Social Studies — Grade 5

Wow! A powwow!

Powwows have long been a tradition in the Native American culture. Even today, powwows are held across the United States and Canada. This lesson plan allows students the opportunity to research powwows, and in the process see that modern day Native Americans have a diverse culture.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

By Betsy Bryan.

Exploring the Everglades

After reading the book, Everglades, by Jean Craighead George, students will apply basic Internet navigation and computer skills to complete a scavenger hunt about the Everglades. As a culmination activity, students will use a word processing program to type a paragraph detailing what they have learned about the Everglades.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Social Studies)

By Debbie Fox.

Resources on the web

Wonderworld theme park

This lesson introduces students to some of the world's natural and archaeological wonders. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Where in North Carolina is . . . ? Teaching latitude and longitude

In this lesson for fourth and fifth grade social studies, students locate the birthplaces of famous North Carolinians on historic maps of North Carolina and describe their locations using latitude and longitude. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

What's it like to live along a national boundary?

In this lesson, students will discuss the concept of boundaries and borders and will investigate the characteristics of the United States-Mexico border. They'll pretend to live on the U.S. side of the border and will write dialogues between themselves and... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: Xpeditions

What is geography?

Students work in groups to analyze a website to locate information about a particular country or region, and then create presentations showing how the geographic concepts described in the themes can be used to help solve environmental problems. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Viking longhouse

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear where early Viking explorers may have gone after their visit to America. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 5 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

The United States at night

Students look at a map of Russia as seen at night, showing the lights that indicate settlement patterns. They will then look at United States maps to figure out what the U.S. might look like at night, and they will draw U.S. maps illustrating their findings.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Splish, splash: Water's journey to my glass

This lesson will explore the hydrologic cycle and water's journey to our glass. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Satellite Spyglass: Formal, functional and perceptual regions

In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students visit the Satellite Spyglass exhibit in National Geographic's Xpedition Hall, where they learn that we can make sense of our complex world by dividing it into different regions. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Planning a road trip

This lesson reviews latitude and longitude and asks students to find the latitude and longitude for several United States cities. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Pirate map

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore reasons pirates frequented certain areas, taking into account the relationship between piracy and the slave trade. Activities in this lesson engage students in whole class discussion, online learning, and development... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 and 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Our National Parks: Recreation and preservation

Students will learn about the National Park system in the United States and identify human modifications to the physical environment and the intended and unintended effects of those modifications. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

My little island

In this lesson from ARTSEDGE, students learn about the processes that lead to the formation of an island and study the impact that an island's geographic and geologic history has on the culture of the people who live there. Students divide into groups to... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–8 Science, Social Studies, and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Mission geography: USA

In this Xpeditions lesson, students research and learn about the culture, physical geography, and history of states in each region of the United States. Students develop a "family travel plan" and create an itinerary to highlight interesting destinations in... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Lewis and Clark: "The Object of This Mission"

In this lesson, students will compete against each other for the best “land” and “resources” in the classroom as a way to introduce issues involved in vying for land. They will learn about the mission of the Lewis and Clark expedition... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 and 8 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Lewis and Clark: Facing challenges—real and imagined

In this lesson from Xpeditions, students will consider how they perceive geographic features and obstacles, and how the Lewis and Clark expedition members might have done so. The mental maps of expedition members could not prepare them for what lay ahead;... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 and 5 Information Skills and Social Studies)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Lewis and Clark: Why Explore the Vast Unknown?

In this Xpeditions lesson about the Lewis and Clark expedition, students will interpret a map of the West as it was known at the time, learn what President Thomas Jefferson asked Meriwether Lewis to accomplish, and explain why the expedition was important... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Lewis and Clark: Overcoming Obstacles

In this lesson, students will discuss the challenges and obstacles the Lewis and Clark expedition faced, focusing on how geographic information can influence a decision. Students will work cooperatively to make a decision, and experience the difficulty... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 and 8 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Lewis and Clark: Native American Contributions

In this lesson from Xpeditions, students will learn about specific instances in which Native Americans helped the Lewis and Clark expedition overcome obstacles. The expedition faced many difficult challenges, due primarily to the group's lack of knowledge... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 and 8 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic