5th grade social studies essay topics

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Social Studies: 5th Grade

Use these engaging activities to help your 5th grader with the new social studies topics covered in 5th grade..

In most schools, 5th grade curriculum focuses on United States history, beginning with the colonization of America and possibly continuing through the 20th century. As 5th graders study social studies, they are taught to analyze the reasons behind events, make connections, and compare. As in other grades, since most social studies curricula are specific to a location, consult your child’s teacher or your state’s social studies standards to find out which specific communities and aspects of the community will be covered.

In order to build social studies skills, your 5th grader :

• Writes about what he learns through a traditional essay format.
• Uses primary sources and different types of media (such as film and art) to learn about historical events.
• Learns about historical events through the context of geography and how it affected different events.
• Researches, organizes, and presents her research on various topics, events, and figures.
• Discusses topics, focusing on using specific details, facts, and reasons to support his opinion.
• Uses technology to research both past and current events and topics. 
• Deepens his understanding of government and civic responsibility.

Social Studies Activities

• Learn your Community’s History : Help your child research what the place you lived in was like during a time she is studying. Look online or visit the local library to find this information. You may even be able to find old pictures or other information about either your house or the land on which you live. Learn the history of where you live. Compare the differences between your community, past and present.
• Find Historical Artifacts : Visit museums, libraries, or even relatives' or friends’ homes to find objects from the early 20th century that may have been used during the time your child studies.
• Interview Historical Figures : Since your 5th grader may study modern history from the 20 century, you may know someone who experienced a historical event covered in school. Your child can interview this person and then create a project (such as a written piece or a TV show) about the person he interviews. This can be particularly meaningful for your child if the person he interviews is in your family and shares your family history with him.
• Map it Out : Find a place nearby that has historical significance. Visit that place with a map and trace out the event. If you are unable to go somewhere, use an online resource and map out where an important historical event your child learned about occurred. Trace a journey or trip from history. 

19 Powerful Activities to Teach Grade 5 Social Studies

Grade 5 social studies is one of my favourite subjects to teach, but would you believe it was one of my least favourite subjects as a student? Well, 99% of the time I was in an elementary social studies class, we were reading a textbook and answering questions about it. I love reading, but even I found that boring! Reading comprehension is not what social studies is about.

What is social studies?

• Perspective-taking
• Understanding of how history has shaped our present
• Research skills, fact-checking, and synthesizing information
• Knowledge of how our government works
• Using what we have learned to make ethical judgements about particular events
• Equipping students with the tools to work toward positive change
• Geography skills

If our grade 5 social studies lessons don’t include these competencies, what are we actually teaching? Here are 19 activities you can use in your grade 5 social studies class that require at least one of these competencies.

Role-Play in Grade 5 Social Studies

Role-play can be a great way for students to engage meaningfully with grade 5 social studies concepts and demonstrate their understanding. It can also be a powerful tool to help students stretch their social justice thinking and practice advocating for themselves and others.

I try to do role-playing in my grade 5 social studies class in a way that is loosely based on Augosto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. Essentially, a few students begin to role-play a situation with a social justice issue. The other students, who Boal calls “spect-actors”, jump in to try and solve the problem in an equitable and realistic way.

Here are some examples of role-playing tasks you might use:

• A sighted student is walking down the hall when a blind student asks them for directions to the nearest bathroom. The sighted student points in the direction of the bathroom and says, “over there”.
• Pretend you are in the classroom and your teacher tells a friend with ADHD to “sit still and just pay attention”.
• Pretend you are a white theatre-goer who was in the theatre when Viola Desmond was arrested. Retell the story to a friend (the theatregoers, as far as we know, did not stand up for Desmond).

Simulations and Games for Elementary Social Studies

Let me say one thing up front: I don’t think we should be running a simulation for the sake of showing how terrible an event was. Kids don’t need to pretend they are in a slave ship to know that enslavement is terrible. There are some grade 5 social studies concepts that do provide great contexts for simulations, though. Here are a few:

• Trading game:  Divide students into nations and give them little cards that represent that nation’s resources. Have them trade with one another without using spoken language. At the end of the game, have everyone reflect on the kinds of trades they made and how ‘far’ different items travelled.
• Mock trials (but let’s not run trials for people like Columbus, OK? We all know he was guilty, guilty, guilty).
• Mapmaking (ex. visit a new park and try your hand at drawing an accurate map of the area between the school and the park)
• Mock governments and elections (see below)
• Archeology (keep reading!)

How to Teach Government in Grade 5 Social Studies

Mock election or student vote.

What better way to learn about government than by setting up one of your own? Let students run for positions in a class government and then run a mock election. Make the stakes higher by letting the elected government plan a day or week in your class (within parameters, of course).

If you’re in Canada, check out Student Vote and their phenomenal resources. They offer lesson plans, fantastic social studies videos , and official-looking mock election materials for municipal, provincial, and federal elections. They even send those cool little “I Voted” stickers! The ‘real’ ballots and boxe s add a lot of excitement to the process.

Create a New Law

Give your students roles to play and have them draft and pass a law. It can be a serious law or a pretend one; the goal is to focus on the process of creating a law rather than the law itself. Once they’ve drafted several laws, get them to work together to vote on one or two to really engage with. Have students pretend they’re MPs and have them take the law through imaginary readings in the House of Commons! You can take it one step further by sending their law to the Senate, which might be a group of staff members or another class.

Fake Archeological Digs

At the beginning of the year, I like to teach about the different ways we can learn about the past. Students are often totally fascinated by archeology, and it seems like there is always someone who decides to become an archeologist after I teach about it. If you have a sand box, sandpit, empty flower box, or access a sand table, consider burying some things and having your students play archeologist as they excavate them! They can try to think like an archeologist and imagine what the historical significance of the items might be.

Primary Source Analyses in Grade 5 Social Studies

I love, love, love primary source analyses! Some people are hesitant to move away from tertiary sources in elementary school, but fifth grade is NOT too young to engage in primary sources. For a successful interaction with a primary source text in a grade 5 social studies class, you will need:

• A good understanding of the context
• Small chunks of text
• A few carefully chosen vocabulary words
• Square brackets and ellipses to rephrase and chop out words and sections that don’t work for your group

Two ways to approach primary sources:

•  Read as a class , assess based on discussions.
• Stations I like to let students work with their peers and rotate at their own pace. Sometimes I ask them to visit a minimum number of stations, but sometimes I tell them to just take the time they need and not worry about how many they get done. Instead of having specific questions for them to answer at these stations, I try to get them to think more generally. For example:
• Was Joseph Howe for or against Canadian confederation? How do you know?
• Give some examples of how Indigenous families fought back against Indian Residential Schools*

*FNESC ( First Nations Educational Steering Committee ) has tons of primary resources and lesson plans you can use to teach about Indian Residential Schools in Canada in grade 5 social studies as well as grade 10 .

Image Analysis

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Show students images of a particular time or event and have them analyse it. Some guiding questions might be:

• Who do you see? (we’re not looking for names here as much as we are looking for groups of people who are represented)
• Who do you not see?
• What is happening?
• Why would the photographer take this photo?
• What message is the creator trying to get across?
• What do you wonder?
• Can you make any connections?
• Does this fit in with anything you know?
• What surprises you?

Canadian Social Studies Videos for Kids

Canadian teachers: Take a look at Historica Canada’s youtube channel ! They have tons of Heritage Minutes and other neat videos you can easily use as a hook for a lesson. Not all their videos are a minute long, and the newer Heritage Minutes seem a lot better than the ones I used to see on TV as a kid. The National Film Board of Canada also has lots of interesting documentaries and films. A lot of them are quite long, but you can show your students portions of them. If you’re in the States, check out PBS for educational content.

Canadian Social Studies Podcasts

Podcasts are such a great way to introduce new material! Kids love how they can draw or doodle as they listen. You can even try getting them to create their own doodle notes! The Secret Life of Canada is my favourite Canadian history podcast. Lots of the episodes have **bad words** that aren’t appropriate for a grade 5 social studies class, so definitely make a point to listen to them ahead of time and select sections you can play at school. They offer teaching guides for select episodes that seem promising for older students. They also have teeny-tiny podcasts called Shout Outs , which introduce neat people from Canadian history. I’ve listened to most of them so far, and they all seem appropriate for grade 5 social studies.

Social Studies Picture Book Read Alouds or Historical Fiction Novel Studies

Who doesn’t love a good picture book? With time for discussion, a picture book can be an incredibly powerful tool for a social studies lesson. Check out my list of Picture Books for Black History Month in Canada for some suggestions!

