Sorting by NYSLS SS & Grade Level 5
 

Title
Synopsis
  Hey Neighbor Students learn the geographic, economic, and social/cultural understandings as related to US, Canada, and nations in Latin America.
  American Revolution and Jean Fritz Using books written by Jean Fritz students will gain information about the Revolutionary War.
  Student-made Web Pages...Show Off Their Work! Designed to teach students how to create a web page using Netscape Communicator's Composer and can be used by students in grades 3-12 to present their projects or research on their school's web page. Designed to be taught in a lab setting and will be used by the technology teacher in coordination with the classroom teacher.
  Central America Students will read, research, learn, and present information on the countries of Central America, its features, and a brief history of each country.
  Civil War Biographies on Power Point This experience is designed to be an initial introduction to the use of power point combined with research of a historical figure. Students will be trained in the use of power point and then asked to apply this skill to create a mini biography of an important historical figure during the Civil War period. Students will answer the essential question, "What role did this person play to help define the issue of slavery?" The focus will be on the biography, the power point will be the medium for presentation
  Colonial America This is an interdisciplinary unit ELA/SS covering the colonial period in American history. My overall goal is to give the students a feeling for the way of life during that time period. I want them to explore the problems the colonists faced, such as where to establish the colonies, how to get food and other supplies, and how to earn a living. I also want them to discover what the colonists were able to do to solve those problems.
  One-Room Schoolhouses This is a unit on one-room schoolhouses. Students will learn about one-room schoolhouses, and visit one for the day. The focus will be to learn first hand what it was like to attend a one-room schoolhouse, and to compare schools of yesterday with schools of today.
  Westward Movement Students will read, On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The purpose of this unit is to give children an understanding as to why the westward movement took place and the impact it had on pioneer families, as well as, our own values, practices and traditions.
  Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Westward Movement 5th grade social studies, language arts and reading unit including the Westward Movement, the novel, On the Banks of Plum Creek, and publishing an autobiographical picture book.
  So You Think You Got A Problem Students engaging in problem-solving process.
  Making a New American Stew 303. Essential Questions: Why has America become such a " melting pot "? How would your life be different if your ancestors hadn't come to America? What was it like to come to America as an immigrant? How have immigrants changed America?
  Searching for Famous Women The purpose of this learning unit is to develop knowledge of historical women during Women's History month. Students will research women a note-taking guide and a graphics organizer to allow them to write a summary and graphically and orally present the information they have acquired. Student will obtain the information from Internet web sites or electronic multimedia CD-ROMs.
  The Seasons-Myth, Reality, Feelings Essential Questions: What are the Seasons of the Year? How did ancient cultures explain the phenomena of nature? What is the scientific explanation for the seasons? How have people expressed their feelings about the seasons of the year?
  Journey This learning unit is based upon the book Journey by Patricia MacLachlan. It will be used in an after school program of third, fourth, and fifth grade students. The novel will be read orally to the students as a group with the unit to follow. This unit is designed to give the students enrichment activities that focus on the book and related concepts.
  Fifth Grade State Fair This learning unit provides a unique opportunity to study the United States as mandated in the New York State Grade social studies curriculum. The primary purpose is for students to discover through multiple research techniques specific information in a three-part project on a chosen state. The culmination to this unit will be an afternoon Fifth Grade State Fair to be enjoyed by students, faculty, and family.
  Bound for Oregon Introduce the history of the Oregon territory.
  O Canada This three week interdisciplinary unit on Canada addresses numerous New York State standards in a hands on, student centered manner. Its centerpiece is a WebQuest that allows students to experience researching on the internet in a controlled manner. Students will be immersed in reading, writing, researching, and creating, as they learn about America's neighbor to the north.
  Wild, Wild, West Learning about the lives of historical figures and events surrounding American time period of westward expansion.
  Cinderella Really Gets Around! Create meaningful lessons for Upper Elementary students that integrate Language Arts lessons with lessons in world geography and culture. Some of the 3000 + variants of the Cinderella stories that exist from around the world provide an interesting way to teach language arts skills, as well as world geography and culture. Activities will be interactive and student centered where the students will have opportunities to apply their knowledge in a variety of interdisciplinary tasks that are appealing and definitive.
