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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social studies assignments for 5th grade

5th Grade Social Studies is where it’s at, my friends! In this blog post, I will share how I sequence, plan, and make social studies fun for my students.

I’m fortunate to have found my niche early in my teaching career and now I want to pay it forward by sharing my knowledge with you! 

I often have teachers ask how I teach fifth grade social studies, in terms of sequence, pacing, and resources, so I am going to lay it all out for you in this blog post!

You’ll see links to the resources that I use in my own classroom throughout the year and you’ll see blog posts that will be helpful as you plan your year in social studies.

This sequence and pacing guide only tells you the order of my 5th grade social studies units and the time I spend on them. Reading my blog posts will give you all of the details and loads of ideas for teaching each unit.

Don’t let this overwhelm you!

I have been teaching this subject for so long that I know exactly what I am teaching and when.

If this is too much information for you at one time, I recommend that you scroll to the bottom of this post and have the pdf version of this blog post sent to you. You can use the pdf to plan your monthly social studies content!

Finally, I would like for you to keep in mind that there are ways to make social studies engaging for students that have nothing to do with papers and pencils.

Please read the following blog post to learn ways that I bring social studies to life in my classroom:

How to Make Your Social Studies Lessons Come to Life for Students

My Sequence and Pacing for Teaching 5th Grade Social Studies

School years in Oklahoma run from August to May but I know there is a great deal of variation throughout the country, so I arranged my sequence and pacing into months.

1st Month of School

We start school in the middle of the month, so I only have two weeks to teach during the first month of school.

This is the rundown for the remainder of the month:

Month 1, Week 3

Classroom Procedures – I recommend you check out this blog post: 5 Tips for Establishing Procedures in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Welcome Activities – Welcome to 5th Grade: First Week of School Activities

We set up interactive notebooks together, including the table of contents, cover page, and an About the Author page. 

I introduce primary sources and lead students in some simple exercises to help them recognize the differences between primary and secondary sources.

This blog post contains some helpful tips for teaching with primary sources:

Teaching with Primary Sources in Upper Elementary

Click here for a free interactive notebook instructional page and a primary source/secondary source coloring page.

Month 1, Week 4

It is vital to continue teaching and reinforcing procedures this early in the school year! Teach it right or teach it all year! 

I teach the Lost Colony of Roanoke during this week. My students usually report later that learning about the lost colony was one of their favorite topics. I recommend that you check out the following blog post and resource: 

Teaching the Lost Colony of Roanoke  (There’s a free cloze passage to download at the end of this post. I use it for morning work after students have learned all about the Lost Colony.)

Lost Colony of Roanoke Bundle : This resource includes a PowerPoint to introduce Roanoke, an interactive notebook lesson with foldables, and an engaging activity pack.

2nd Month of School

Month 2, week 1.

I teach the Salem Witch Trials during this week. The trials are not in my curriculum but my students are fascinated with this short time in history AND teaching about this time period helps students to get an inside look at the religious attitudes of the New England colonists that they’ll encounter later.

Students are shocked to learn that there was actually nothing evil or sinister about the Salem Witch Trials.

Salem Witch Trials – Sensational History Snip-Its Series

Teaching About the Salem Witch Trials in Upper Elementary

I spend most of the week on the Powhatan Indians. We talk about their culture and we look at some of the primary sources created by John White during his 16th Century study of the Virginia Indians.

I have never created a resource using these primary source images because the Native Americans portrayed are often in some state of nakedness. I have a PowerPoint that I use to show students the primary source images and I simply covered the questionable parts with shapes. Images are readily available on the Library of Congress website and you can make your own decision about using them in your classroom.

Month 2, Weeks 2-3

Jamestown/Powhatan Indians

I could spend an entire month on Jamestown but I have to move on at some point 🙂

Teaching About Jamestown Settlement (There’s a free Jamestown Anticipation Guide at the end of the blog post that I use when introducing the unit.)

Jamestown Unit – This is a comprehensive and engaging unit!

Month 2, Week 4

This week is all about Plymouth (Plimoth) Plantation. You may wonder why there are two different spellings. It’s because the original settlers used the Plimoth spelling to name their settlement. I’ve had so many teachers point out my “misspelling” of Plimoth, so I like to be upfront about the reason I use the original spelling. 

This unit includes discussion of the Mayflower, Wampanoag Indians, Pilgrims, and plenty of primary sources!

Plymouth (Plimoth) Colony Unit

Trust me, you will want to check out the following blog post. I’ve included lots of great ideas here:

Teaching About Plimoth (Plymouth) Plantation

3rd Month of School

Month 3, week 1-2.

I introduce Colonial America with these free layer books. The layer books provide a great overview of each colonial region. You can grab them for free here: Colonial Regions Layer Books

I teach the 13 Colonies in regions, including the New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies.

Once students have completed their layer books, we start our unit on the New England Colonies.

