Grade 5 Social Studies

Grade 5 Social Studies contains American Revolution, Constitution basics, westward expansion, immigration patterns, and geographic influences.

12 lessons

Grade 5 Social Studies topics

  • Westward Expansion

    The child traces how the United States grew from the Appalachians to the Pacific, follows pioneers on the trails, and explains what westward growth meant for Native nations and for Mexico.

  • US Constitution

    The child explains why the first plan of government was too weak, how leaders wrote the Constitution and agreed on compromises, and what the Bill of Rights protects.

  • Explorers and Reformers

    The child finds out why sailors set out to find new sea routes, what happened when Europeans met the peoples of the Americas, Africa and Asia, and how printing, new art and new ideas about the Church changed Europe.

  • US Landforms and Climate

    The child describes the main landforms, rivers and lakes and climate regions of the United States, the natural hazards each region faces, and how the land and climate shaped where people settled.

  • Native American History Before 1492

    The child describes how Native nations in different parts of North America lived, governed themselves, traded and used their land before Europeans arrived, and knows that these nations still live today.

  • North America Regions

    The learner describes the physical regions, population, cities and economy of North America, and its links with the rest of the world.

  • American Revolution for Kids

    The child explains why the colonists grew angry with Britain, what the Declaration of Independence says, how the colonies won the war, and who took part on each side.

  • Maya, Aztec and Inca

    The learner describes the Maya, Aztec and Inca states and the diversity of other Indigenous peoples of the Americas, including those of present-day Brazil, and their achievements.

  • Atlantic Slave Trade and Abolition

    The learner explains how the transatlantic slave trade worked, the lives and resistance of enslaved people in the Americas, and how abolition movements ended the trade and slavery.

  • Thirteen Colonies

    The child explains why people founded Jamestown, Plymouth and the other English colonies, compares life in the New England, Middle and Southern colonies, and describes how colonists, Native nations and enslaved Africans…

  • US States, Capitals and Regions

    The child names and finds the five regions of the United States, the 50 states and their capitals, Washington, D.C. and the US territories, and describes what makes each region different.

  • World Wars and the Holocaust

    The child finds out why two world wars happened, what they meant for soldiers and families, how Hitler and the Nazis persecuted and murdered Jews and other groups, and how the wars ended and are remembered.

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