5th Grade Social Studies Unit 2

Big Idea:

Understand the causes and effects of early European colonization in the United States.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

5.1(A) explain when, where, and why groups of people explored, colonized, and settled in the United States, including the search for religious freedom and economic gain

Focus TEKS

5.9(A) [Readiness] describe how and why people have adapted to and modified their environment in the United States, past and present, such as the use of human resources to meet basic needs; and

5.9(B) [Supporting] analyze the positive and negative consequences of human modification of the environment in the United States, past and present.

5.17(D) [Supporting] describe the origins and significance of national celebrations such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day;

Ongoing TEKS

5.8(A) identify and describe the types of settlement and patterns of land use in the United States;

5.8(B) explain the geographic factors that influence patterns of settlement and the distribution of population in the United States, past and present

5.21(B) [Supporting] Explain how examples of art, music, and literature reflect the times during which they were created.

5.24(A) [Tools to Know] Differentiate between, locate, and use valid primary and secondary sources such as computer software; interviews; biographies; oral, print, and visual material; documents; and artifacts to acquire information about the United States;

5.24(B) [Ways to Show] Analyze information by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations and predictions, and drawing inferences and conclusions;

5.24(C) [Ways to Show] Organize and interpret information in outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps;

5.24(D) [Ways to Show] Identify different points of view about an issue, topic, or current event; and

5.24(E) [Ways to Show] Identify the historical context of an event.

5.25(A) [Tools to Know] Use social studies terminology correctly;

5.25(B) [Ways to Show] Incorporate main and supporting ideas in verbal and written communication;

5.25(C) [Ways to Show] Express ideas orally based on research and experiences;

5.25(D) [Ways to Show] Create written and visual material such as journal entries, reports, graphic organizers, outlines, and bibliographies;

5.26(A) [Tools to Know] use a problem-solving process to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution

Student Learning Targets:

• After exploring a sunken ship, I will examine and understand the causes and effects of European exploration and colonization in the New World.
• I will write a log entry from the point of view of an explorer to explain why I wanted to go to the New World.
• I will describe one new technology that helped me as an explorer.
• I will describe and sketch one item I brought back to Europe from the New World.
• I will discuss some major explorers and the settlement of early colonies such as St. Augustine.

Essential Questions:

• Why do people explore?
• Why are maps useful?
• How were spices important to Europeans?
• How did exploration lead to colonization?
• What was the primary focus of colonization of new lands?
• How did world maps change after the Age of Discovery?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook: American Legacy, Studies Weekly

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center