This region is much different than the others because of the conservative influence of the Puritans.

New England Colonies Unit

Month 3, Week 3

This week is all about the Middle Colonies. This region was special because they had awesome soil and weather which allowed them to grow an overabundance of grains, leading to their nickname,  The Breadbasket Colonies.

The Middle Colonies were also known for their religious freedom and toleration thanks to the influence of the Quakers.

Middle Colonies Unit

Month 3, Week 4

I could spend months on the Southern Colonies but I must control myself. Haha! 

There are so many activities that go along with the Southern Colonies.

This region was the powerhouse of the colonial economy. They grew cash crops, including tobacco and cotton, on small farms and large plantations.

Southern Colonies Unit

While teaching about the Southern Colonies, I include a short study of colonial money, specifically pounds, shillings, and pence. The following blog post will guide you through this fun study. Be sure to snag the primary source freebie at the end of the post!

Teaching About 18th Century Colonial Money

This print ‘n go resource includes activities and primary source investigations: Colonial Money

Finally, the Southern Colonies depended on enslaved labor. I teach this subject delicately and with respect. I invite you to check out these blog posts to help you teach the difficult topic of slavery:

How to Teach 18th Century Slavery in Today’s Classroom

Teaching Slavery in Upper Elementary: An Interview with Scholar Richard Josey

4th Month of School

Month 4, week 1.

Southern Colonies, continued 🙂

I spend approximately two days helping students to review the colonial regions and compare/contrast the regions. 

I think it is important to have students look closely at the similarities and differences in the regions because that will lead to deeper understanding.

I use this resource: Compare the Colonial Regions Activity Pack

Month 4, Week 2

Right after we finish learning about the 13 Colonies, I assign the first research project of the school year. I ask pairs of students to choose one of the thirteen colonies and complete the research project together.

I find that it’s helpful for my students to complete their first research project in class so that I am there to help and guide them.

This blog post lays out my method for teaching the research report process:

The Step-By-Step Guide to Teaching Research Reports

I use this step-by-step resource to guide students through the research process:

Research Report Instructional Unit

Month 4, Weeks 3-4

Oh, how I love teaching the Road to Revolution! The events that led to the American Revolution are full of drama, excitement, and intrigue.

Be sure to set up some sort of tracking display to help your students keep track of the events as you introduce them.

This blog post includes my best tips for teaching the Road to Revolution! Also, the tracking display that I use is pictured in the blog post.

Blog Post: Teaching the American Revolution in Upper Elementary

Road to Revolution: The Colonies Unite – An Active, Engaging Unit

5th Month of School

This is where our Christmas break falls, so I only have two weeks to teach this month.

We do some review of what we’ve learned so far and complete some activities and projects we haven’t had time to do previously in the year.

This month is a fantastic time to complete a family interview project! 

This blog post will give you more information on how to complete this project with your students:

How to Assign a Family Interview Project

If you’re looking for a print ‘n go resource, click on the link below:

Interview a Family Member Research Project

6th Month of School

Month 6, week 1.

This week is devoted to finishing the Road to Revolution. 

Month 6, Weeks 2-4

It’s finally time to start the American Revolution! 

I can’t tell you how much I love teaching this unit!

Please check out the second part of this blog post to find out how I teach the Revolution:

Teaching the American Revolution in Upper Elementary

I use every single page of this comprehensive resource: American Revolution Unit

I do spend a little extra time on the Declaration of Independence because it was such a critical, groundbreaking document. This blog post will help you to teach this document in an engaging way!

Teach the Declaration of Independence the Fun Way! 

No study of the American Revolution could possibly be complete without learning about spies!

The Continental Army won the Revolution because of George Washington’s genius spying techniques!

My students LOVE this activity pack: Spying in the American Revolution

Also, I do include a STEM project that ties into the American Revolution. Check out this blog post for the details:

Engaging American Revolution Interdisciplinary Project: STEM, Reading, Writing, and Art

7th Month of School

Month 7, week 1.

After students have learned all about the American Revolution, I start the Constitution.

The Preamble to the Constitution, in my opinion, is the best place to start because it presents the reasons our Constitution was created. 

This blog post about teaching the Constitution covers the Preamble, Branches of Government, and Bill of Rights:

Tips for Teaching the Constitution in Upper Elementary

Because I usually spend only two days on the Preamble to the Constitution, I use the remainder of the week to start my instruction on the Branches of Government. 

Comprehensive Constitution resource (includes Preamble, Branches of Government, and Bill of Rights):

Constitution Unit

Month 7, Week 2

This entire week is devoted to teaching the Branches of Government.

I do include lessons on checks and balances and separation of powers. 

The lessons in the following resource are very detailed and specific to each branch, so I use this resource with my higher-level students:

Branches of Government Bundle

I encourage you to check out the Judicial Branch Simulation. It is definitely a student favorite!

