In Grade 5, students survey the history of the United States from 1565 to the present. Historical content includes the colonial period, the American Revolution, the establishment of the U.S. Constitution and American identity, westward expansion, the Civil War and Reconstruction, immigration and industrialization, and the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will:

• study a variety of regions in the United States that result from physical features and human activity and identify how people adapt to and modify the environment.
• explain the characteristics and benefits of the free enterprise system and describe economic activities in the United States of the past and present.
• identify the roots of representative government in this nation as well as the important ideas in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, study the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, examine the importance of effective leadership in a constitutional republic, and identify important leaders in the national government.
• describe the cultural impact of various racial, ethnic, and religious groups in the United States and identify the accomplishments of notable individuals in the fields of science and technology.
• explain symbols, traditions, and landmarks that represent American beliefs and principles, including reciting and explaining the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag.
• use critical-thinking skills to sequence, categorize, and summarize information and to draw inferences and conclusions.