Using Timelines in Grade 5 Social Studies

The ability to put things in timeline order is an important competency for grade 5 social studies. There are so many great ways to use them:

• A giant beaded timeline that shows the history of your country makes a great visual for your first social studies class (I have instructions for a Canadian/Turtle Island one here )
• A quick three-event timeline can be assigned as a summarization tool after a book, podcast, or documentary
• Combine geography and timelining by having students draw a timeline on a map showing movement over time (ex. Terry Fox’s route, trade patterns during the fur trade, the construction of the CPR…)
• A timeline that students add to all year or throughout a unit as they learn about different historical events
• A timeline that students create at the end of the year or the end of a unit. Have them explain why they feel the events they chose are most significant.
• Students create timelines that branch off in several different directions, showing how one event caused others. Encourage them to make connections between branches.

Virtual Field Trips for Elementary Social Studies

Virtual field trips are so much fun! If you’re learning about a new area or telling stories from a different place, consider taking a virtual field trip to that place first. All you need are a couple of youtube videos and maybe some images. Check back, because I’ll be posting some ideas for how to add extra **magic** to your virtual field trips soon!

Social Studies Stations

Stations are one of my favourite social studies tools. I love combining them with primary source analyses. They’re also a great activity when you don’t have a class set of the materials you’re using. For example, my Acadia Learning Stations feature several videos, but you don’t need a class set of iPads to run them. Some stations have images to analyse, some have texts to read, and others have videos to watch and listen to. Check out this Instagram post to see how I ran primary source stations about Canadian Confederation!

Create an Artifact

Have students create something that represents the time period and/or event they are learning about. I do have two big notes on this though:

• This should be a project for the students, not their adults.
• If you make it an art project, you should be marking it for art!

I’m all for a cross-curricular project, but that model I made of Ramses’ Temple in sixth grade was NOT a social studies project. It was an art project that my dad and I spent way too much time and money on. And guess what? I can’t tell you a dang thing about Ramses’ Temple today. Make sure that your criteria for this assignment is super explicit and the competencies your students are using to complete the assigned task actually meet the curricular outcomes you’re trying to work on.

Think Outside the History Box

Social Studies isn’t all about history and government! It’s also about natural resources and issues of equity. When you’re planning your units, try to include some topics that the kids who ‘hate history’ can get into. Here are some examples…

Learn About Minoritized People Groups and Explore Issues of Equity

In the BC social studies curriculum for grade 5 , we explore “policies and treatment of minority peoples”. When I first saw that Big Idea, I thought of racial and ethnic groups. However, there are lots of other ways that people have been and continue to be minoritized.

Last year, my students learned about the Accessible Canada Act and how it aims to make Canada a more accessible and equitable place for people with disabilities. We walked around our school and community, looking for things that made our spaces accessible or inaccessible. Students role-played disability etiquette. We watched youtube videos and listened to podcasts about spaces created specifically for people with disabilities (like Gallaudet University ) and people with disabilities who have done cool things (like Ashley Fiolek )

Next year, I hope to do a unit on LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy throughout Canadian history. I know that Historica Canada has some good videos that I think would be useful. If you know of any good books, please share them in the comments!

If you’re looking to engage in discussions about social justice, be sure to equip your students with the vocabulary they’ll need! Grab this free social justice and activism word wall set!

When teaching about injustice, please try to also teach about resistance! Check back for a future blog post where I’ll link some of my favourite Canadian Social Studies resources about people groups who fought back against injustice.

Engage Your Students with Current Events

There’s nothing more engaging than following an event in class that is unfolding in real-time. Whether it was following the arguments for and against the construction of the Site C Dam or learning about the Wet’suet’en pipeline protests, I’ve found there has always been a current story that was relevant to the BC grade 5 social studies curriculum. When we’re following current events in class, I try to use a combination of social media posts , videos, and articles to share information. The one downside is that it does require you to be really on top of things because the stories can change and develop so quickly!

Learning about current events also fits beautifully in with media literacy and learning about fact-checking strategies…

Media Literacy and Fact-Checking Strategies

Being able to find information and fact-check it is one of the most fundamental social studies competencies! When our students grow up, they won’t have social studies teachers to curate information for them. With all the information students have access to every day, they need to be able to fact-check it efficiently and accurately! I’m super concerned about the spread of misinformation and disinformation and the way it is polarizing people around the world. Media literacy and the ability to fact-check claims quickly is a tool that can fight that. As much as I love history and social justice, my media literacy unit is one that I don’t think I’ll ever go a year without.

Civix Canada, the organization that runs Student Vote, has tons of fabulous videos and online activities about media literacy, mis- and disinformation, and fact-checking for kids. They’re not Canada-specific, so anyone in an English-speaking classroom could use them. I cannot recommend their videos enough. I get students telling me about things they’ve fact-checked at home long after the unit is done.

Case Studies in the Grade 5 Social Studies Classroom

There are so many interesting ways you can use case studies in your classroom! You can use them to juxtapose historical and contemporary events (for example, the 1990 Oka Crisis/Kanasetake Resistance and the protests in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs). You can also use case studies for social justice topics, like this set of Equity and Equality Case Studies . These case studies require students to imagine equitable outcomes for smaller, everyday social justice issues that your students will experience in their classrooms.

Social Activism for Kids

At the end of the day, knowing about history, politics, and social justice does us no good if we don’t use what we have learned to make the world a more equitable place. Encourage your students to look for causes they are passionate about and ways they can make a difference. If you can, arrange to video chat with local activists who are engaged with causes your students are interested in.

It’s so interesting to see what different groups are passionate about year-to-year. Here are some of the things my students have done as little activists over the past few years:

• Written letters to the school board with suggestions for how we might make the buildings more environmentally-friendly
• Written letters to our local and federal government with their suggestions of what the budgets should prioritize
• Sewed tiny owls and sold them alongside baked goods to raise money for the Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Created a petition and tried to get the government to protect spotted owl habitats. I was even able to take some of them to a strip mall near our school during lunch so they could collect signatures from shoppers. It was such an empowering experience for them! They were also excited to learn that there was no minimum age to sign a petition in Canada. They worked that playground hard at recess and lunch to collect signatures! Some of them even took clipboards to their soccer practices to try and get their teammates’ signatures.
• Collecting pads and tampons to make period care kits for a local shelter.

Truthfully, some of these are more charity than activism, but I think it’s a decent start for a grade 5 social studies class. Older students could even work on creating social media posts, articles, or blogs that share information about a topic of their concern. They could also organize a protest, demonstration, or installation of some sort!

My favourite quick grade 5 social studies assessment …

Last but not least, here’s a strategy you can use to check understanding of virtually any story-based lesson: a somebody-wanted-but-so summary! It’s a great way to see whether students understand who the key players are and whether they get cause and consequence (aka cause and effect). I love hearing all the different ones that students come up with from a particular lesson; it really shows what resonated with them!

How do you feel about teaching social studies? Do you love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in between? What are some of your go-to social studies activities or tools? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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100 New 5th Grade Writing Prompts

• DESCRIPTION 100 New 5th Grade Writing Prompts With Worksheets
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Fifth graders are constantly challenged to use all their writing knowledge from elementary school in writing assignments for every subject. Creative fifth grade writing prompts aligned with Common Core Standards can help any student show off their best writing as they explore different creative writing exercises .

5th Grade Opinion Writing Prompts

Tests like the Florida Standards Assessment for fourth and fifth graders require students to write an opinion essay based on a writing prompt. You can practice writing argumentative essays and persuasive essays using opinion writing prompts to help prepare for a test.

• Should children be allowed to vote?
• Should fifth grade be part of elementary school or middle school?
• Do you think it's appropriate or inappropriate that some cartoon characters don't wear pants?
• Would videogames be better if they were created by kids or by adults?
• Do children need cell phones?
• Should students be allowed to choose their teacher or should the teachers choose their students?
• Do fifth-graders need recess?
• Should students be allowed to opt out of state tests without their parents' permission?
• Does celebrating kindness week make people kinder?
• Which channel has better shows: Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network?
• Should students be allowed excused mental health days?
• Persuade your elementary school to eliminate grade levels.
• Persuade your teacher to use flexible seating instead of chairs.

5th Grade Informational Writing Prompts

Informational writing prompts for fifth grade use comparisons, cause and effect, how-to instructions, and research to get a point across. What's something you want to tell others about?

• Compare and contrast your best friend and your worst enemy.
• Choose any major national problem and describe how you would solve it.
• Write a news story about your day so far.
• Who really discovered America?
• What is the greatest invention since sliced bread?
• Write a how-to essay about keeping kids engaged at school.
• Which language is most important for you to learn after your native language?
• Many towns set age limits for trick-or-treating. How could this affect kids?
• Write a how-to guide for making friends in 5th grade.
• Compare and contrast the food you get at school and the food you get at home.
• Choose any current politician and explain what could make them a better leader.