Month 7, Week 3

This is one of my very favorite weeks of the entire year!

I love teaching the Bill of Rights. My students get soooo into this topic. 

They love to compare the Bill of Rights with current events happening in our city, state, and country.

I put my best advice on teaching the Bill of Rights in this blog post:

How to Make the Bill of Rights Applicable to Students’ Lives

I actually use several resources to teach the Bill of Rights, but I will just list my three favorites below:

Bill of Rights Interactive Notebook Pack

Bill of Rights in Everyday Life

Bill of Rights – How Important Are Our Rights? 

Month 7, Week 4

During this week, we finish up our study of the Constitution and complete any remaining projects. 

8th Month of School

Month 8, week 1.

During the 8th month of school and after, we have field trips and school events, so I don’t plan as much.

I do teach the Northwest Ordinance (1787) during this week. 

The Northwest Ordinance (1787) – An Interactive Notebook Lesson

Month 8, Week 2

The Louisiana Purchase is fun to talk about with students. 

I notice that most of them have usually heard of Sacagawea but don’t really know about her significance in American history.

This resource usually takes most of the week to complete and students think all of the activities are fun!

Louisiana Purchase Mini-Unit

Month 8, Weeks 3-4

The Civil War is a fascinating, intricate topic in 5th grade social studies and it fits well at the end of fifth grade social studies. 

I follow this resource and teach each lesson. There are primary sources included with most of the lessons, so students get a good deal of exposure to the historical period.

Civil War Unit

9th Month of School

This is our month of standardized testing, so I do a lot of review activities, Liberty’s Kids videos, and group activities.

I keep this month light and fun because students are stressed out about testing.

10th Month of School

We begin the month with this amazing project: Expert Historians Project and Presentation.

I give students approximately a week in class to work on this project so that I am available to help with questions and finding sources.

We make it a big deal and invite parents for the presentation part.

Please check out this blog post to find out more about the Expert Historians Project:

“Expert Historians” – An Engaging Research Project for Students

For the remainder of the school year, we connect the history that we learned this year with our modern world. I do this through newspaper explorations, internet scavenger hunts, and group art projects.

How do I set up a single day in my 5th grade social studies class?

When planning single days, I usually follow this pattern:

  • Quick question or puzzle on the board for students to answers
  • Lesson and guided practice
  • Interactive notebooks and/or hands-on activities
  • Exit tickets with evaluation or opinion question(s)

What do I sprinkle in throughout the year to enrich my 5th grade social studies lessons?

I do include other things throughout the school year that could be a bit redundant if I included them above, so I made a section of ideas and resources you might be interested in:

History Snip-Its Series – These are fascinating stories your students (and maybe you) have never heard. Bring history to life in your classroom by adding some dimension to our founding fathers (and mothers), historical events, documents, lifestyles, and people! 

I created this series because I began to think about the many historical places and teacher workshops I’d been to and the fascinating things I have learned over the years as a history teacher. Some of these things just don’t fit into my traditional units, so I have decided to offer them as short history snip-its. 

Sensational History Snip-Its Series Bundle CLICK HERE TO VIEW RESOURCE!

Primary Source History Stations – These stations are unique because they allow students to explore primary sources in a guided, engaging way. Students will learn more about historical people, events, and traditions than they could ever learn from a textbook! 

Sons of Liberty: Primary Source History Stations CLICK HERE TO VIEW RESOURCE!

Children’s Literature books – There are loads of picture books that are perfect to include in your 5th grade social studies class. My students enjoy the times that I read books to them and I’m sure your students will also. I listed my favorite books to include with each unit in this post: 

My Favorite Read-Aloud Books for Upper Elementary Social Studies CLICK HERE TO VIEW BLOG POST!

Pre-Contact Native American Groups: Although pre-contact Native American groups are not included in my state’s mandated curriculum, I feel that it’s important to learn about these groups, so I do sprinkle these units into extra times throughout the year. 

Blog Post: Teaching About Native American Cultural Groups with Respect and Sensitivity

Resources: This link will take you to my Native American Units.

Journal Writing – I ask my students to write journal entries on what we are learning in social studies twice per week. Writing helps students to process information and decide what they think about it. 

I have a surprise for you! I created a pdf version of this 5th grade social studies blog post that is conveniently hyperlinked to the resources and blog posts that I recommend. Simply enter your name and email address to have this pdf sent to you immediately!

The following bundle contains all of the resources mentioned in my blog post! ** If you are on the fence about buying the bundle, just know that every time I add to this blog post, I will add to the bundle as well. You’ll be able to download the new resources for free! **

5th grade social studies units and lessons

If you’d like to keep this post for later, simply save this image to your teacher Pinterest board!

25 comments.

I would love a copy of this blog post, but there’s no place to enter information.

Thank you! Kathy

Hi Kathy! I’m so sorry about that. There was a little bubble in my technology and the form didn’t show up. The form should appear in the next few minutes! Please email me at [email protected]

Thank you. This will be so useful.

