5th Grade Social Studies: What Happens

In fifth grade students begin the transition from children to young adults, and school curriculum begins to reflect that maturity.  Fifth grade social studies teaches what it means to be an American citizen.  By knowing the basics of fifth grade social studies, you’ll be able to help your child understand systems of government and economics.

Social studies curriculums vary from state to state, and even school to school. So if you want to find out details about what your child will learn, look at your state’s social studies standards or ask your child’s teacher. Generally, by the end of fifth grade, your child should be able to:

• Collect, organize, and analyze data
• Tell the difference between historical fact and opinion
• Explain how beliefs, education, and society can shape a person’s point-of-view
• Understand and explain supply and demand
• Locate important landmarks around the world
• Describe how people change the environment for specific purposes, such as genetic modification of crops and reforestation
• Identify and explain the branches of the government
• Explain the principles of American democracy and key documents, such as the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence

Social studies may seem like a lot of memorization, but it helps students appreciate other cultures as well as understand how the present society came to be.  Social studies makes better citizens.