Social Studies Curriculum Map

Fifth Grade

Draft

 

 

 

 

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

CONTENT

SKILLS

ASSESSMENT

RESOURCE

August

Geography and History: What do we mean by Western Europe, West Africa, and the Americas? 

 

Civics: What rights do we have and what responsibilities do we have to the people around us?

 Civics: Understand that different societies have different forms of government. (C2.3.1b) (Consider connecting to discussions of monarchies and tribal government in this time period.)

 

Civics: Explain what a nation is and how the world is divided into many nations. (C3.1.1a)

 

 

Ongoing throughout year:

Civics: Identify individual rights and the responsibilities they imply and the importance of respecting the rights of others. (C4.1.1a)

(Consider connecting this with the creation of your classroom rules, etc.)

 

Civics: Participate in civic discussion pertaining to public issues at school and in the local community. (C4.2.1a)

 

Civics: Describe how one person can make a difference in school or a local community. (C4.3.1a)

 Locate European countries involved in exploration of the New World on a map.  Find West Africa and the Americas on a world map.

 Map Quiz (Label Italy, the Netherlands, France, England, and Spain on a map of Europe.  Label North, Central and South America.  Find West Africa.)

 Classroom Atlas

 

Reading Groups: Pedro’s Journal

September

History: Why did different European nations want to control North America and the Caribbean?

 

The first Spanish, French and English settlements in the Americas

 

Civics: Provide examples of conflict, cooperation, and interdependence among individuals, groups and nations. (C3.2.1a)

 

 Consider essay test of Essential question or possibly tests that come with the text.

 America Will Be, Chapter 6

 

Discovery Simulation

October

History: Why did Europeans want to settle in the Americas?

 

History and Geography: Why were enslaved Africans brought to the colonies?

 

History and Geography: How did the encounter between native and non-native peoples shape early colonization?

 The Southern Colonies (Jamestown, Bacon’s Rebellion, Slavery in the European colonies)

 

 CBA: People on the Move

(optional suggestion, also makes a good homework project)

  America Will Be, Chapter 7

 

Reading Groups: Morning Girl

 

 

November

Geography and Economics:  How was life different from one colony to another?

 

 

 The New England Colonies (Puritan beliefs and government, conflict with Algonquians, witch hunt, trading system)

 

 

   America Will Be, Chapter 8

 

December

Geography and Economics: How was life different from one colony to another?

 

 The Middle Colonies (farming, Quaker ideals, relationship with Indians)

 

 

   America Will Be, Chapter 9

 

Novel: Blood on the River

January

Civics and History:  What were the causes of the American Revolution?

 Crisis with Britain (colonial ties to Great Britain, the Seven Years’ War and its effects, British taxation without representation)

 

 CBA: Causes of Conflict

(A good research paper assignment, possible practice for Whose Rules?  In the spring)

 America Will Be, Chapter 10

Reading Groups: Sign of the Beaver 

February

Civics and History:  What is the Declaration of Independence and why is it important?

 

Civics:  Where does our democratic system come from?

  War Breaks Out  (accepting independence from Britain, forming a new government, fighting the war, effects of the war)

 

Civics: Explain why a nation would want to develop relationships with other nations. (3.2.1b)

 

Civics: Identify and describe the essential characteristics of the Declaration of Independence.  (C1.1.1a)

 

 

  America Will Be, Ch. 11

March

History: What were the challenges facing the new nation?

 

 

 

Searching For Unity  (need for a stronger national government, the Constitution, a growing sense of American identity)

 

Civics: Explain what government is and what governments do. (C2.3.1a)

 

Civics: Identify and explain the essential characteristics of the Constitution. (C1.1.1b)

 

Civics: Identify key democratic ideals of U.S. government.  (C1.2.1a)

 

 

 

America Will Be, Ch. 12

April

Civics: What values and principles are basic to our democracy?

 

 

Civics: What is the purpose of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

 

 

 Civics: Identify examples of rights and responsibilities of citizenship. (C1.3.1a)

 

Civics: Explain the important characteristics of U.S. citizenship. (C4.2.1b)

 

Civics: Explain the purpose of rules and laws. (C2.2.1)

 

Civics: Identify the people and entities who make, apply and enforce rules and laws. (C2.1.1a)

 

 

 

 

America Will Be, pages 580-599

May

Civics: What is the legacy of our founding documents?

 

 

CBA: Whose Rules?

(The completion of one civics CBA is a WA requirement.  We will be required to report to the state at the end of the 2008-2009 school year.  There is another civics CBA called You Decide, which is also an option if preferred.)

 

June