Do you have a one stop shop for every unit you have included in your social studies curriculum and placing guide or is it all separated by topics?

Hi Danielle! Thanks for reaching out to me! I don’t have all of the resources in my pacing guide combined into one bundle but that’s a fantastic idea. I will make something like that soon! This is the link to just my social studies resources: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jenifer-Bazzit/Category/Amazing-Social-Studies-Resources-210422

I too would love to see a unit bundle with all the mentioned resources from this blog post! Your outline and resources are making me look forward to teaching social studies next year!

Hi Miranda! I just created a bundle with all of the social studies resources in my blog post! Here’s the link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/5th-Grade-Social-Studies-Big-Bundle-4438576

Can I say how much I love your blog posts? I teach upper elementary history and I have found so many wonderful resources on your blog pages. I literally cannot stop reading them!!!!! Thank you fir taking the time to share this very practical information! I can’t wait to start using this in my class!!!! We are starting the Revolutionary War thus week 😊

Thank you for your comment, Heather! It makes me so happy to know that I am helping other teachers 🙂

I taught 5th grade Social Studies for 25 years. You are lucky as I was to teach a great subject. It was so much fun for me to dress the kids up in costumes to make history come to life.

25 years? That’s amazing! I love that you let your students dress in costumes 🙂 How fun!

Wow! I am so happy that I came across this blog post and all your resources on TpT! I have several questions…

1. I am wondering about your use of interactive notebooks… do you have students glue in each of the informational text articles for each lesson into their notebooks in addition to the activities? That way it kind of serves as a “student-created” textbook/resource?

2. I am planning to buy the American Revolution bundle for this year, but am curious if I decide next year to buy the entire $143 bundle with all the resources from this blog post, if there is a discount? Sorry if that is a tacky question, I just want to try out a unit before investing so much in an entire year.

Hi Miranda! Thanks for reaching out to me! Here are the answers to your questions:

1. On my interactive notebooks, I do have my students glue the informational articles on the left side of the notebook page and I have them put the foldables on the right side. I love using the interactive notebooks as a student-made textbook.

2. If you buy the American Revolution Bundle and later decide to buy the big bundle, all you have to do is contact TPT customer service on the “Help” button at the top of the screen. They will refund you for the difference from what you purchased and what you paid for the big bundle! Not a tacky question at all! I hope you enjoy the American Revolution bundle. It’s one of my very favorites 🙂

OK has new standards for 2019. Do any of the bundles include the stamp act or the Boston tea party? This is my first time teaching 5th grade SS and our text books are beyond old. Im searching out alternative curriculum. Does the bundle cover ALL the standards?

Hi Bobbi! I love hearing from fellow Oklahoma teachers. I created most of my social studies resources to replace my old, outdated textbooks, so I completely understand where you’re coming from. I have reviewed the new 2019 Oklahoma 5th grade social studies standards and I can confirm that every standard is covered in my big bundle. The only exception is 5.3.4, the Iroquois Confederacy standard. That one is brand new, so I’ll be creating a new resource to cover that standard soon. I will add it to my big bundle when I get it posted. Please reach out to me at [email protected] if I can help further! Here is the link for the bundle I referenced in this comment: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/5th-Grade-Social-Studies-Big-Bundle-4438576

Hi Jenifer! I LOVE your site! I will be teaching 5th grade Social Studies this year and have been looking for great resources. I found everything I need right here. Thanks so much for all your work and for all that you share with other teachers!

You are so welcome, Kelli! I’m so glad you found me. I wish you the best for the new school year! 🙂

I’ve just loved all of your posts and ideas since I’ve found you! I would appreciate the pdf version of this blog post that is conveniently hyperlinked to the resources and blog posts that you recommend. I have entered my name and email address to have this pdf sent tome. Thank you much! Debbie Salcido : )

Hi Debbie! Thank you for your kind words and for requesting the pdf version. Email me at [email protected] if I can help you further 🙂

I am not joking when I say you may have just saved my sanity. I’m a fifth grade science teacher who has been teaching all subjects, remotely, since the beginning of the school year. I have enough background in language arts and math to make things work, but social studies has been the bane of my existence (My district decided that this year was a good year to “change things up,” so the middle school social studies teachers have been tasked with deciding what to teach and when. Luckily they’re all awesome, and have helped me limp through thus far.). Thank you, thank you, thank you for these awesome resources!!!

You are so welcome, Jenn! I love that I helped to save your sanity 🙂 I hope you start to love social studies! Best of luck for the rest of the year!

How long is your social studies block? I will have 30 minutes a day so I’m wondering how much I’ll be able to fit in.

Hi Jasmine! I have 50 minutes per day, 5 days per week to teach social studies usually!

