Social Studies

In fifth grade, our Social Studies Curriculum centers on the study of American History.  Students will explore 3 units, beginning with the Government.  Students will learn about their Rights as citizens of the United States, while creating and establishing rights as learners in the classroom.  We will also be learning about the three branches of government and how they were created as a system of checks and balances.

Next, we will begin our study of the American Revolution. Students will learn about the major events that caused the colonial rebellion including the aftermath of the French and Indian war, the Stamp Act, and the Boston Tea Party. We will then study the various opinions and beliefs of both Colonists and Loyalists before holding a debate about whether or not we should declare independence from England.  Lastly, we will study some of the major battles of the revolution as well as discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both the Colonial and the British Armies.

Lastly, we will conclude the year with a unit on Westward Expansion ( my personal favorite!). Students will learn about how the United States went from being 13 Colonies along the east coast to spanning the continent of North America! This unit will correlate with a writing assignment as students will be expected to write a research report about a sub topic of Westward Expansion. Some topics include: The Erie Canal, Life in the West, The Gold Rush, The Pony Express, Boom-towns, or the Oregon Trail.