5th Grade Narrative Writing Prompts

Narrative essays and narrative poems tell your story from your point of view. This type of writing typically involves sharing a personal story that sends a specific message to readers. Think about a great moment from your life that you could share.

• When I am bored, I like to…
• We were doing a boring science experiment when I discovered…
• My grandparents' house is creepy because…
• I secretly love school because…
• I thought my dog was ordinary until he…
• The first day I remember of my whole life was…
• I remember the day I discovered…
• The last phone call I made...
• Share a quote someone once said to you that really made an impact on your life.
• Describe your perfect dinner including who's there and what's served.
• Describe the first time you ever felt sadness.
• If your brain were like the one in the movie Inside Out, which emotion would be the leader?

Reflective Journal Writing Prompts for 5th Grade

Journal writing exercises for fifth graders often include reflective journal writing as kids begin to explore who they are and who they want to be.

• Would you rather have a cell phone and no other electronics or a videogame system and no other electronics?
• How do you contribute to the health of your family?
• What is one thing that makes you unique?
• Discuss a TV show, movie, or character that you found terrifying when you were younger.
• If someone wrote a book about your life, would you be the hero, the villain, or the sidekick?
• Who is one other child who inspires you? How do they inspire you?
• Describe what you will become in the afterlife.
• If you could move backwards or forwards to any grade in school, what grade would you choose?
• Ask your parents what other names they considered naming you before you were born. Are you happy with their choice?
• How do you connect with your ancestors?

5th Grade Science Writing Prompts

A fifth grade science curriculum usually includes topics like Earth and space, life cycles, and the human body. Expand your mind and your view of science through thought-provoking writing prompts.

• Which planet would you live on if you couldn't live on Earth?
• If you could rename Earth's moon, what would you call it and why?
• Which part of the human body do you think is useless and why?
• What is one sound an animal or piece of technology makes that you wish people could make?
• If you could be a magnet that attracted any one material, what material would you want to attract?
• What do you think will be the next great space discovery?
• Do you think people will ever live on another planet in outer space?
• Which is more important for human life: plants or animals?
• If you could give humans the gift of one new form of movement they can't currently perform, what would it be?
• Besides water and the sun, where do you think people could harness energy to power their homes?

5th Grade Social Studies Writing Prompts

Students in fifth grade are typically learning about history, colonization, geography, current events, and civic responsibility. Write about what you've learned or imagine how the world would be different if things didn't go as you have learned.

• What makes you a good neighbor?
• Will there ever be a woman president?
• If you could rename the United States of America, what would you name it?
• Compare any historical villain to any fictional villain.
• Imagine how the New World would have unfolded if the Native Amercicans had banded together against colonists.
• Write some rap lyrics that describe any one country.
• Turn your favorite song into the national anthem for a fictional country.
• Who made the first map and how did they make it?

Imaginative 5th Grade Writing Prompts

Open your imagination to see what kind of nonsense your mind can create. The crazier the ideas, the better.

• Invent a legend about your favorite book character.
• Combine any two fictional creatures into one new creature.
• Write a conversation between your socks and your shoes.
• Choose any animal and imagine what the world would look like if they were the dominant species.
• Rewrite any classic fairytale so the villain actually becomes the hero.
• Choose your favorite emoji and write a backstory about its life.
• If your teacher had a Magic School Bus, where would you go on a field trip?
• Write the script for your very own science show on Netflix.
• Would you rather be a zombie or a robot?
• Would you rather wear only what your teacher chooses for you or only what your mom chooses for you?

Mad Lib Style Writing Prompts for 5th Grade

Look at the provided categories for each prompt and choose your words before reading the rest of the prompt. Insert your category words into the prompt to create a funny writing prompt that resembles a Mad Lib.

• Noun. Superpower. Prompt: You are a (noun) who can (superpower).
• Family member. Adjective. Noun. Prompt: Your (family member) is a (adjective) (noun).
• Verb. Exclamation. Prompt: Your teacher can (verb) so well, it makes you say "(exclamation)!"
• Noun. Food item. Person. Prompt: Your (noun) cooks (food item) for their favorite (person).
• Holiday. Person. Verb. Prompt: It was (holiday) and (person) had to (verb).
• Piece of clothing. Adjective. No one is allowed to wear a (piece of clothing) to the (adjective) awards show.

Use the Adobe printables guide to download and print the funky fill-in-the-blanks creative writing worksheet provided here.

Short Story Starters for 5th Grade

Take classic children's rhymes and common fifth grade reading list books and turn them into fun short story starters by changing up the main characters, settings, or titles.

• There was an old man who lived in a can…
• Boldilocks and the Three Scares.
• Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Joe…
• Fairy had a little clam…
• Where the Tame Things are…
• Alex's Adventures in Hungerland…
• Write a short story version of The Hobbit set in a future world.
• Write a short story version of My Side of the Mountain where the main character runs away to a city.
• Reimagine James and the Giant Peach with a smaller fruit and larger animals.
• Write an ending chapter for The Neverending Story that is decisive.
• Reimagine Wonder so the main character is "normal" when everyone else has facial deformities.

Poem Starters for 5th Grade

Poems come in many forms from free verse to epic. Try your hand at writing different types of poems using fun poem starter writing prompts.

• If you could change your first name what would you change it to? Write an acrostic poem using that name.
• Use the name of a famous person to write an acrostic poem about how you are similar to them.
• Write a long poem about a dream you remember.
• Write a haiku about your desk.
• Invent a holiday and write a haiku about it.
• Choose your favorite snack food and write an ode to it.
• Write a simile poem comparing your teacher to any creature.
• Write a short poem about your favorite hobby.
• Use free verse poetry to share a goal you recently achieved.

Explore three different types of poems based on poem starter writing prompts using a fifth grade writing worksheet PDF.

Write Your Way Through 5th Grade

Creative writing prompts for middle school and upper elementary grades make writing fun and dynamic. Challenge advanced students with 6th grade writing prompts or help struggling writers gain confidence by assigning 4th grade writing prompts . What will you write about next?

5th Grade Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides

The big ideas in Fifth Grade Social Studies include United States History and Geography, specifically, the development of the American nation. The learning focuses on the influence of physical and cultural environment on national origins, growth, and development. Students learn about the founding of colonial governments, the ideals of the Enlightenment, and the English tradition of self-government, as well as how the principles of the American republic form the basis of a pluralistic society in which individual rights are secured.

Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides Fifth Grade

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When I’m teaching the American Revolution, I jump out of bed everyday, and ( after coffee ), I can’t wait to get into my classroom. Teaching this pivotal time right at the dawn of the United States is more than exciting… it’s exhilarating!

As you may have gathered from many of my other posts, I believe it’s an honor to teach social studies, especially to 5th graders. My classroom is often the very first place students hear about the founding of our nation and the documents that give life and structure to our system of government.

This post may be a bit long, but it’s full of good tips and information. If you stick with me to the end, I have a special freebie that you and your students will enjoy!

So, how do I teach the American Revolution to my 5th graders? The simple answer: It’s a process.

I break this period into two units. First, we study the Road to Revolution , which includes the events leading to the Revolution. Then, we study the American Revolution .

After a thorough study of Colonial America , we dive into what I refer to as the Road to Revolution .

It’s helpful to compare the Road to Revolution  to a person continually adding pressure to an unsteady table. Eventually that table is going to collapse.

England kept adding more and more stress to the colonies until the Second Continental Congress decided they’d had enough! Along the road, there were a number of events, injustices, and provocations that led the colonies to declare independence.

To deepen understanding, students keep track of the events leading to the American Revolution. I put up this road template on my classroom wall and I add the events as we study them.

We study the events on the Road to Revolution in a chronological order. Please see the chart below:

For your convenience, I’ve listed out my process for teaching the lessons in this unit.

I introduce each lesson with a story. This serves two purposes. First , interesting stories spark students’ interest in the topic. Second , stories help preview the information students are expected to learn.

If you need help learning how to tell stories in social studies class, I wrote this blog post just for you: The Importance of Telling Stories in Social Studies Class

Next, we read an informational passage about the event or topic. I find that it’s best to restrict content reading to one page at a time, or maybe two pages, if it’s an extensive topic.

Example of an informational page:

Students discuss the information they just learned. This happens in many formats in my classroom because I like to change things up frequently. To have students verbalize what they just learned, I like to encourage round-table discussion and partner talk.

There’s no “sit and get” in my classroom. Students learn and retain so much more when they TALK to other kids about new information .

Students complete a hands-on activity, like an interactive notebook foldable page or a group activity, using their informational passages.

Example of an interactive notebook foldable activity:

By the time students complete this step, they are solid on the new information they’ve learned.