I am so excited to dig into your social studies information! I have taught math for 20 years and this year will be doing social studies and science! To say I am lost would be an understatement; however I am excited for my new journey! Any guidance is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, Carla! I think you’ll do amazing 🙂

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social studies assignments for 5th grade

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.

Reading comprehension is not social studies.

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.

Students can engage with social studies concepts through role-play.

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.

A government unit is the perfect place for role-play.

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 .

social studies assignments for 5th grade

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!

Picture books can be an incredibly powerful tool for social studies.

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.

When talking about injustice in grade 5 social studies, be sure to also teach about resistance.

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.

social studies assignments for 5th grade

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.

Try using case studies to examine history and social justice.

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!

For a quick socials assessment, try a somebody wanted but so summary

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Free Printable Social studies Worksheets for 5th Grade

Social studies worksheets for Grade 5 students: Discover a world of free printable resources to help your students explore history, geography, and culture. Dive into Quizizz's collection today!

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Social studies worksheets for Grade 5 are essential tools that teachers can utilize to engage their students in learning about history, geography, economics, and civics. These worksheets provide a variety of activities and exercises designed to help students develop critical thinking skills, foster a deeper understanding of the world around them, and encourage them to become active citizens. With a wide range of topics covered, such as the American Revolution, world cultures, and the branches of government, Grade 5 social studies worksheets are an invaluable resource for educators looking to create a well-rounded curriculum. By incorporating these worksheets into their lesson plans, teachers can ensure that their students are receiving a comprehensive education in social studies, setting them up for success in future grades and beyond.

Quizizz is an excellent platform for teachers to complement their use of social studies worksheets for Grade 5, as it offers a variety of interactive quizzes and games that can help reinforce the concepts being taught. By incorporating Quizizz into their lesson plans, educators can create a more engaging and dynamic learning environment for their students, while also providing valuable feedback on their progress. In addition to quizzes, Quizizz also offers a range of other resources, such as flashcards and presentations, which can be used alongside Grade 5 social studies worksheets to create a well-rounded and engaging curriculum. By leveraging the power of technology and utilizing these innovative tools, teachers can ensure that their students are not only learning the essential concepts in social studies but also developing the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st-century world.

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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. 

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Social Studies

How to use these resources.

TVO Learn is designed to meet each student where they are on their learning journey. Learning Activities are comprehensive and require guided instruction from an adult, while Resources for Learning, Apply the Learning prompts and Vocabulary lists work well to reinforce specific skills or to enable independent exploration of a subject. Use these helpful tips to get the most from TVO Learn.

Curriculum Overview

In Grade 5 social studies, students will learn about the key characteristics of various Indigenous nations and European settler communities prior to 1713, in what would eventually become Canada. Using resources such as treaties, historical images, and diaries they will investigate, from a variety of perspectives, relationships within and interactions between these communities as well as the impact of colonialism. Students will also develop their understanding of how historical events during this time have had an impact on present-day Canada and continue to do so.

Students will explore the responsibilities of Canadian citizens and levels of government as well as develop an understanding of personal, cultural, and national identities and how they contribute to Canadian heritage. They will continue to develop their ability to examine current issues from various perspectives by investigating a Canadian social and/or environmental issue from the point of view of a variety of stakeholders and they will develop plans of action to address these issues.

The social studies curriculum is divided into two strands:

  • Heritage and Identity : Interactions of Indigenous Peoples and Europeans prior to 1713, in What Would Eventually Become Canada
  • People and Environment : The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship

Interested in learning more? View Curriculum PDF For French resources, please visit idello.org

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Learning activities, resources for learning, apply the learning.

Learning Activities provide opportunity for deeper exploration of a subject. Organized by grade and topic (or strand), students should be guided through each Learning Activity by an adult. Before clicking on a topic to prepare for or begin this guided instruction, be sure to read these helpful tips about how to get the most out of TVO Learn.

To access this learning activity, please visit this page in a desktop or tablet browser.

Chosen by TVO educators, these resources support the curriculum outlined above. Review the below list of options along with the activities. Then, read, watch, listen or play to build understanding and knowledge.

Please be aware by accessing the resources below you will be leaving TVO Learn and entering other TVO domains that are subject to different privacy policies and terms of use.

Complete the suggested activities using these resources and other TVO resources.

Choose from the following to consolidate learning across all curriculum strands.