  Under the Canopy This rainforest unit is an integrated summer reading program designed to reinforce language arts skills with an emphasis on reading and writing. The summer program is designed to help students at risk meet the N.Y. State standards. This unit is literature based and spans a period of four weeks incorporating reading, writing, and technology skills for students who have just completed grades one through five. It will also expose the students to the geographical and scientific significance of a rainforest habitat. This theme based approach to learning a broad topic allows students functioning at a wide variety of levels to work together cooperatively, learn from each other, and have fun together. At risk readers take on the role of the "mentor" or "teacher" when paired with younger students and they are then able to build their self-esteem . These students are rarely able to be the experts with their peer group so this becomes a very positive experience for all the children. In addition, the younger students love the attention from their older classmates. All aspects of the summer program center around the rainforest theme including reading, writing, listening, and speaking projects, art activities, guest readers, and even snacks are woven into the theme. "Under the Canopy" is sure to be a swinging good time for all!
  Compare & Contrast Decades of the 20th Century Students will have investigated and researched a decade of the 20th century. They will have used reference materials from the library as well as CD Rom encyclopedias, the Internet web sites and personal interviews of relatives who can give personal accounts of the past.
  The Twentieth Century Essential Questions: What major changes have occurred in the United States in the twentieth century? What political, social, economic, scientific, and cultural events influenced American History? What resources are most effective in finding historical information?
  The Civil War: Causes & Aftermath Do the students understand the distinct lifestyles that separate the North and South by the 1850's affected the outbreak of the Civil War? Do students know the human, material, and environmental strengths and weaknesses of both the Union and Confederacy? Do students understand there was a period of post-Civil War unrest that resulted in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln?
  Art and Life During the American Revolution Through the study of artists, artisans, and their craft, students will develop an in-depth, authentic concept of late 18th century America.
  The Bill of Rights This lesson fits in context with other learning in many areas. This lesson fits in the continuum of American history and is thus in context with New York State standards for Social Studies. The content of these lessons fits into the Grade 5 - Content Understandings in the scope and sequence; however, the format of this lesson is easily adaptable to many content areas.
  Mr. President, Have Things Changed? Students will be responsible for studying about a President, creating a visual presentation and taking peers on a travel back in time.
  Learning Vocab Doesn’t Have to be War This lesson is used as an introduction to the vocabulary presented in the novel My Brother Sam is Dead. Students are engaged throughout the lesson. Students are asked to observe, discuss and even act out words to help understand difficult concepts.
  Powerful Presentations Students will fill out a short questionnaire about themselves. Ask them to think about how we could present their information to another fifth grade class (write letters, send e-mail, make a collage, send pictures). Teacher shows them a slide show on Power Point about them and the things that they have accomplished this year.
  Civil War: A Living Museum Students research famous people and battles during Civil War Era, sharing information learned by portraying that person or battle in a "Living Museum". Meant to be used within a larger Learning Unit on the Civil War; would be a great culminating activity for a Civil War Learning Unit. Is written for classrooms that utilize the push-in model from support services (special education teachers, reading teachers) and use a team-teaching model; helps to organize and assist students in writing and with their final presentations.
  Literature Study of the Civil War Era The Civil War era is one of the most critical and fascinating periods in our nation's history. The many books about this period, written for young audiences provides a rich context in which to learn about the Civil War itself and to explore more basic issues about the nature of human life and society. The following upper elementary unit on historical fiction about the Civil War era contains valuable experiences that incorporate the Internet, Literature Circles, and Grand Conversations.
  Westward Ho / Oregon Trail To answer: What hardships did settlers experience in the Westward movement in the United States? Why did people choose to leave a settled land and face the uncertainties of moving to a new and unsettled land? What is the real story behind Native Americans and the westward movement? Television and movies portray the Native Americans as raiders, is that the truth?
  Seek and You May Find Essential Questions: Why is geography a useful skill in the study of history? How did early discoveries influence the Age of Exploration? How does the use of an old map and logs enhance our knowledge of this age?
