Unit 1 "The Stories We Tell"

• Determine theme from details; summarize text

• Compare and contrast point of view

• Orient the reader with a situation, characters, and events in a narrative 

• Use transitional words

• Use concrete words and sensory details

• Produce writing with development and organization appropriate to task

• Produce complete sentences, correcting fragments and run-ons 

Unit 2 "Knowledge Quest"

• Main Idea and how it is supported by key details; summarize text 

• Compare and contrast accounts of the same event 

• Introduce a topic, group related information together in paragraphs and sections

• Develop topic with information and examples related to the topic

• Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about topic 

• Produce writing with development and organization appropriate to task

• Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through different aspects of a specific topic

• Produce complete sentences, correcting fragments and run-ons

• Correctly use frequently confused words 

• Use common grade appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots 

Unit 3 "Literature Adventures"

• Determine theme from details; summarize text

• Compare and contrast point of view; include difference between 1st person & 3rd person

• Compare treatment of similar themes and topics

• Introduce opinion topic with grouped ideas to support the writer’s purpose

• Provide reasons for opinion with facts and details 

• Produce writing with development and organization appropriate to task

• Produce complete sentences, correcting fragments and run-ons

• Correctly use frequently confused words

• Use common grade appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots 

• Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their synonyms/antonyms

Unit 4 "Frameworks"

• Main Idea and how it is supported by key details; summarize text 

• Compare and contrast firsthand and secondhand accounts on the same event 

• Explain how authors use reasons and evidence to support points 

• Integrate information from two texts on the same topic 

• Introduce opinion topic with grouped ideas to support the writer’s purpose 

• Provide reasons for opinion with facts and details

• Produce writing with development and organization appropriate to task 

• Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through different aspects of a specific topic

• Produce complete sentences with correct subject/verb agreement, including those with prepositional phrases 

• Correctly use frequently confused words 

• Use common grade appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots

• Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their synonyms/antonyms 

Unit 5 "Connections We Make"

• Determine theme from detail)s; summarize text 

• Compare and contrast point of view; include difference between 1st person & 3rd person 

• Compare treatment of similar themes, topics, & patterns of events 

• Orient the reader with a situation, characters, and events in a narrative 

• Use transitional words

• Use concrete words and sensory details

• Produce writing with development and organization appropriate to task 

• Form and use prepositions 

• Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons

• Correctly use frequently confused words 

• Choose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely 

• Use common Greek/Latin affixes/roots as clues to word meaning 

• Demonstrate understanding of words

Unit 6 "Pursuit for Truth"

• Main Idea and how it is supported by key details; summarize text 

• Compare and contrast firsthand and secondhand accounts on the same event 

• Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support points 

• Integrate information from two texts on the same topic 

• Introduce a topic, group related information together in paragraphs and sections 

• Provide reasons for opinion with facts and details 

• Use precise language/domain-specific vocabulary to inform topic 

• Orient the reader by establishing situation/narrator/characters; organize sequence to unfold naturally 

• Use a variety of transitional words /phrases to sequence events 

• Use concrete words/phrases and sensory details to manage sequence of events 

• Produce writing with development/organization appropriate to task 

• Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through different aspects of a specific topic 

• Form and use prepositions 

• Produce and complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons 

• Choose words, phrases, and punctuation for effect and precision 

Unit 1 "Connecting Themes"

• Beliefs and Ideals  

• Conflict and change  

• Distribution of Power  

• Individuals, Groups, & Institutions  

• Location  

• Movement & Migration  

• Production, Consumption, & Distribution  

• Technology Innovation 

• U.S. major physical features 

Unit 2 "American Revolution"

• Conflict and Change  

  • Events that shaped the revolutionary movement in America  

  • Major events of the American Revolution  Factors that lead to American victory

• Distribution of Power  

  • Creation and impact of the Declaration of Independence

• Individuals, Groups, & Institutions  

  • Influence of key individuals and groups during the American Revolution 

• Location  

  • New York City, NY  

  • Boston, MA  

  • How physical geography impacted battle strategy 

Unit 3 "U.S. Government & Constitution"

• Beliefs and Ideals  

  • Major issues debated at the Constitutional Convention  

  • Natural rights found in the Declaration of Independence  

  • Meaning of the Preamble Distribution of Power  

  • Federal system of government  

  • Representative democracy/republic 

  • Purpose of the Bill of Rights  

  • Interaction of three branches of government 

• Individuals, Groups, & Institutions  

  • Major leaders of the Constitutional Convention 

• Location  

  • Philadelphia, PA  

  • Washington, DC 

Unit 4 "Westward Expansion"

• Conflict and Change  

  • Causes & events of the War of 1812 Individuals, Groups, & Institutions  

  • Louisiana Purchase  

  • Lewis & Clark Expedition  

  • Acquisition of Texas  

  • Oregon Trail  

  • California Gold Rush  

  • Impact of Westward Expansion on American Indians: Trail of Tears & the Battle of Little Big Horn Movement/Migration  

  • Physical barriers and gateways to territorial expansion in the U.S. 

• Technology Innovation  

  • Technologies that supported Westward Expansion: Steamboat, Steam Locomotive, and Telegraph 

Unit 5 "Civil War"

• Beliefs and Ideals  

  • Abolitionist Movement: Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman  Impact of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry  

  • How the issues of states’ rights and slavery increased tensions between the North and South Conflict and Change  Major battles, campaigns, and events of the Civil War  

  • Effects of war on the North and South 

• Individuals, Groups, & Institutions  

  • Roles of key individuals during the Civil War 

• Production, Distribution, and Consumption 

  •  Specialization, Price Incentives, and Trade 

• Technology Innovation  

  • Cotton Gin 

• Location  

  • Gettysburg, PA 

Unit 6 "Reconstruction"

• Conflict and Change  

  • Purpose of 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments  

  • Replacement of slavery with sharecropping  

  • Ways that freed African Americans were prevented from exercising their rights  

  • Effects of Jim Crow laws and practices 

• Individuals, Groups, & Institutions  

  • Work of the Freedmen’s Bureau during Reconstruction 

Unit 7 "The Suffrage Movement"

• Individuals, Groups, & Institutions 

  • Contributions of and challenges faced by suffrage leaders: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony 

Unit 8 "Personal Finance"

• Beliefs and Ideals  

  • Elements of a personal budget  Importance of spending and saving