  • Create your own definitions for 20 of the words in the vocabulary list.
  • In making contact with European explorers and settlers, what were some of the major short- and long-term consequences for the First Nation peoples?
  • When and how should members of the community come together to make change? Why is it important for this to be done in a collaborative way? How could you become more active in your community in order to make a difference?
  • Why is it important to understand that people have different perspectives? Why is it important to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders when trying to solve problems?
  • Why do we need a government? Why are there different levels of government? What services should governments be responsible for? Give some examples of the role the government plays in the lives of Canadians.
  • What programs are in place in your community to reduce the amount of garbage going to landfill? How might you improve these programs?
  • Do some research in order to find a few of the national and provincial parks and regional conservation authorities in Canada? What do you think is the purpose of these parks and conservation areas?
  • Investigate organisms found in a specific habitat and classify them according to a classification system. Use safety procedures when outdoors doing field work, for example stay with a partner and wash your hands after exploring a habitat.
  • Why might farmers, land developers, residents, and environmentalists all have different perspectives about development on the Oak Ridges Moraine or Niagara Escarpment?
  • What information could you include on a map on the potential impact of climate change to show that the issue involves all levels of government as well as people in different regions?
  • What costs and benefits should be considered when deciding whether to develop a public transit system? Why might the costs and benefits differ for different groups? What level or levels of government would have a say on this issue?

Review this list of vocabulary associated with the curriculum. Practice spelling, research definitions, and find these vocabulary words when engaging with the TVO resources or completing learning activities.

Students should understand and be able to apply these words in context.

  • Heritage and Identity: Interactions of Indigenous Peoples and Europeans prior to 1713, in What Would Eventually Become Canada
  • People and Environment: The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship

colonialism  

communities  

contemporary  

historical events  

historical images  

Indigenous nations  

European settler communities  

perspective  

present-day  

relationships  

collaboration  

cooperation  

decision making  

environmental issue  

government issue  

graphing skills  

levels of government  

responsibilities  

social issue  

stakeholder  

stewardship  

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K-12 students learned a lot last year, but they're still missing too much school

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Cory Turner

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Sequoia Carrillo

social studies assignments for 5th grade

From 2022-2023, chronic absenteeism declined in 33 of the 39 states AEI looked at. But it was still a persistent problem: In a handful of places, including Nevada, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New Mexico and Oregon, roughly 1 in 3 students – or more – were chronically absent. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

From 2022-2023, chronic absenteeism declined in 33 of the 39 states AEI looked at. But it was still a persistent problem: In a handful of places, including Nevada, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New Mexico and Oregon, roughly 1 in 3 students – or more – were chronically absent.

It's going to take aggressive interventions to repair the pandemic's destructive impact on kids' schooling.

That's the takeaway of two big new studies that look at how America's K-12 students are doing. There's some good news in this new research, to be sure – but there's still a lot of work to do on both student achievement and absenteeism. Here's what to know:

1. Students are starting to make up for missed learning

From spring 2022 to spring 2023, students made important learning gains, making up for about one-third of the learning they had missed in math and a quarter of the learning they had missed in reading during the pandemic.

That's according to the newly updated Education Recovery Scorecard , a co-production of Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University.

6 things we've learned about how the pandemic disrupted learning

6 things we've learned about how the pandemic disrupted learning

The report says, "Students learned 117 percent in math and 108 percent in reading of what they would typically have learned in a pre-pandemic school year."

In an interview with NPR's All Things Considered , Stanford professor Sean Reardon said that's surprisingly good news: "A third or a quarter might not sound like a lot, but you have to realize the losses from 2019 to 2022 were historically large."

When the same team of researchers did a similar review last year, they found that, by spring of 2022, the average third- through eighth-grader had missed half a grade level in math and a third of a grade level in reading. So, the fact that students are now making up ground is a good sign.

These results do come with a few caveats, including that the researchers were only able to review data and draw their conclusions from 30 states this year.

2. Despite that progress, very few states are back to pre-pandemic learning levels

The Harvard and Stanford study of student learning includes one sobering sentence: "Alabama is the only state where average student achievement exceeds pre-pandemic levels in math." And average achievement in reading has surpassed pre-pandemic levels in just three of the states they studied: Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi. Every other state for which they had data has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.

"Many schools made strong gains last year, but most districts are still working hard just to reach pre-pandemic achievement levels," said Harvard's Thomas Kane, one of the learning study's co-authors.

3. Chronic absenteeism also improved in many places ... slightly

The rate of chronic absenteeism – the percentage of students who miss 10% or more of a school year – declined from 2022 to 2023. That's according to research by Nat Malkus at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He found chronic absenteeism declined in 33 of the 39 states he studied.

Yes, "the differences were relatively small," Malkus writes, but it's improvement nonetheless: "the average chronic absenteeism rate across these states in 2023 was 26 percent, down from 28 percent for the same 39 states in 2022."

Glass half-full: Things aren't getting worse.

4. But, again, chronic absenteeism is still high

Malkus found chronic absenteeism was at 26% in 2023. Before the pandemic, in 2019, those same states reported a rate of 15%. That adds some painful context to the "good news" two-point decline in absenteeism from 2022 to 2023. Sure, it's down, but it's still so much higher than it was and should be.

Think of it this way: In 2023, roughly 1 student out of 4 was still chronically absent across the school year.

In a handful of places, including Nevada, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New Mexico and Oregon, roughly 1 in 3 students – or more – were chronically absent. That's a crisis.

