Sierra 5th Grade - Social Studies

Sierra 5th Grade

In this unit students will focus on the eastern coast of North America. Students analyze maps and other geographic sources to develop a sense of “setting” for what will eventually become the 13 colonies. Students describe the impact of physical geography on settlement, economics and cultural interactions between indigenous peoples and settlers. Students also investigate reasons for human migration and settlement locations of people along the Atlantic coast. With these foundations in place, students explore early social/political institutions and compare social/political institutions of the past with the present to explain how and why they have changed over time. Next, students apply economic thinking and identify how people of the past got what they wanted or needed. Students examine 1) subsistence living and “barter and trade”, 2) specialization where people provided a good or service needed in the community, 3) regional economics, and finally 4) mercantilism and the Triangle Trade/ Columbian Exchange. These economic eras provide a chronological story so students can explain how we arrived at today’s global marketplace. Last, students examine various cultural interactions of the past and demonstrate historical thinking that includes multiple perspectives, explaining why interactions took place, and identifying elements of cooperation and conflict. Ultimately, this unit is focused on deep immersion into history through the analysis of sources used by historians and geographers: maps, charts/graphs, and primary/secondary sources.

Students will begin with a compare/ contrast analysis of the settlements of Plymouth and Jamestown. They will review their economics of trade and barter and also look at the hardships brought on by the changes in resources. Students will continue to develop their historical skills when they analyze the role of men, women and children within the colonies, as well as the relationships between the indigenous people and the settlers. As students explore the relationship between groups of people, they will investigate the “1st Thanksgiving” and determine the legacy this encounter has left on modern society. In addition, students explain the role of indentured servants and the slavery in the colonies and the different forms that slavery took in different regions of colonial America. Students will also develop their spatial thinking skills as they identify how the different colonies were created and what the differences were between them. These differences will also include the economic differences between the southern and northern colonies, as well as how the geographic characteristics of the two regions affected the economic conditions in the colonies. Ultimately, this second unit of study allows students to deepen their application of historical thinking skills and spatial analysis.

In this unit, students think like historians and engage with primary and secondary sources. Through analysis of sources, students develop a sense of multiple perspectives and the chronological story of events that led up to the first shots of the American Revolution. Each event is based on different beliefs, thereby providing students with an opportunity to examine multiple perspectives, identify cause/effect relationships, and evaluate the impact of events and ideas. In addition, student thinking demonstrates how events and ideas spotlight social/cultural, economic, and/or political differences of belief that are the base for conflict in the past and present. The differing beliefs of people and government are the foundation for students exploring the question, “What’s worth fighting for?” Through analysis of the Declaration of Independence, students are able to identify themes that point towards our nation’s founding ideas, beliefs and principles. (NOTE: These ideas, beliefs, and principles are further examined in the U.S. Constitution unit.) To maintain chronological development of the American Revolution’s story, students use various sources to investigate military developments and how the ideas and actions of people influence the outcome of conflict. In the end, students demonstrate historical thinking skills through the analysis of multiple primary and secondary sources, they use chronology to organize and explain events/ideas of the American Revolution, and the explanations of events demonstrate a student’s recognition of multiple perspectives.

In this unit, students are engaged in civics through learning about the interdependent relationship between citizens and government as it’s defined in the words of our United States Constitution. First, students investigate sources to understand historic ideas and experiences that influenced the principles of American democracy. Students identify how and where the Founders incorporated these principles within the language and organization of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Second, students explore the roles and responsibilities of our three branches of government and explain how its design keeps any one branch from having too much power. Next, students investigate commercial banking and build skills of financially capable individuals (PFL standards). Last, students consider what it means to be a citizen in our nation. Students develop awareness of the individual rights embodied in our Bill of Rights and explore the application of rights within a society governed by the rule of law. Students also identify civic ideals that define our nation. To explore multiple perspectives, students consider how the words and actions of different people demonstrate their beliefs and perspectives about civic ideals. Ultimately, students use details found within our Constitution to explain the concepts of government, democracy, “power and authority”, and citizenship. Through taking a critical look at the Constitution, students should understand the government the Constitution created and develop an evidence-based perspective that serves as a launching pad for informed action. This unit allows students to apply concepts from the past to their lives today through informed civic action and managing personal finances.

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