Grade 5 Social Studies Curriculum
Family-facing version of the grade 5 Social Studies curriculum
Quarterly Overview of Grade 5 Social Studies
The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.
Week 1Week 2Week 3
Week 4Week 5Week 6
Week 7Week 8Week 9
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
- Unit 4: Greece or Rome
- Unit 5: African History and Geography or Southwest Asia
Units and Details
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate responsible citizenship, both on and offline, and:
- Construct an understanding of the Student Rights and Responsibilities, including Digital Citizenship.
- Show respect for rules and laws while collaborating, compromising, and participating in classroom activities.
- Understand the significance of Constitution Day and the establishment of a new American nation through the ideas of the United States Constitution.
Students will consider:
- What is the same and different about rules in our homes, our classroom, our school, online, and in our community?
- What makes a rule a “good rule”?
- How do our choices affect others?
- Who are “We the People?”
- How does learning about our past influence how we make decisions in the present and guide our future?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Apply the concept of systems to social structures.
- Examine and analyze citizenship and community through the lens of a concept.
- Develop a sense of responsibility for creating community.
- Understand that change in our actions can have a positive and/or negative effect on our community and government.
Students will be able to:
- Construct an understanding of global awareness by identifying and evaluating common attributes all cultures share and how they shape the identity and behavior of a group of people.
Students will consider:
- How do shared beliefs and values shape a culture?
- How do cultural universals differ among cultures? How might they be similar?
- Why are relationships important?
- How are people interdependent today?
- In what ways might countries be interdependent?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
- Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
- Analyze historical documents and present findings through oral or written communication.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
In Unit 3, students learn about TWO of the following units: Fertile Crescent, China, India, or Mesoamerica
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on the Fertile Crescent by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilization and culture in the Fertile Crescent from 3500 BCE – 300 BCE.
- Explaining the cultural attributes of Mesopotamia and evaluating how their contributions have influenced the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Mesopotamia continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical issues using elements of reasoning (purpose, point of view, implications/consequences,
evidence/data, inferences, concepts/ideas, and/or assumptions). - Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on Classical China by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilization and culture in China from 2000 BCE – 200 CE.
- Explaining the cultural attributions (Confucianism, governmental structure) of China and evaluating how their contributions have influenced the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of China continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Describe and apply methods used by historians, archeologists, and anthropologists to investigate past
- cultures.
Demonstrate how systems interact with each other.
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on Ancient India by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilization and culture in India from 2500 BCE – 400 CE.
- Explaining the cultural attributions of India (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, social structures) and evaluating how their contributions have influenced the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Ancient India continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
- Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
- Explain how Indian Ocean trade contributed to exchange of ideas.
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on Mesoamerican Civilizations (Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, Inca) by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilizations and cultures in Mesoamerica and South America from 2500 BCE – 400 CE.
- Explaining the cultural contributions of Mesoamerican civilizations and evaluating how their contributions have influenced the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Mesoamerica continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
- Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
In Unit 4, students learn about Greece OR Rome.
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on Ancient Greece by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilization and culture of Greece from 1400 BCE-350 BCE.
- Explaining how myths and religion contributed to the culture of Greece and evaluating how the growth of democracy and their contributions have influenced the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Greece continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
- Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on Ancient Rome by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilization and culture of Rome from 500 BCE-350 BCE.
- Explaining how the development of Christianity in the Roman Empire, the structure of Rome's government, and their contributions have influenced the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Rome continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
In Unit 5, students learn about Africa OR Southwest Asia.
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on Africa by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilization and culture of eastern and southern Africa from 500 BCE-1500 CE.
- Analyzing how trade impacted the Kingdom of Axum and the civilization of Great Zimbabwe and how the exchange of ideas has influenced the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- How are countries and cultures interdependent?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Africa continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet, GPS, etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
Students will be able to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of world history and geography with a focus on early Southwest Asia by:
- Constructing an understanding and analyzing how geography shaped the civilization and culture of Southwest Asia from 500 CE-900 CE.
- Describing the origin and spread of Islam and its effect on trade, art, and science in the world today.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- How are countries and cultures interdependent?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Africa continue to influence the world today?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
- Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
In the Global Awareness Technology Project (GATP), students:
- choose topics
- engaging in inquiry and research
This project is integrated with the language arts research unit and the independent writing project.
Students will be able to:
- Make connections to reflect on aspects of cultures studied and the GATP Essential Questions, understanding how the past has affected our modern world.
- Choose a topic based on interest, aligns with GATP parameters, and engage in a collaborative process to establish working norms with a group.
- Find, evaluate, and select appropriate resources for a research product.
- Use a research model to gather, use, apply, and evaluate information for their chosen GATP topic.
- Listen, draw conclusions, and share responses in subject-related group learning activities.
- Write for a variety of purposes: to describe, inform, explain, and persuade.
Students will consider:
- How do cultural universals (art, leadership, government, innovations, geography, etc.) influence a society or culture?
- How did certain cultural universals from the past influence modern day cultures around the world?
- What connections can be made between aspects of ancient civilizations from the past to our modern day world?
- How have technology and innovations within certain cultures changed over time?
- How do innovations from ancient cultures continue to influence our modern day society?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Describe and apply methods used by historians, archeologists, and anthropologists to investigate past cultures.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Develop analytical and interpretive skills while applying research skills.
- Analyze historical issues using elements of reasoning (purpose, point of view, implications/consequences, evidence/data, inferences, concepts/ideas, and/or assumptions).
- Use a research model to gather, use, apply, and evaluate an issue for their chosen GATP topic.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of history and geography of Western Europe from 500 C.E. to 1600 C.E by:
- Describing feudalism in the Middle Ages in Western Europe.
- Explaining Crusades/Silk Routes effect on trade, beliefs, arts, and science.
- Describing changes in art, learning, and trade during the Renaissance.
Students will consider:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Western European Civilizations continue to influence the world today?
- How did the threat from invaders shape the social structure of Western Europe?
- How did movement across Eurasia influence art, learning, and trade in Western Europe?
- How did contact with other cultures influence the European Renaissance?
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.
- Explain the impact of geography on civilizations.
- Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools (e.g. internet/GPS/etc.) to locate, describe, and compare various sites, land areas, places, and other geographic features.
- Apply abstract concepts such as systems, cause and effect, and how things change over time to understand the impact of the past on the present.
- Analyze historical situations for cause and effect relationships.
Identify historical events that influenced modern society.
Assessments
Student assessments are part of the teaching and learning process.
- Teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to
- Check for understanding
- Gather information about students' knowledge or skills.
- Assessments provide information about a child's development of knowledge and skills that can help families and teachers better plan for next steps in instruction.
For testing questions or additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success, families can contact their children's schools.
In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), fifth grade tests focus on measuring content knowledge and skill development.
