Social Studies

5th Grade Social Studies

Curriculum

Course Title: Social Studies

Department: Social Studies

Primary Resources:

· Social Studies Alive! America’s Past (Teacher’s Curriculum Institute)

Units of Study:

· Topic 1: Civics and Citizenship- Evolution of American Political Philosophy from Settlement to the American Revolution

· Topic 2: Geography – The Five Themes of Geography

· Topic 3: History- The Exploration, Settlement and Colonization of What Will Become the USA

· Topic 4: Cultures- The Growth of Sectionalism

· Topic 5: Economics- Mercantilism, Trade (Domestic and Foreign)

Curriculum-Based Assessments: N/A

Standardized Assessments: N/A

Description of Course: Fifth grade social studies is taught throughout the year. This year, social studies begins the concerted study of history. Fifth grade addresses American history from the arrival of Europeans to the Declaration of Independence. While history is the focus of this year’s course, the other social studies themes are woven into the year and are consistently reinforced. Geographic and economic differences created three basic sections of the country: The New England Colonies, The Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. These differences needed to be dealt with as tensions began to rise against Great Britain.