Step 5 ( Most of the time )

In most of my lessons, I include a primary source study. Primary sources truly help bring the American Revolution to life.

Example of a primary source page that I use:

If you need more guidance with using primary sources in the classroom, please see this post: Teaching with Primary Sources in Upper Elementary.

Step 6 ( Sometimes )

Children’s literature books are a goldmine for social studies teachers. When you find books that are relevant to the time period you are studying, USE THEM! Students love being read to and are likely to remember stories from books much more than what you say.

My favorite book to use during the Road to Revolution:

* Please note that Thrive in Grade Five (Jenifer Bazzit)  is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. *

This book contains poems from the perspectives of various colonial individuals giving their opinions about the Boston Tea Party. **Hint: Studying events from multiple perspectives is a social studies skill AND a language arts skill!**

If you are looking for more books to read in social studies class, I have a post just for you: My Favorite Read-Aloud Books for Upper Elementary Social Studies.

Review daily! Trust me… I know this seems like overkill. But do a quick review of the events you’ve learned about so far. There is so much to the American Revolution and students need their memories refreshed frequently to keep it all straight.

End of the Road to Revolution

There’s a special surprise at the end of this road! The American Revolution begins and class becomes even more exciting.

Once we reach the end of the Road to Revolution, we review and take a unit test. I am always so very excited to grade my students’ tests and find out how much they learned.

Once the American Revolution was sparked, there was no stopping the desire for independence.

Although the colonies were now at war, students need to understand that not everyone in the American colonies was a patriot.

There were many staunch loyalists and many people who just really didn’t care either way.

Just like the Road to Revolution, we work through the events one by one.

I follow a format similar to the steps listed above. However, in this section, I like to sprinkle in some extra resources that aid in making the American Revolution interesting and relevant for my students.

Battle of Bunker Hill

I love telling the story of the ragtag colonists building up earthworks and the British charging up the hill in their bright red uniforms. Students are fascinated to learn that the colonists lost this battle due to their lack of ammunition.

Students enjoy examining the primary source print of Dr. Joseph Warren, the young physician killed during this battle.

After I teach the Battle of Bunker Hill lesson, I start using the Liberty’s Kids video series to reinforce the events of the American Revolution. I really have to give kudos to the makers of the series, they did an amazing job!

Second Continental Congress & Declaration of Independence

What students need to understand about the Second Continental Congress is that they really did try to reconcile with England. Once their petition was ignored, there was no choice but to declare independence.

Many students think that signing the Declaration of Independence was a glamorous, fun event. It definitely wasn’t!

This was a somber time because the men who signed this document knew they were committing treason against the king. They were essentially signing their death warrants if the Revolution was lost.

Because I have teacher-to-teacher intuition, I know that you want more information on teaching about this amazing but controversial document.

I have a wealth of great information, resources, and my favorite social studies YouTube video EVER linked in this blog post: Teach the Declaration of Independence the Fun Way!

Battles of Trenton and Saratoga

I tell the stories of these battles before we dive into our informational passages and foldable activities.

This section of the unit includes the famous painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware to surprise the sleeping force of Hessians. ( You know, the one where he’s standing up in the boat and not at all worried about the blowing ice and the possibility of capsizing the boat into the frigid water! ) We spend some time dissecting this SECONDARY source and discussing the things in the painting that are incorrect.

Valley Forge

Ahhh, Valley Forge… I feel cold and uncomfortable just thinking about the miserable conditions that the Continental soldiers endured at their winter encampment.

I like to dim the classroom lights, ask students to close their eyes and imagine the scene as I describe it. We talk about why many of the soldiers had red footprints, what it was like to not have enough food and shelter, and how bone-chilling cold it was.

We watch Dear America: The Winter of Red Snow . This video is absolutely incredible and clearly shows the struggle of the soldiers at Valley Forge.  Students adore this video and always ask to see it again. Unfortunately, I can’t really point you to a place to get this video. It’s only on VHS but maybe if we all write letters/emails to Scholastic, they’ll put it on DVD. *Wink* I think they’re tired of hearing from me!

We examine a primary source letter from George Washington asking, actually begging, his governor friend for help for his men. Students need to remember that the Continental Congress had very little money or supplies and couldn’t pay for the army.

Battle of Yorktown and Treaty of Paris

The French and the Americans devised a genius strategy to surround the British and assure Cornwallis’ surrender. While studying this battle, we dissect two primary source quotes, one by General Washington and one by Lord Cornwallis.

George Washington: “I have the honor to inform Congress, that a reduction of the British Army under the command of Lord Cornwallis, is most happily effected.” October 19, 1781

Lord Cornwallis: “I have the mortification to inform your Excellency that I have been forced to give up the posts of York and Gloucester and to surrender the troops under my command, by capitulation … as prisoners of war to the combined forces of America and France.” October 20, 1781

African Americans in the Revolution

It’s necessary to study the people and groups who were essential to the Revolutionary efforts. Unfortunately, there is little mention of African Americans during the Revolutionary period in most history textbooks.

Enslaved Africans may or may not have been willing participants in the war. Many thousands of enslaved individuals were offered freedom for their service in the Revolution by both sides. Only a fraction of the enslaved individuals who accepted this offer and fought were actually freed.

The sad, painful truth is that slavery existed and was thriving during the Revolutionary period. If you need help talking about 18th Century slavery in your classroom, please see this post: How to Teach 18th Century Slavery in Today’s Classroom.

Women in the Revolution

History often overlooks the sacrifices and contributions of women. The women of the Revolution were wives taking care of farms and shops while husbands were away, female camp followers doing vital jobs for soldiers, and a few very special women were even spies.

I love reading this book (below) to my students because there are a plethora of stories about women and their contributions, both large and small, to the war effort.

Important Individuals

Learning about the struggles, successes, and lives of individuals makes history so much more relevant to students. I created short biographies and foldable activities for the following historical figures/groups:

George Washington, Paul Revere, Mercy Otis Warren, Phyllis Whealey, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Marquis de Lafayette, Sons of Liberty, Daughters of Liberty

American Revolution Spies

If you’re looking to build interest and engagement while teaching the American Revolution, introduce stories of spying during this period. My students are fascinated with Revolutionary-Era spies. Be sure to teach your students about Benedict Arnold, Nathan Hale, and the Culper Spy Ring. Show students code letters and mask letters. Maybe even try your hand at invisible ink!

Throw in Some American Revolution STEM!

I have to tell you about this resource because I love it so much! Every year, I read this book to students:

Then, we use our stellar STEM skills to build clotheslines just like in the book.

Here’s some extra fun stuff your students will love:

This adorable music video has a surprise ending: Soldier, Soldier Will You Marry Me?

School House Rock: I really just recommend that you buy the entire series. It’s super cheap on Amazon and it covers social studies content from early settlement through government.

Music Video: Rich Lady Over the Sea   The mother is England and the daughter is the colonies. We could spend forever talking about the intricacies of the relationship between England and the colonies portrayed in this video.

Scholastic’s Virtual Field Trip to the American Revolution Museum in Philadelphia – Free & Fascinating!

If you’re looking for a print ‘n go comprehensive bundle for teaching the American Revolution, this is what you need…

Would you like a set of  American Revolution Cloze Passages  sent to you for free? Enter your first name and email address below to receive this freebie right away!

To keep this blog post for later, simply pin this image to your teacher pinterest board.

16 Comments

I am so interested in your interactive notebook?

Hi Jessica! I love interactive notebooks and I use them almost daily with my students. You might check out this resource. It contains lessons and activities (lots of them are foldables). https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Road-to-Revolution-The-Colonies-Unite-An-Active-Engaging-Unit-1623235

Thanks for reaching out to me!

Where can I find the foldable used for the Sugar Act?

Hi Erin! The foldable for the Sugar Act is contained in this Road to Revolution resource!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Road-to-Revolution-The-Colonies-Unite-An-Active-Engaging-Unit-1623235

How long does it typically take to get through the unit? I have 45 minutes daily to teach social studies.

Hi Julie! It takes me around 3 weeks to get through my American Revolution Unit! We have similar class periods. I hope this helps 🙂

I absolutely love using the Road to the Revolution resource each year. This resource gives a thorough understanding of the causes of the Revolutionary War. My students are engaged in the lessons and the hands on resources keep them engaged. Thanks for this favorite!

You are very welcome, Julie! I loooove teaching the Road to Revolution. It’s just so exciting!

You can purchase Dear America season 1 on Amazon Prime. I show “Winter of Red Snow”, but I also show “Journey to America” when we talk about Plymouth. It was worth it to me to buy the whole season.