Research shows a strong connection between absenteeism and all kinds of negative consequences for students, including an increased likelihood of dropping out of school.

Chronic absenteeism also hurts the students who don't miss school. That's because, as the learning study's authors point out, when absent students return, they require extra attention and "make it hard for teachers to keep the whole class moving."

5. Poverty matters (as always)

Both the learning and the chronic absenteeism studies capture the headwinds that constantly buffet children in poverty.

"No one wants poor children to foot the bill for the pandemic," said Harvard's Kane, "but that is the path that most states are on."

On learning: Reardon told NPR "the pandemic really exacerbated inequality between students in high-poverty and low-poverty districts and students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds."

In 2023, students' academic recovery was relatively strong across groups, which is good – but it means "the inequality that was widened during the pandemic hasn't gotten smaller, and in some places it's actually gotten larger," Reardon told NPR.

In fact, the report says, "in most states, achievement gaps between rich and poor districts are even wider now than they were before the pandemic." The learning study singles out Massachusetts and Michigan as the states where those gaps in math and reading achievement widened the most between poor and non-poor students.

Similarly, Malkus, at AEI, found that, between 2019 and 2022, rates of chronic absenteeism rose much more in high-poverty districts (up from 20% to 37%) than in low-poverty districts (up from 12% to 23%).

"Chronic absenteeism has increased the most for disadvantaged students," Malkus writes, "those who also experienced the greatest learning losses during the pandemic and can least afford the harms that come with chronic absenteeism."

6. Families must play an important role in learning recovery

Both studies acknowledge that families must play an important role in helping students – and schools – find a healthy, post-pandemic normal. The problem is, surveys show parents and guardians often underestimate the pandemic's toll on their children's learning . "Parents cannot advocate effectively for their children's future if they are misinformed," says the learning study.

To combat this, the learning researchers propose that districts be required to inform parents if their child is below grade-level in math or English. Those parents could then enroll their students in summer learning, tutoring and after-school programs, all of which have benefitted from federal COVID relief dollars. That funding is set to expire this fall, and some of these learning recovery opportunities may dry up, so the clock is ticking.

7. There's a "culture problem" around chronic absenteeism

Reducing chronic absenteeism, Malkus says, will also depend on families.

"This is a culture problem," Malkus tells NPR. "And in schools and in communities, culture eats policy for breakfast every day."

By "culture problem," Malkus is talking about how families perceive the importance of daily attendance relative to other challenges in their lives. He says some parents seem more inclined now to let their students miss school for various reasons, perhaps not realizing the links between absenteeism and negative, downstream consequences.

"Look, the patterns and routines of going to school were disrupted and to some degree eroded during the pandemic," Malkus says. "And I don't think we've had a decisive turn back that we need to have, to turn this kind of behavior around, and it's going to stay with students until that culture changes."

How do you do that? Malkus points to some low-cost options — like texting or email campaigns to increase parental involvement and encourage kids to get back in school – but says these, alone, aren't "up to the scale of what we're facing now."

Higher-cost options for schools to consider could include door-knocking campaigns, sending staff on student home-visits and requiring that families of chronically absent students meet in-person with school staff.

The learning study goes one step further: "Elected officials, employers, and community leaders should launch public awareness campaigns and other initiatives to lower student absenteeism." Because, after all, students can't make up for the learning they missed during the pandemic if they don't consistently attend school now.

What both of these studies make clear is there is no one solution that will solve these problems, and success will require further investment, aggressive intervention and patience.

Malkus says, even the high-cost, high-return options will likely only drive down chronic absenteeism by about four percentage points. A big win, he says, "but four percentage points against 26% isn't going to get us where we need to go."

Edited by: Nicole Cohen Visual design and development by: LA Johnson and Aly Hurt

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social studies assignments for 5th grade

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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  1. Fifth Grade Social Studies Worksheets Free Using A Map Scale

    social studies assignments for 5th grade

  2. 5th Grade Social Studies Chapter 4 Study Guide

    social studies assignments for 5th grade

  3. Fifth Grade Social Studies Worksheet for 5th Grade

    social studies assignments for 5th grade

  4. 5Th Grade Social Studies Worksheets To Download Math

    social studies assignments for 5th grade

  5. 5th Grade Social Studies

    social studies assignments for 5th grade

  6. 5th Grade Social Studies Chapter 4 Study Guide

    social studies assignments for 5th grade

VIDEO

  1. 10th class Pre Final Social Studies Question Paper 2023-24 💯✍️☝️ || Pre Final Examination

  2. Social Studies PREBOARD PART 1

  3. 7th Grade Social Studies

  4. 6th Grade Social Studies

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  6. 6th Grade Social Studies

COMMENTS

  1. Fifth Grade Social Studies Worksheets and Printables

    Social studies Show interactive only Sort by Martin Luther King Jr. Cut-and-Paste Timeline Interactive Worksheet History of Hip Hop Music Worksheet State Search #3 Worksheet I Have a Dream… Worksheet A-Z African American Visionaries Poster Worksheet Name the 13 Colonies Worksheet Ibn Battuta Worksheet American Revolution Word Search Worksheet

  2. 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.

