political impact on Europe, the Americas, and West Africa

Standard 3: Key Events, Ideas, and People

Students explain the reasons why different groups settled in North America and describe the effect of key people, ideas, and events on the growth of the thirteen colonies.

5.3.1 Compare and contrast the convergence of trade, cultural diffusion, and innovation in the Western Hemisphere after 1492
5.3.2 Describe cooperation and conflict among Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans
5.3.3 Identify the major European powers that colonized North America and explain their goals, challenges, and achievements
5.3.4 Compare and contrast religious groups that settled colonial America and examine the role of religion in colonial communities
5.3.5 Evaluate the motives that led to the establishment of the thirteen colonies
5.3.6 Explain and give examples of how Native Americans, Europeans, and free and enslaved Africans adapted to living in the New England colonies, the Middle colonies, and the Southern colonies
5.3.7 Describe the impact of key people, ideas, and events that led to the French and Indian War

Geography

Standard 4: Geography Skills

Students use geography skills to analyze and interpret maps and explain how physical geography influences historical events.

5.4.1 Differentiate between various types of maps using characteristics, functions, and applications
5.4.2 Analyze a map using a variety of tools
5.4.3 Analyze maps from the Age of Exploration to 1763

Standard 5: Culture and Environment

Students examine how the physical environment influenced the cultural development of colonial America.

5.5.1 Describe ways in which location and environment influenced the settlements and land use in colonial America
5.5.2 Identify natural resources used by people of colonial America and describe the impact of human action on the physical environment

Civics

Standard 6: Purposes, Foundation, and Structure

Students investigate different types of government to understand their influence on the development of government in colonial America.

5.6.1 Compare and contrast the different types of government in colonial America that influenced the development of the United States
5.6.2 Summarize the key ideas that influenced the development of colonial governments and their influence on the growth of American democracy

Standard 7: Civic Literacy

Students will examine the role of the citizen in government.

5.7.1 Investigate basic rights and responsibilities of citizens in present-day government

Economics

Standard 8: Resources

Students examine the economic motivations that led to the European exploration and settlement of the Americas.

5.8.1 Cite evidence of the economic motivations for European exploration and settlement in the Americas using economic concepts such as supply and demand and scarcity

Standard 9: Interdependence

Students analyze key events that affected trade and exchange in colonial America.

5.9.1 Describe trade between the Americas, Western Europe, and Western Africa during the colonial period
5.9.2 Analyze the differences in the economies of the New England colonies, Middle colonies, and the Southern colonies

Standard 10: Decision-Making

Students investigate how key British economic policies influenced the thirteen colonies.

5.10.1 Explain the reasons for the French and Indian War and the economic effects of British policy on colonial America