That’s awesome, Holly! I’m going to go look at Amazon prime right now 🙂

I cannot wait to teach this now that I have your resources from TPT. Thank you. I’ve been looking to find the story that you tell to get the kids hooked before you start the Road to the Revolution section. Could I read a book or is it more important to use more of a story telling approach. If it’s the latter, I wold need some kind of idea of what story to tell. Is this available on TPT or through your blog?

Hi Stacy! I would recommend telling a story before you start each event from the Road to Revolution. It can be as simple as introducing each event in an exciting way. Your students can definitely tell when you are interested in the history topic 🙂

I can’t find the printable Lesson 10: The First Continental Congress. Where is it??

Hi Lola! That lesson is contained in this resource on TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Road-to-Revolution-The-Colonies-Unite-An-Active-Engaging-Unit-1623235 Please let me know if you have any other questions 🙂

Do you have a link to Important Individuals foldable?

Hi Anita! Great question! Those foldables are located in my American Revolution Unit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/American-Revolution-Unit-2140253

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Top 12 Lessons & Units for 5th Grade History Curriculum

Let's face it, the search for high quality, affordable, and easy to use lesson plans and teaching resources for 5th Grade Social Studies is no walk in the park!

That's why I've personally spent hundreds of hours creating an entire year's worth of fifth grade U.S. history curriculum! So, who am I, and why should you keep reading this post from someone you've never heard of before??!🧐  Well, that's a great question and one which I'd be asking myself right about now 😜 

Long story, short, I'm a "history buff" at heart with a minor in history to go along with my over 10+ years in the classroom, and several more as a district administrator. ALL my resources have been used extensively both by myself and other teachers with great success throughout the U.S. Oh, and I love, love , LOVE curriculum design and creation!! 🥰  I've personally spent more time that I care to admit searching the internet and sites like Teachers pay Teachers (TpT) for lesson plans and resources to use on the fly when I didn't have enough time to make them on my own. As it turned out, I'm fairly certain that I spent more time meandering my way through the massive collections of resources on TpT, looking for just that * right * resource (a.k.a. "the unicorn" 🦄 😋  ) and several hours later, after finally finding that perfect resource (the "unicorn") and excitedly making a purchase only to find out that the teacher-author of that resource is W-A-Y better at marketing their product, than they are at actually creating the product itself ...or more often than not, closing my internet browser without purchasing a single resource, and then trying to convince myself that I'll never waste another Sunday afternoon and evening searching online for social studies lesson plans about [insert specific topic(s) here] for fifth graders ever again - only to find myself in the exact same predicament the very next Sunday  ...and the Sunday after that ...and the one after that, and so on. And that brings me (and YOU) here, my little corner of the internet, Lesson Plan Guru!!

It's my most sincere hope to help my fellow educators achieve and maintain a HEALTHY work/life balance. I've been in your shoes and after successfully creating thousands of resources and lesson plans for my own use in the classroom, worked up the courage to begin selling them on Teachers pay Teachers, and now *gasp* on my OWN website!! 😳  

I firmly believe that the lesson plans and resources I've created offer the  BEST 5th grade curriculum out there for those looking to teach 5th graders all about U.S. history ( especially after combing the web for an embarrassingly exorbitant amount of time that I'll never admit to for lesson plans to use in my own classroom) . My fifth grade social studies curriculum emphasizes the use of primary sources and secondary sources of information across all units and lessons. This also includes the use of primary source documents whereby students hone their critical thinking and analytical abilities . In addition, several of my lessons have been specifically curated to help inspire and promote students’ life skills through the study of history. For example, students will learn how one of our most important Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, who was born in the Caribbean and abandoned by his father in early childhood, leaving his mother to raise and support both him and his older brother. And then when Hamilton was just 13 years old, his mother contracted Yellow Fever and died, leaving him orphaned. Yet, despite the unfortunate circumstances he was faced with, through sheer determination and dedication, Hamilton persevered, leaving the Caribbean island of St. Croix behind to make his way to New York (a trip funded by local community leaders after being impressed with an essay he wrote) where he could attend university and where he'd eventually join the ranks of the Continental Army, showcase his loyalty and intellect, become a trusted aide to General George Washington, play an instrumental role at the Constitutional Convention, become the first Secretary of the Treasury and leader of the Federalist Party, and ultimately one of the most prominent and influential politicians in all of U.S. history ...all this despite the astounding odds he faced!

The full curriculum of my 5th Grade Social Studies Units covers ALL of these TOP 12 Unit topics!

U.s. geography.

• Map reading
• State abbreviations and capitals
• Physical geography of the U.S. (major bodies of water, climates, etc.)
• Economic, political, and population regions of the U.S.
• Settlement patterns

  Colonial America (1500s-1760s)

• The 13 Colonies (New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, & Southern Colonies)
• English colonies and settlements such as Virginia and Jamestown
• Influence of French, Dutch, & Spanish colonies in North America
• Early forms of self-government (Mayflower Compact, Virginia House of Burgesses, etc.)
• The French and Indian War

American Revolution (1760s-1780s)

• American Revolution and the Revolutionary War
• Declaration of Independence &
• Boston Massacre & Boston Tea Party
• Acts of Controversy (Stamp Act, Tea Act, etc.)
• Articles of Confederation

United States Constitution (1780s)

• Constitutional Convention
• The Virginia Plan and Three-Fifths Amendment
• Breakdown and analysis of the Bill of Rights
• Constitutional Amendment process
• Creation of the U.S. government (separate branches, three branches of government)

  Birth of the United States (1790s-1820s)

• The Whiskey Rebellion
• Alien and Sedition Act
• Louisiana Purchase
• Lewis & Clark Expedition
• Causes and effects of the War of 1812
• The Star Spangled Banner
• Free Enterprise System (Capitalism)

Westward Expansion (1800s-1840s)

• Impact on Native Americans (Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears, Westward Expansion, etc.)
• The Texas Revolution
• Mexican-American War
• Oregon Trail
• California Gold Rush
• Territory of Utah and the Mormon Migration

Sectionalism (1800s-1850s)

• Evils of slavery
• Missouri Compromise
• Rise of Abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and several others
• Harriet Beecher Stowe and the influence of Uncle Tom's Cabin
• The Underground Railroad
• Kansas-Nebraska Act (KS-NE Act)
• Dred Scott Decision
• Election of 1860

Civil War (1860-1865)

• Attack on Fort Sumter
• Civil War transportation
• Civil War regiments and the draft
• Emancipation Proclamation
• Important battles of the Civil War (Antietam, Gettysburg, etc.)
• Gettysburg Address
• Assassination of President Lincoln

Reconstruction (1865-1876)

• Role of Radical Republicans
• The Freedmen's Bureau
• Black Codes
• Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, & 15th Amendments)
• Effects of Reconstruction such as sharecropping and Jim Crow laws

Industrial Revolution & Urbanization (1870s-1900s)

• Birth of the steel and oil industries, and monopolies
• European immigration to the U.S.
• Historical significance of Ellis Island, Angel Island, and the Statue of Liberty
• Working conditions and labor reform efforts
• Rise of labor unions
• Women of the Industrial Revolution

WWI to WWII (1910s-1940s)

• Causes of World War 1 (WWI)
• The Roaring 20's
• The Great Depression & New Deal
• Causes and effects of the Dust Bowl
• Breakout of WWII
• WWII in Europe
• WWII in the Pacific
• Effects of WWII

The Cold War (1945-1989)

• Threat of communism
• The Iron Curtain, Marshall Plan, and role of NATO
• Causes and effects of the Korean War
• U.S./Soviet Arms and Space Race
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Outbreak of the Vietnam War
• Collapse of the Soviet Union (fall of the Iron Curtain)

Civil Rights Movement

• Segregation
• Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
• Role of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Civil rights Act of 1965
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Equal rights for women and minority groups
• Role, influence, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK)

Modern Day America (1990s-Today)

• Terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and U.S. patriotism
• The War on Terror and Axis of Evil
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Elections of 2008, 2016, & 2020 (they each featured a minority and/or a female candidate)

This is just a SAMPLING of the American history curriculum my lesson plans and resources cover! Through the numerous social studies activities provided throughout the curriculum, your students will form a solid foundation of core knowledge history that'll help propel them towards future success in ensuing grade level! As I've outlined above, the colonial period to modern day America is ALL covered and touches on just enough of the various significant events, political movements, social movements, major issues, economic growth and time of major economic development, to give your fifth graders as complete a history of the United States (in one calendar school year) as humanly possible without the need to worry about making it through it each day's lesson before the bell rings -OR- overly confusing your kiddo's with the subject matter.

With all of that said, I've already done all of the hard work for you!  My extensive library of fifth grade social studies curriculum is guaranteed to save you several hours each week of the school year. STOP the endless stress , anxiety , and countless hours creating and searching for 5th grade social studies lesson plans and resources . You can use them for in-person classroom learning, as online curriculum, or hybrid learning... my lesson plans offer MAXIMUM flexibility!

