Our fifth grade Social Studies text is titled The United States published by Scott Foresman. There is a good Web site to accompany our text. www.sfsocialstudies.com

In fifth grade students will learn about the history of the United States from the earliest civilizations to the Civil War. We will begin with an  overview of the regions of the United States, people, government, economics, and resources. There is a workbook to help students review the information learned in class. Students will make flash cards to assist in learning the vocabulary for each lesson.  Assessment will include a vocabulary quiz and a chapter test.

Lesson 1 Migration to the Americas

• Explain why and how early people migrated from Asia to the Americas.

• Describe how the first Americans lived during the Ice Age.

• Identify how the way of life of the first Americans changed as the climate became warmer.

• Interpret information about the climate of a place.

• Interpret information in a graph.

Lesson 2 Early American Cultures

• Explain why early people living east of the Mississippi River built mounds.

• Explain how the Anasazi were able to farm in the desert.

• Identify ways the Inuit adapted to life in the cold climate of the Arctic.

• Identify significant examples of art from various periods in U.S. history.

Lesson 3 The Rise of Empires

• Identify the reasons for the development of the Mayan civilization.

• Describe how the Aztec Empire grew.

• Explain how roads helped to unite the Incan Empire.

• Compare and contrast artifacts of early American civilizations.

Vocabulary