humanities

Grade 5

Overview

English Language Arts and Social Studies are taught in a Humanities block. Reading, Writing, and Social Studies units are intentionally aligned around one big idea/theme and a few essential questions. The goal for instruction is for it to be integrated as much as possible between the disciplines. In Reading, we focus on reading closely and critically thinking about fiction and non-fiction text. In Writing, we focus on identifying ourselves as writers in fiction and non-fiction writing pieces. In Social Studies, the focus of the fifth grade curriculum is Ancient Civilization and looking at these civilzations through the lense of Social Scientists.

Unit 1 - Perspective: everyone has a story. Whose story are you telling? What is your story?

Reading - Finding Reader's Identity (Bend 1) and Character (Bend 2)

In the first part of the unit, students will learn what type of reader they are by close reading, thinking deeply and through conversations. In the second part of the unit, students will focus on looking deeply into fictional characters and how they develop over time. Students put themselves in their character's shoes to identify their struggles and the theme of the story.

Writing - Finding Writer's Identity (Bend 1) and Narrative (Historical Fiction) (Bend 2)

In the first part of the unit, students will learn what type of writer they are by conversation and reflection of their writing. In the second part of the unit, students will develop a historical fiction story that will include on what the characters say, think, and do and focusing on the heart of the story.

Social Studies - Social Scientist through Prehistory (Bend 1) and Mesopotamia (Bend 2)

In the first part of this unit, students will begin learning about Pre-History in a student-centered environment. They will do this by looking through the lense of Social Scientists (Historian, Geographer, Archaeologist, and Sociologist) in collaborative groups to discuss each Social Scientist and how they look at the world. In the second part of this unit, students will continue to work collaboratively, using their critical thinking skills as the Social Scientists to learn about Ancient Mesopotamia.

Unit 2 - Purpose: why do we study the past/present/future?

Reading - Non-Fiction

Students will read non-fiction text to identify the main idea of the text, with the help of supporting text and text features, to have a better understanding of non-fiction and how is written. They will be able to synthesize through a single text and across texts to develop new understanding.

Writing - Information: Research Project

In this unit, students will choose to write about a topic that they are passionate about. Students will use their critical thinking skills to develop essential questions pertaining to their topic. Topics will be researched with those essential questions in mind.

Social Studies - Ancient Egypt Civilization

Using their Social Scientist hats, students will learn about Ancient Egypt Civilization. Student will focus on ideas of geography, belief systems, social classes, technology, and leadership and how it shapes a civilization.

Unit 3 - Fairness: what is fair?

Reading - Social Justice Book Clubs (Fiction)

Using a critical thinking lens, students will read fiction books while thinking and gathering information about social issues in their texts. Students will work in book clubs to contribute their ideas of the social injustices, discuss the theme, and reflect on how they will now think differently about the world around them.

Writing - Literary Essay

In this unit, students will write a literary essay by analyzing multiple texts to identify theme. They will focus on the goal of gathering text evidence to support their argument to make it stronger.

Social Studies - India/China Independent Study

With a focus on the idea of fairness, students will research ancient and present day India and China . Students will analyze multiple text to support their argument with regards to fairness. Students will also gather information from reading non-fiction text that discusses social organization and how it was developed, economic structure, daily life, cultural values of the past and the present, and impact of government.

Unit 4 - trust: What information do we trust? how should we know what to believe?

Reading - Argument & Advocacy - Researching Debatable Issues

In this unit, students will tackle more difficult non-fiction text on debatable issues. Students will be able to debate the issue and reflect on their learning to develop new questions and insights about the issue. Students will pay close attention to perspective and craft of the author.

Writing - The Research Based Argument Essay

Using their previous essay skills, students will write a research-based argument essay. Students will use research to form opinions about their topic. Their focus is to stake a claim, provide logically ordered reasons to support their argument, and to add possible counterclaims to their essay.

Social Studies - Greece and Rome

In this unit, students will continue to hone in on their skills as Social Scientists as they learn how to analyze and research debatable issues of the ancient civilizations, Greece and Rome. Students will debate to the extent to which of these early systems influenced our current political and legal system and how individuals perceive principles of liberty and equality, then and now. They will also evaluate the lasting impact of Greece and Rome on our culture today.

Unit 5 - ACCEPTANCE: HOW IS HUMANITY MORE SIMILAR THAN DIFFERENT?

Reading - Realist Fiction and Book Clubs

In this unit, students will learn to identify the characteristics of realistic fiction. They will learn to read closely to develop ideas about the characters in the story and communicate their thinking with their book club members. Students will look for commons themes in and across realistic fiction text.

Writing - Memoirs

Using knowledge of narrative writing, students will create memoirs about their own lives. Students will focus on small significant moments and showing the thoughts and feelings of their characters.

Social Studies - World Religions

Students will explore the five major world religions and its origins from a historical perspective. Students will learn the values, traditions and beliefs of individuals to promote and celebrate diversity, in our school, country and world.

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