From engaging presentations that feature built-in discussion-based questions (DBQ) in PowerPoint and Google Slides formats, to student exercise assignments (all with teacher answer key) that come in printable PDF and digital format (via Google Apps) , and so MUCH more, it's all right here for you!

Start getting your nights, weekends, and lunch periods back RIGHT NOW and regain a healthy work/life balance and spend more time actually teaching, and WAY less on creating, searching for, and preparing lesson plans!

Check out my 5th Grade Social Studies YEAR-LONG Curriculum bundle!

Click here.

I'd be truly humbled and honored to be offered the opportunity to take care of your lesson plan needs. If you have any questions, please reach out! [email protected]

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University Interscholastic League

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Academic Contests

• Social Studies
• Contest Materials
• Current Issues & Events
• Essay Contests
• Literary Criticism
• Ready Writing
• Spelling & Vocabulary

Academics Contact Info

Academics Director: Dr. David Stevens

Department Phone: 512-471-5883

State Champions

View State Champions

Elements of the Contest

The Social Studies Contest consists of 45 objective questions and an essay. Students are expected to master primary reading selections, as well as specific documents, and to be familiar with general-knowledge social studies concepts and terms. Each year, the contest focuses on a different topic area and a reading list that is provided by UIL.

Social Studies Overview Video

Additional information.

2024-2025 TOPIC: The Rise of Factionalism, Partisanship, and the “Vices of Democracy” in the early United States (1795-1850)

Primary Reading Selection: A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign by Edward J. Larson

The Reading List and Supplemental Resource list will be updated for 2024-2025 and can be found on the right-hand side of this webpage under Social Studies Topic for you to download.

For A+ Social Studies information, please click here .

State Contest Director

Andrew Bates [email protected]

Contest Rules

Section 956  of UIL Constitution and Contest Rules (C&CR).

CONTEST HANDBOOK

Social studies topic.

• Topic and Reading List 2024-2025 7/22/24
• Historical List of Topics

Sample Test

(Not based on current reading list).

• About the Essay Portion
• Download 2018 Sample Test & Key
• Download 2019 Sample Test & Key
• Rubric for the Social Studies Essay (updated 2024)
• Essay Scoring Guide

Integrating Social Studies into Classroom Instruction

• Four Lessons/ Two Sponge Activities to Prepare for Social Studies Contest

INTEGRATING ELA

Social Studies

LESSON PLANNING

Student Engagement

TEKS RESOURCES

Teaching Tips

• Lesson Planning
• Social Studies Topics
• TEKS Resources

Breaking Down the 5 Main Social Studies Topics

By Kirsten Hammond

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Social studies is an amazing subject that offers students the opportunity to explore so many different avenues of the world’s past, present, and future. It’s divided into five social studies topics or domains, each offering a unique perspective on human society and how it has changed.

1. Geography – Discovering the World Around Us

Geography is all about understanding the Earth’s physical features, environments, and human interactions with our planet. Through geography, students explore the diverse landscapes, climates, and resources that shape our world.

It also helps us understand the impact of human activities on the environment.

Examples of geography topics include maps and globes, understanding latitude and longitude, and studying the physical environment of different regions.

2. History – Unveiling the Past

History takes students on a journey through time, exploring past events, people, and societies that have shaped the world we live in today.

By studying social studies topics history, students gain insights into the roots of cultures, conflicts, and societal changes. It encourages critical thinking and an understanding of historical context.

Historical topics may include the American Revolution and the World Wars, examining causes, effects, and global implications.

3. Culture and Society – Embracing Diversity

Culture and society is all about delving into the rich tapestry of human cultures, traditions, customs, and societal structures.

This domain promotes empathy and respect for diversity, which, in turn, can foster a more inclusive classroom environment.

Students explore cultural celebrations, holidays, and traditions from around the world. They also analyze literature and the arts to understand how they reflect cultural values.

4. Government and Civics – Navigating Society’s Structure

Government and civics offer insights into political systems, citizens’ rights and responsibilities, and the intricate workings of societies.

Upper elementary students often focus on the democratic process in the United States. Understanding the three branches of government and citizens’ roles in society are important social studies topics within this domain.

5. Economics – Understanding Resource Management

Economics revolves around the management of resources, production, consumption, and economic systems.

Students explore concepts like supply and demand and learn about economic decision-making. They also gain essential financial literacy skills, such as budgeting and saving.

Integrating Social Studies Topics in the Classroom

As educators, our task is to weave these social studies topics seamlessly into our curriculum, providing students with a holistic understanding of the world around them. By emphasizing the importance of each domain, we can increase student engagement and their appreciation for social studies.

Teaching social studies goes beyond textbooks; it’s about fostering a genuine curiosity and understanding of the world! By integrating these domains into your curriculum, you can provide students with the tools they need to navigate our complex world.

So, whether you’re exploring maps, unraveling historical mysteries, celebrating cultural diversity, discussing civic responsibilities, or decoding economic principles, remember that each domain plays an important role in shaping informed and engaged citizens!

Check out the social studies resources that I offer in my store – it includes all 5 domains!

kirsten hammond

Kirsten is a former 3rd and 5th grade teacher who loves helping upper elementary teachers by creating resources and sharing ideas that are engaging, research-based, and TEKS-aligned. She is a work-from-home mama of 3 rambunctious little ones and loves running, true crime, and lots of coffee.

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Social Studies TOPICS

• Inspiration

Fifth grade social studies

IXL offers more than 100 fifth grade social studies skills to explore and learn! Not sure where to start? Go to your personalized Recommendations wall to find a skill that looks interesting, or select a skill plan that aligns to your textbook, state standards, or standardized test.

A. Read maps

• 1 Read a map: cardinal directions
• 2 Identify lines of latitude and longitude
• 3 Use lines of latitude and longitude

B. Physical geography

• 1 Identify Earth's land features using photographs
• 2 Identify Earth's land features using satellite images
• 3 Identify oceans and continents
• 4 Select oceans and continents
• 5 Name oceans and continents
• 1 Identify states of the West
• 2 Select states of the West
• 3 Name states of the West
• 4 Identify states of the Midwest
• 5 Select states of the Midwest
• 6 Name states of the Midwest
• 7 Identify states of the Southeast
• 8 Select states of the Southeast
• 9 Name states of the Southeast
• 10 Identify states of the Northeast
• 11 Select states of the Northeast
• 12 Name states of the Northeast
• 13 Identify the 50 states
• 14 Select the 50 states
• 15 Name the 50 states

D. State capitals

• 1 Identify state capitals of the West
• 2 Name state capitals of the West
• 3 Identify state capitals of the Midwest
• 4 Name state capitals of the Midwest
• 5 Identify state capitals of the Southeast
• 6 Name state capitals of the Southeast
• 7 Identify state capitals of the Northeast
• 8 Name state capitals of the Northeast
• 9 Identify the 50 state capitals
• 10 Name the 50 state capitals
• 1 Cities of the West
• 2 Cities of the Midwest
• 3 Cities of the Southeast
• 4 Cities of the Northeast
• 5 Major U.S. cities

F. English colonies in North America

• 1 Jamestown: the early years
• 2 Jamestown: growth of a colony
• 4 New England colonies: religion and government
• 5 New England colonies: economy and conflict
• 6 Middle colonies: founding and government
• 7 Middle colonies: economy and society
• 8 Southern colonies: founding and government
• 9 Southern colonies: economy and slavery
• 10 Identify the Thirteen Colonies
• 11 Select the Thirteen Colonies
• 12 Name the Thirteen Colonies

G. The American Revolution

• 1 The American Revolution: the Thirteen Colonies under British rule
• 2 The American Revolution: New British taxes
• 3 The American Revolution: the Boston Tea Party
• 4 The American Revolution: the rebellion begins
• 5 The American Revolution: preparing for war
• 6 The American Revolution: struggle for independence
• 7 The American Revolution: turning the tide of the war
• 8 The American Revolution: conclusion and aftermath

H. Early 19th century American history

• 1 The Louisiana Purchase
• 2 The Lewis and Clark Expedition
• 3 The War of 1812: causes
• 4 The War of 1812: events and effects
• 5 Antebellum Period: economies of the North and South
• 6 Antebellum Period: abolitionist and proslavery perspectives
• 7 Antebellum Period: slavery and politics part I
• 8 Antebellum Period: slavery and politics part II

I. The Civil War and Reconstruction

• 1 The Civil War: the beginning of the war
• 2 The Civil War: the First Battle of Bull Run to Gettysburg
• 3 The Civil War: war tactics and the home front
• 4 The Civil War: the end of the war
• 5 Reconstruction

J. World War I

• 1 World War I: the road to war
• 2 World War I: the war begins
• 3 World War I: events of the war
• 4 World War I: the road to peace

K. The Great Depression

• 1 The Great Depression: part I
• 2 The Great Depression: part II
• 3 The New Deal

L. World War II

• 1 World War II: lead-up to war in Europe, Asia
• 2 World War II: global events

M. Government

• 1 Local government
• 2 State government
• 3 Federal government
• 4 The Constitution
• 5 The Bill of Rights
• 6 Checks and balances
• 7 Presidential elections

N. American symbols, landmarks, and monuments

• 1 Identify American symbols
• 2 Identify American landmarks and monuments: part I
• 3 Identify American landmarks and monuments: part II
• 4 The American flag
• 5 The White House
• 6 The Washington Monument
• 7 The Lincoln Memorial
• 8 The Statue of Liberty
• 9 The Empire State Building
• 10 The Golden Gate Bridge
• 11 Mount Rushmore

O. American national holidays

• 1 Thanksgiving

P. Basic economic principles

• 1 What is economics?
• 2 Costs and benefits
• 3 Opportunity cost

Q. Supply and demand

• 1 Understand quantity supplied and quantity demanded
• 2 Understand overall supply and demand
• 3 Create and use supply and demand curves
• 4 Identify shortage and surplus
• 5 Identify shortage and surplus with graphs
• 6 Identify shortage and surplus with data

R. Banking and finance

S. social studies skills.

• 1 Identify facts and opinions
• 2 Reading and creating timelines with BCE and CE

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History Topics - Fifth 5th Grade Social Studies

5th Grade Social Studies Standards - History Links verified on 9/17/2014 Standards 5.5.1 Pre-Civil War - Interpret sectional differences in the North and South in pre-Civil War (i.e., a map of Union, Confederate, and border-states; pictorial representations of crop production; reading timelines; and interpreting bar graphs showing human, natural, and man-made resources). 5.5.2 Leaders - Recognize military and nonmilitary leaders from the North and South during Civil War (i.e., Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, Chief Justice Roger Taney, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis). 5.5.3 Timelines - Interpret timelines that depict major historical post-Civil War events. 5.5.4 Worker's Rights - Recognize the rights that workers fought for in the late 1800's (i.e., wages, hours, insurance, and working conditions). 5.5.5 World War II - Interpret a visual contrasting life before and after World War II (i.e., education, family size,transportation, urbanization, and the role of women). 5.5.6 Hardships - Determine the hardships encountered by Greater Plain settlers in the late 1800's (i.e., building materials, natural geography, climatic conditions, isolated communities, and lack of revenue). 5.5.7 Primary Source - Interpret a primary reading sample. 5.5.8 Civil Rights - Recognize examples of how the United States confronted Civil Rights issues (i.e., Brown vs. Board of Education, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Birmingham Civil Rights March, American Indian Movement [AIM], and the Civil Rights Act of 1964).

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70+ Fascinating Informative Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Tell them what you know.

Informative essays are a chance to show what you know. They’re all about informing the reader, without trying to persuade or offer an opinion. Informative writing can include how-to process essays, biographical writing, an in-depth analysis of a topic, research papers, or compare-and-contrast essays . Just remember to stick to the facts, and be clear and descriptive. These informative essay topics offer something for all interests and ages.

How-To Informative Essay Topics

Social studies informative essay topics, science informative essay topics, pop culture informative essay topics.

Teach your reader the steps or process to:

• Cook a recipe
• Set a table
• Make a quilt
• Change a tire
• Start a recycling program
• Play a game
• Build a birdhouse
• Plant a garden
• Make and care for a compost pile

• Care for an animal
• Start a business
• Catch a fish
• Tie a necktie
• Train for a marathon
• Prepare a campsite
• Make a campfire
• Clean a room
• Wrap a gift
• Plan a party
• Kick a bad habit
• Use social media responsibly

• Manage time effectively
• Make a budget
• Describe the life of a world leader.
• How has the role of women in the workplace changed in the last hundred years?

• Explore the current path to becoming an American citizen.
• What are some of the possible ways the pyramids were built?
• Describe a time period in history.
• How does one country’s economy affect another country?
• What is the difference between socialism and communism?
• Explore the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing drugs.
• Describe the political system in a foreign country.
• Explore the causes of a specific war or armed conflict in history.

• How is a new law passed in the United States?
• Give an overview of the history of any country, state, or city.
• Describe the three branches of American government.
• Explain how the American judicial system works.
• Describe the evolution of fashion throughout history.
• Describe a science experiment, including the hypothesis, process, and conclusion.

• Explain what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle.
• What is the relationship between calories and fat?
• What is the physics behind a bicycle?
• How do plants convert sunlight into energy?
• Describe any element from the periodic table, including its makeup and uses.
• What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
• Describe the life cycle of any animal.
• What are the benefits of recycling?
• Describe the life of a prominent scientist.
• Explain what E = mc 2 means.
• Describe any disease, including its symptoms and treatments.

• Why do leaves change color in the fall?
• Explain the difference between climate and weather.
• Describe a specific ecosystem, including the plants and animals that live there.
• Describe the history of video games.
• What are recent trends in the video game industry?
• Describe your favorite superhero.
• Explain the motivations of any fictional villain.
• Describe the life of your favorite celebrity.
• Explore the development and growth of a main character in any book series.

• Describe the process of making a movie or TV show.
• Tell the story of any band, including its founding, successes and challenges, and breakup (if applicable).
• Describe the life of a famous artist.
• Explore the history of Disney World (or any theme park).
• Plan the perfect fantasy football league team.
• Describe popular trends and fads from any decade.
• Explore the history of the Olympics.
• Describe the music of a generation and how it reflected that time.

• Explain the history of the internet.

What are some of your favorite informative essay topics? Come share your ideas in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (100+ ideas).

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The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

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Fifth Grade Social Studies Worksheets and Printables

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Find Social Studies - History resources | TPT

Importance of learning social studies.

Social studies offers valuable insights into history, geography, and much more. Social studies captivates students by providing them with perspectives from the past, present, and future, allowing them to understand history and navigate current events. It enables them to appreciate how previous generations have shaped their present reality. In essence, social studies opens their eyes to the vastness of life beyond their immediate surroundings.

Benefits of learning social studies

Learning social studies offers many benefits to students in terms of helping them develop a holistic understanding of the world. Namely, it helps them:

• Learn about the achievements, challenges, perspectives, traditions, and customs of different societies
• Evaluate information, analyze evidence, and make informed judgments about complex social, economic, and political issues
• Become active, responsible, and engaged citizens
• Comprehend global issues such as human rights, environmental sustainability, and economic disparities

By teaching social studies, teachers can help students develop critical thinking skills, foster civic engagement, and promote social awareness and responsibility.

Teaching with social studies resources

On TPT, social studies resources come in various formats, from worksheets to interactive notebooks to units. They can be used to enhance learning, assess a student’s mastery of social studies concepts, or to reteach a tricky topic. With plenty of TPT resources at your fingertips, teaching and learning social studies will be so much easier.

Discover printable and digital social studies resources

If you’re a teacher or parent looking for printable or digital social studies resources, TPT has an extensive array of instructional materials for every learning need, topic, or grade level. Whether you’re teaching students about America’s democratic process, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., how to read maps, or World War II, we’ve got you covered.

Social studies resources on TPT offer informative lessons, engaging texts, intriguing facts, interactive puzzles, and enjoyable trivia games. These grade-specific resources ensure that all students can access age-appropriate materials that stimulate their minds and enhance their creative thinking abilities.

For instance, first graders can explore worksheets on senses and emotions, followed by a coloring page featuring Harriet Tubman. Older students can test their knowledge with quizzes on statistics and capital cities, then delve into the history of the Underground Railroad through an informational sheet or enjoy a word search focused on civil rights leaders. With such a wide variety of subjects and topics covered, our social studies pages provide endless opportunities for students to explore the world in captivating ways.

Frequently asked questions about teaching social studies

What types of social studies lessons are available on tpt.

There are many different types of history resources sold by Sellers on TPT. Some popular social studies lessons include U.S. history, world history, ancient history, geography, civics, and government.

How do I find social studies lessons on TPT?

Educators can save time preparing history lessons with resources created by experienced teachers. Simply start a search for social studies resources on the TPT marketplace, and filter by grade level, price, and/or resource type to find materials that've been proven to work in classrooms like yours. No matter what you’re teaching, there are plenty of social studies lessons and activities sold by Sellers on TPT that are tailored to meet your students' skill levels.

