5th Grade Social Studies

Fifth graders learn about the history of the United States from the 1600’s to the 1800’s while developing a range of historical thinking and research skills. They explore the reasons why Europeans undertook the risks associated with immigration to North America and the impact of colonization on indigenous societies. They examine the social and economic origins of chattel slavery in the American Colonies, and analyze multiple viewpoints (loyalists, patriots, Indigenous and enslaved peoples) in the context of the American Revolution. They learn about the doctrine of manifest destiny and how it fueled westward expansion of the nation. Students conclude the year with a project-based learning unit on Black Women’s History in which each 5th grader researches the life, struggle, and impact of a particular historical figure. Students learn about different forms of racism, the history of redlining in the United States, and how the women they research dealt with the headwinds of racism to make lasting change and contribute to the American story through the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements. Throughout the year, students learn and apply historical thinking and research skills including reading like a historian, note-taking, verifying and citing sources, cause and effect, and writing with clarity, supporting historical evidence, and structure. Students also solidify their knowledge of U.S. geography and the states and capitals.