  Behold the Wonder of Creation This project is for Grade 5 to explore and to become familiar with the National Parks of the United States, to understand the magnificence of their origins, to locate them geographically, to explore their unique features, inhabitants and inhabitants, to describe their attractions for the visitor today. In conclusion, the students will prepare booklet with cover page, essay, templates filled in, Bibliography, etc.
  What a Wonderful World - Unit of Study Essential Questions: What influence does geography have on a country's economy and the well-being of its people? How have the interactions of social/cultural, political and religious systems in different regions of the world affected our lifestyles? How do international affairs (current events) affect various people? What influence have international authors, poets, and artists had on our view of foreign lands? How does daily life in various countries compare to our daily life?
  Immigration: Why Did They Come? Students will analyze immigration trends / waves by entering data in a spreadsheet, creating bar and pie graphs, determining the time period of greatest immigration for a given nationality.
  The Golden Door: US Immigration Through Ellis Isla Covering various aspects of immigration to the US through Ellis Island including a visit to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty.
  The Civil War Era This purpose of this unit is to explore both the causes and the actual events of the American Civil War. It is a writing intensive unit. Content knowledge is presented through textbooks, literature, videos, WEB sites, interactive CD's, and primary sources.
  The Tread of the Iron Horse Exposes 4th graders to issues, conditions adn events in their community during the mid-19th century.
  Island Investigation Mini research project for intermediate students to learn about one of the larger islands near the community of Clayton called Grindstone Island. Students learn how an island affects the life of people living there. They will also learn that lifestyles on Grindstone Island have changed over time (completed in two 3-4 multi-age classes at Guardino Elem. School-two month long unit designed to totally immerse children in reading, writing, speaking and listening, culminating in a final project. Lessons took about one and one-half hours per day. Daily scheduled reading and writing workshop times were used for this project. Activities related to NYS Standards in Language Arts, Social Studies, and Technology.
  Logical Conclusion / Early Explorers Form a logical conclusion about the significance of Columbus' voyages and his relationships with indigenous peoples.
  Early European Explorers 107. This unit describes the events and advances that led Europeans to explore. Their voyages eventually led to the Americas. In this unit, students will learn what actors set the stage for exploration, what explorers were determined to and had the courage to undertake dangerous voyages, and how European exploration of the Americas changed the lives of the people already living there.
  Where is That From? Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we live-local, national, and global-including the distribution of people, places, and environments over the earth's surface. Performance indicator: describe the relationships between people and environments and the connections between people and places.
  Quest for Freedom This is a fifth grade social studies unit on the differences between the North abd the South prior to the Civil War. This unit will pay particular attention to the underlying causes of the Civil War. Students will identify conflicting perspectives on slavery and identify leaders and groups of people involved during that time period. This unit will take approximately 3-4 weeks to complete. Students will oncorporate a variety if technological skills in this unit.
  Focusing on Famous People Begin by asking students if they have ever heard of George Washington (or other famous person). Read a story to the class on the famous person you have chosen. In small groups, students discuss and write answers to questions given on a worksheet.
  Welcome to New York State Students will create a New York State travel brochure
  Colonial Times Students will understand the causes and course of American Revolution.
  The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter Essential Questions: Does the student explore the meaning of American culture by identifying the key ideas, beliefs and patterns of behavior? Does the student relate similarities and differences between the European and Native American cultures? Does the student read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding? Does the student read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation?
  Lewis and Clark Does the student read, write, listen, and speak in order to demonstrate knowledge of the Expedition's importance in US history? Does the student read, write, listen, and model to demonstrate an understanding as to the importance of geography to the Expedition? Does the student read, write, listen, speak, and demonstrate an understanding of planning, scarcity, and decision making? Does the student read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation of the successes and failures of the Expedition?
  The Civil War This is a five week interdisciplinary unit on the Civil War which addresses numerous New York State standards in a student-centered manner. Students will be immersed in reading, writing, researching and creating as they learn about life during the mid 1800's. The unit is focused on developing an understanding of life as a slave, soldier, leader and civilian during the American time period known as The Civil War.
  Twentieth Century Essential Questions: How do the historical events of a period in history influence the lives of the people of that time? Why is the study of history important? (What can we learn from studying history?) How have the people and events from your decade of study today influenced our life?





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