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13 Fun Social Studies Activities for 5th-Grade Students!

by Studentreasures | May. 2, 2023 | Classroom Activities

There are so many different school subjects, from math to language arts to science, and it can be difficult to devote as much time as we’d like to every subject given the limited time and resources. One subject that we feel tends to get overlooked more often than not is social studies.

We may not talk about it as much as writing and language arts , but we happen to love social studies and want to help it get more time in the classroom as the star of the show! It’s in this spirit we’ve put together a list of fun social studies activities for 5th-grade students. This list of adaptable ideas will help you save time on your lesson plans , leaving you with more time to teach!

1. Create Landform Exhibits

As a capstone project for your lessons on landforms, have students work in pairs or groups to create dioramas, posters, models or other visual examples of landforms. They’ll also write pamphlets about their landform of choice that discuss all kinds of pertinent information, such as the climates, their identifying features and the plants and wildlife that make their homes there.

Each group should choose or be assigned a different landform for more variety and to make sure all the landforms get some attention. Alternatively, you can keep things local by focusing on landforms in your area, tying back to themes of community and taking pride in where you live.

2. Press Flowers and Leaves

Your students might be surprised to learn that some of the roughest toughest explorers in history were also accomplished artists and botanists! Explorers were known to collect various specimens of flowers and plants to bring home, along with maps and illustrations of terrain and animals. This helped their patrons back home learn about different parts of the world.  

Go outside with your class and take a walk around the playground, the block or a public park and have your students collect flower specimens of their own. After you get back to the classroom, press the collected flowers inside a heavy book (remember to put paper towels on both sides of the flower to protect the pages from errant natural dyes).

As an added bonus for this activity, have your students laminate the pressed flowers and turn them into a fun bookmark!

3. DIY Archaeology

For a fun class project , introduce them to the basics of archaeology! Get a clay pot, break it into pieces (be careful while you do so!), then hide the pieces in sand or dirt. Your students’ task is to collect all the pieces of the clay pot before working together to rebuild it.

This activity works best for smaller classrooms and could be ideal for an after-school club activity. If you work with multiple broken pots, make sure you have a way to identify which pieces go together, like by using different colored pots or by marking each piece with a symbol to indicate which pot it’s from.

For an added archaeology surprise, create a message on the pot before breaking it that will be revealed when your students put it back together!

4. Historical Role Play

Write down the names of influential historical figures and put the names into a hat or basket. Have each student draw a name and research the person they’ve chosen.

After some research, your students will give a presentation in front of the class as if they are the influential historical figure they’ve chosen. Remind them to cover the basics, like where and when they were born, along with what the person is known for, the impact they had on history and any other facts they’ve discovered that they’re especially interested in sharing.

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5. immigration stories.

The United States is famously a nation of immigrants, which makes learning about immigration stories an engaging and fun activity—after all, if you go back a handful of centuries, we’re all descendants of immigrants!

Explain the reasons why different groups of people have immigrated to America throughout history, why they chose to leave their home country and the process of adjusting to a new country.

One of the best ways for young learners to connect with their own heritage and learn more about the heritages of other groups is by reading stories written by or about immigrants or the children of immigrants.

Many picture books and books for early readers focus on this topic and are the perfect way to inspire a discussion about diversity and other cultures , along with the historical immigration process and reasons people have had for immigrating to America throughout history.

6. Interview a Historical Figure

Start by finding a famous piece of historical art, poetry, music or anything else showing the creative effects of a historical event. Share this artifact and its surrounding context with your class so they’ll have a better understanding of what it means now and what it represented at the time. 

Next, set the scene: your students are junior reporters in a year contemporary to when the artifact was created or when it gained popularity. Their first assignment is to interview the creator of the artifact! They can ask questions about the person’s experience, their inspirations or anything else they think is important enough to print in the newspaper.

7. Current Events

The present is a type of history, just as worth paying attention to as the past and the future. Get your students interested in what’s happening in the world right now by asking everyone to choose an article about current events to present to the rest of the class.

Set a topic or a challenge or let your students have free reign to choose whatever they’re most interested in talking about. After a bit of close reading, they should have no trouble explaining the who, what, when, where and why of the topic or event they want to share. Encourage other students to ask follow-up questions, identify patterns or connections between articles and make other observations about what’s happening.

This activity is the perfect opportunity to create a classbook using one of our FREE classbook publishing kits ! Classbooks compile your students’ writing and illustrations into a professionally bound, hardcover book, turning your students into published authors.

Classbooks make for a great time capsule for your classroom, and this particular classbook will be an especially effective time capsule, as it will contain your students’ thoughts on events that were current at the time!

8. Ruler for a Day

Have all of your students pretend they’ve just been crowned the sole and sovereign ruler of a small, largely unknown country after it was discovered they were distantly related to the previous ruler. Now that they’re in charge and no one can say different, what rules will they establish in their country?

First, students should work independently on their country’s rules to decide what they think is important. Next, lead a conversation about the different rules students have chosen. They can volunteer to share a rule and other students can give opinions on the rule and share other rules of their own . As the discussion progresses, ask your students what they think about this kind of government versus a government where more than one person gets to decide the rules.

9. Class Constitution

Your students can participate in their own mini democracy by helping to write your class constitution! The existing classroom rules are a good place to start, along with positive mantras and affirmations that will encourage a supportive classroom community. Once the constitution is written, create a display version on a large piece of butcher paper with fancy script writing. Students can all sign their names in their favorite color!

Ideas to include in your class constitution:

• Do our best
• Make good choices
• Listen first, then think, then speak
• Be respectful
• Help each other
• Work together
• Don’t distract others
• Care about each other
• Share compliments and praise

You can watch this class Schoolhouse Rock video if you want to teach your students about the Constitution’s Preamble.

10. Historical Journal

Make history more of a reality by inviting students to participate in imaginative exploration of the time by journaling themselves into it! At the beginning of teaching a historical time period, show your students how to fold their own small notepad by cutting up and folding a paper bag, butcher paper, construction paper, etc. Now that they have the journal all set, it’s time to move forward in your history curriculum and backward in time.

As you progress through history, ask your students to write journal entries as if they’re a contemporary person living in that time period. They can write about daily life activities, the community and larger historical events that would have recently happened. Have some fun by encouraging them to predict future events when you know something big is going to happen in the next lesson.

11. Economics: The Basics

Start out simply with an illustrated cheat sheet of economic terms. On a piece of paper, your students will write the words “Goods,” “Services,” “Producer,” “Consumer,” “Supply” and “Demand.” Explain each term and have students write a short explanation and draw something to represent that term.

Once you have the cheat sheets all finished up, give students a sentence or two with an economics scenario and have them identify each economic term in the sentence. After your kids get the hang of it, get a little tricky if you want to! Even a short statement like “Chocolate was sold out at the store” involves five of the terms. 

12. Then or Now?

This is one of those fun games you can break out whenever it fits the vibe—perfect for those last few minutes of class while you’re waiting for the bell! Find modern and historical images, display one of each side by side to your class and ask them which is which. Have them examine the clothing, background, posing and photo quality to help figure it out.

While it seems like this would be an easy task, sometimes photos can be deceiving, especially if you’re willing to get a little sneaky by showing viral “time traveler” photos!

Every few years, a photo will go viral when the internet gets excited about seeing someone in the 1940s wearing sunglasses and a t-shirt, which they’ve identified as evidence of time travel. Of course, there are sadly much less fantastical explanations for this that don’t include time travel, such as sunglasses having been invented in the 1920s and t-shirts beginning to be mass produced in the 1910s.

13. Just Add Music

There are plenty of ways to add music to social studies lessons, and there are plenty of benefits you’ll see from doing so. The novelty of adding music to any lesson will help it stand out in your students’ minds, and music played at a low volume during learning has been shown to improve recall and retention of information.

Playing music that matches your lesson—such as historical music from the time period you’re learning about or classical music paired with a math lesson—helps students build a better understanding of context, resulting in deeper learning.

Besides background music, also consider teaching your class songs that were popular during historical times and explaining the songs’ meanings and contexts. The final form of music is, of course, catchy mnemonics set to simple tunes: there are songs about the bill of rights, the fifty states and anything else your students should be working on memorizing for the rest of their academic careers.

Help Your Students Become Published Authors

One of the best ways for your students to demonstrate what they’ve learned is to publish a classbook! You can use one of our  FREE classbook publishing kits  to turn your young learners into published authors. The prospect of becoming real, published authors themselves may be the extra incentive your students need to do their best work.

The process is easy. All you need to do is sign up online, and we’ll ship your publishing kit straight to your school. A classbook anthology of your students’ writing and illustrations will be a meaningful keepsake and time capsule for your classroom, and parents can order copies, too!

You can also  check out our blog  and online  Teacher’s Lounge  for more writing activities, lesson plans and teaching strategies. Have fun teaching social studies!

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