Social Studies — Grade 5

Walking the Trail of Tears

Students will read accounts and experience what happened on the Trail of Tears. They will discuss the causes of removal, explore the trail and understand the effects it had on the Cherokee.

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

By Marsha Davis.

A walk of betrayal: The Trail of Tears

In this lesson plan for fourth and fifth grades, students will read various resources and watch videos about the Cherokee. They will trace the history of the Cherokee, discuss the outcomes of the impact of the white man, and determine how that intrusion led the Cherokee to the Trail of Tears. The students will examine the survival of the Cherokee and explore their accomplishments into the 21st century.

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

By Mary Towles.

Spinning spider stories

This interdisciplinary lesson is designed to introduce students to the purpose and process of comparative literature. The literary selections may be altered according to audience and purpose, from grades 5 through 8.

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

By Edie McDowell.

Observing connections: North Carolina pottery and face jugs (Lesson 3)

This is the third lesson in a series of three in which students are creating art based on their observations: Lesson 1 Observing connections—art, poetry and the environment; Lesson 2 Observing connections—changing landscapes; Lesson 3 Observing connections—North Carolina pottery and face jugs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)

By Lisa Mitchell.

North Carolina Cherokee Indians: The Trail of Tears

In this two week unit, students will study the Cherokee by participating in literature circles, learning about Native American story telling, writing a letter to Andrew Jackson to protest against the Creek War, and more.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Gina Golden.

Native American music: Two North Carolina tribes

In this lesson plan, students will listen to songs from two North Carolina tribes. Students will learn about the music through listening, analyzing, singing, moving, and playing instruments.

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

By Merritt Raum Flexman.

Mini totem poles

Students will create mini totem poles using paper towel tubes and Crayola Model Magic clay. Totem poles of Northwest Coast Indian tribes will be explored.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)

By Mary Ann Athens.

A living timeline of civil rights

This fifth grade lesson plan is one piece of a civil rights unit. This particular lesson is an opportunity for students to demonstrate knowledge of a specific person or event that occurred during the civil rights movement. The students will share their research with others as they take on the role of a museum artifact.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

By Laurie Lietz.

It's in the garbage

In Intrigue of the Past, page 1.9

In studying archaeological concepts, students will analyze garbage from different places demonstrate competence in applying the concepts of culture, context, classification, observation and inference, chronology and scientific inquiry.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

In the spirit of... (museum visit)

This is an integrated unit that focuses on masks in cultures as reflections of individual spirits. This lesson focuses on students' observations of masks while visiting a museum.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)

By Shannon Kelly.

In the spirit of... (museum pre-visit)

This is an integrated unit that focuses on masks in cultures as reflections of individual spirits. In this pre-visit lesson, students will explore the cultures of the Western Hemisphere.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)

By Shannon Kelly.

The Greensboro Sit-ins

Students will explore the Greensboro Sit-ins. They will experience segregation through drama, research the people involved in the protest at Woolworth's, and then stage a re-enactment of the event.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Information Skills, Social Studies, and Theater Arts Education)

By Lucinda Gainey.

Freedom songs of the civil rights movement

Students will listen to freedom songs recorded during the civil rights movement, 1960–1965. Students will write about personal reactions to the music and lyrics. Through reading and pictures, students will briefly explore historical events where these songs were sung. Listening again, students will analyze and describe — musically — particular song(s).

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Music Education and Social Studies)

By Merritt Raum Flexman.

Formulating questions to meet information needs of ESL students

A multi-activity lesson plan to teach the concept of asking engaging, researchable questions prior to reading which leads to effective inquiries during project work. Using engaging questions creates a sense of connectedness by linking academic contents with students' personal concerns. The lesson is primarily designed for English Language Learners although it can be adapted for mainstream students. This lesson can also be modified for use with grades 4-8.

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

By Deborah Wilkes, Kristi Triplett, and Karen Waller.

Chronology: The time of my life

In Intrigue of the Past, page 1.6

In their study of chronology the students will use personal timelines and an activity sheet to demonstrate the importance of intact information to achieve accuracy, and compare and contrast their timelines with the chronological information contained in a stratified archaeological site.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Resources on the web

What they left behind: Early multi-national influences in the United States

The lessons in this unit are designed to help your students make connections between European voyages of discovery, colonial spheres of influence, and various aspects of American culture. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: EDSITEment

Weeping camel: What is a ritual?

In this Xpeditions lesson, students identify characteristics of traditional and modern rituals found in different cultures. Through reading articles and watching videos of several rituals, students identify some of their characteristics. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

Not "Indians," Many Tribes: Native American Diversity

In this unit from the National Endowment for the Humanities and EdSitement, students will heighten their awareness of Native American diversity as they learn about three vastly different Native groups in a game-like activity using archival documents such... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

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

Interpreting rock art of the Anasazi

Students are introduced to the ancient Anasazi people through samples of rock art preserved in the public lands of the Four Corners region. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic