Fifth Grade Social Studies Major Instructional Goals We exist for the academic excellence of all students. December 2007 1
Rationale The purpose of the social studies program is to prepare young people to become knowledgeable citizens of a diverse, global society. Vital Themes Civilization, cultural diffusion, and innovation Human interaction with the environment Values, beliefs, political ideas, and institutions Conflict and cooperation Comparative history of major developments Patterns of social and political interaction History s Habits of the Mind Understand the significance of the past Distinguish between the important and the inconsequential Develop historical empathy Acquire a comprehension of diverse cultures and of shared humanity Understand change, human intentions, and consequences Comprehend the interplay of change and continuity Prepare to live with uncertainties and unfinished business Grasp the complexity of historical causation Appreciate the often tentative nature of judgments about the past Recognize the importance of individuals who have made a difference in history, and the significance of personal character for both good and ill Appreciate the force of the non-rational, the irrational, the accidental, in history Understand the relationship between geography and history Read widely and critically in order to recognize the difference between fact and conjecture, between evidence and assertion, and thereby to frame useful questions Grade and Course Level Expectations Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education October 2004 1. Knowledge of the principles expressed in documents shaping constitutional democracy in the United States 2. Knowledge of principles and process of governance systems 3. Knowledge of continuity and change in the history of Missouri and the United States 4. Knowledge of economic concepts (including productivity and the market system) and principles (including the laws of supply and demand) 5. Knowledge of major elements of geographical study and analysis (such as location, place, movement and regions) and their relationship to changes in society and the environment 6. Knowledge of relationships of the individual and groups to institutions and cultural traditions 7. Knowledge of the use of tools of social science inquiry (such as surveys, statistics, maps and documents) 2
Social Studies Fifth Grade Goals and Objectives Theme: United States Geography and History -- Colonization through the Civil War Goal 1: The students will demonstrate knowledge of the principles expressed in documents shaping constitutional democracy in the United States. a) Identify important principles in the Declaration of Independence, such as inalienable rights and government by consent of the governed* b) Identify important principles in the Constitution including Limited government* Rule of law* Majority rule* Minority rights* Separation of powers* Checks and balances* c) Identify important principles in the Bill of Rights, such as basic rights and freedoms (for rights listed, see Amendments 1-8; for rights not listed, see Amendment 9)* Goal 2: The student will demonstrate knowledge of principles and processes of governance systems. a) Identify limited and unlimited governments b) Distinguish between powers and functions of local, state and national government* Goal 3: The student will demonstrate knowledge of continuity and change in the history of Missouri and the world, with focus on the United States. a) Outline the early settlement of America* b) Explain the American Revolution, including the perspectives of patriots and loyalists and factors that explain why the American colonists were successful* c) Relate the drafting of the Constitution and the formation of a new nation d) Investigate the causes and consequences of westward Expansion, including: Texas and the Mexican War* Oregon Territory* California Gold Rush* e) Examine cultural interactions among these groups from colonial times to the Civil War: Native Americans* Immigrants from Europe* Africans brought to America* 3
f) Identify political, economic and social causes and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction* Goal 4: The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic concepts including productivity and the market system and principles including laws of supply and demand. a) Apply the following economic concepts: Scarcity* Supply and demand* Trade-offs (opportunity cost)* b) Identify the role of technology in our economy and how our economy has changed from an agricultural economy to and industrial economy* c) Interpret the past, explain the present and predict future consequences of economic decisions* Goal 5: The student will demonstrate knowledge of major elements of geographical study and analysis such as location, place, movement, regions and their relationship to changes in society and the environment. a) Use geographic research sources to acquire information and answer questions* b) Construct maps* c) Locate cities of the United States on a map* d) Locate states and major topographic features of the United States on a map* e) Locate and describe real places, using absolute and relative location* f) Identify physical characteristics, such as climate, topography, relationship to water and ecosystems* g) Identify human characteristics, such as people s education, language, diversity, economies, religions, settlement patters, ethnic background and political system* h) Identify major patterns of population distribution, demographics and migrations in the United States* i) Identify different kinds of regions in the United States* j) Use geography to interpret the past, explain the present and plan for the future (e.g., physical processes that continue to reshape the earth)* Goal 6: The student will demonstrate knowledge of relationships of individuals and groups to institutions and cultural traditions. a) Identify how a person becomes a member of a group or institution and what factors influence inclusion or exclusion from a group* b) Identify how ideas, concepts and traditions have changed over time in the United States* c) Explore the contributions of various cultural groups to the history of the United States from colonization through the Civil War 4
Goal 7: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the tools of social science inquiry, such as surveys, statistics, maps, and documents. (Note: these objectives are also found in Communication Arts Information Literacy Goals 1and 2) a) select, investigate and present a topic using primary and secondary resources such as oral interviews, artifacts, journals, documents, photos and letters* b) use maps, graphs, statistical data, timelines, charts, and diagrams to interpret, draw conclusions, and make predictions* c) create maps, graphs, timelines, charts, and diagrams to communicate information* d) use technological tools for research and presentation* e) distinguish between fact and opinion, and recognize bias and points of view* f) identify, research and defend point of view/position* Goal 8: The student will be provided the opportunity to explore current events. a) differentiate between local, state and national current events b) relate to significant historical events c) recognize how these events relate to their lives *Grade Level Expectation Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, October2004 5