  3. How I Teach 5th Grade Social Studies

    Share Pinterest Tweet Google Mail 5th Grade Social Studies is where it's at, my friends! In this blog post, I will share how I sequence, plan, and make social studies fun for my students. I'm fortunate to have found my niche early in my teaching career and now I want to pay it forward by sharing my knowledge with you!

  4. 19 Powerful Activities to Teach Grade 5 Social Studies

    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.

  5. IXL

    Q. Social studies skills. 1. Identify facts and opinions. 2. Reading and creating timelines with BCE and CE. Learn fifth grade social studies skills for free! Choose from over a hundred topics including early U.S. history, economics, civics, and more. Start now!

  6. Free Printable Social studies Worksheets for 5th Grade

    Social studies worksheets for Grade 5 students: Discover a world of free printable resources to help your students explore history, geography, and culture. Dive into Quizizz's collection today! grade 5 Social studies Explore worksheets by Social studies topics Social Skills Community & Cultures History U.S. History World History Geography

  7. Social Studies: 5th Grade

    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.

  8. 5th Grade Social Studies Worksheets Teaching Resources

    5th Grade Social Studies Full Year Bundle- Notes, Vocabulary, Activity Worksheet. by. Kile's Classroom. 5.0. (1) $15.00. Google Slides™. This is a growing bundle of a complete year of activities for 5th grade Social Studies. These activities will help your students deepen their knowledge US history from Native Americans to Westward Expansion.

  9. Fifth grade social Studies worksheets, Games and Projects

    Free Social Studies worksheets, Games and Projects for preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade kids

  10. 5th grade social studies

    5th grade social studies - history resources 270,000 + results Sort by: Relevance View: List Sponsored U.S. History Curriculum - American History Curriculum - Full Year - Google Drive Morgan AP Teaching $145.00 American Revolution Bundle Middle School History and Geography $20.00 $32.00

  11. 5th Grade Social Studies

    5th Grade Social Studies - Mrs. Reed's Classroom Chapter 1: The First Americans chapter_1_the_first_americans_packet.pdf Download File chapter_1_note_key.pdf Download File chapter_1_study_guide.pdf Download File totem_pole.pdf Download File buffalo_poster.pdf Download File Chapter 2: The Age of Exploration

  12. Social Studies Activities And Lessons

    Manage Classes & Assignments. Sync with Google Classroom. Create Lessons. Customized Dashboard. Get More Features Free. Discover thousands of social studies activities, lessons, and interactive resources for all grades, all aligned to state and national standards.

  13. Social Studies 5th Grade Worksheets Teaching Resources

    Fifth Grade Social Studies, Word Search Worksheets has 256 words, 20 word searches, 25 pages.Excellent revision tool, learning spellings and useful for Homework Packet as children love word search challenges.Additional activities like make sentences, find the meaning, write a few lines, etc. may also be given.

  14. Classroom Activities for Social Studies in 5th Grade

    Explore 5th Grade Social Studies classroom activities to inspire and engage your students All Grades Pre-K Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade Other

  15. 13 Fun Social Studies Activities for 5th-Grade Students!

    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

  16. Grade 5

    In Grade 5 social studies, students will learn about the key characteristics of various Indigenous nations and European settler communities prior to 1713, in what would eventually become Canada.

  17. 5th Grade Social Studies and History Assessment

    This sheet of multiple-choice bubble answers is ready to be filled in by your students. It features 50 items with…. Subjects: Language Arts and Writing. Social Studies and History. Science.

  18. 5th Grade Social Studies Activities Teaching Resources

    Fifth Grade Social Studies, Word Search Worksheets has 256 words, 20 word searches, 25 pages.Excellent revision tool, learning spellings and useful for Homework Packet as children love word search challenges.Additional activities like make sentences, find the meaning, write a few lines, etc. may also be given.

  19. 5th Grade Social Studies

    The fifth grade social studies content expectations mark a departure from the social studies approach taken in previous grades. Building upon the geography, civics and government, and economics concepts of the United States mastered in fourth grade and historical inquiry from earlier grades, the fifth grade expectations begin a more discipline-centered approach concentrating on the early ...

  20. Students are still absent and making up for missed learning post ...

    That's the takeaway of two big new studies that look at how America's K-12 students are doing. There's some good news in this new research, to be sure - but there's still a lot of work to do on ...

  21. Free 5th grade social studies

    United States Regions Project FREEBIE. This project will give your students a chance to work cooperatively, be creative, practice research skills, and learn about the regions of the United States.Students will work in groups to research an assigned region of the U.S. then create a poster with their research.