Lesson Plans for Fifth Grade Social Studies

Teach your students about the people who decide which laws to pass. Activate the critical thinking skills of your students by having them decide the laws that they would like to modify!

It's a grand old flag, it's a high-flying flag, and students can learn about it in this nifty history lesson.

Make history come alive with this interactive lesson! Students will have a blast presenting a "living timeline" to help their classmates understand the events of the Revolutionary War.

This is a lesson about the immigration procedures at Ellis Island. Students will learn about the process and creatively write about what it was like for immigrants to pass through Ellis Island.

Introduce your students to the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution, and have them come up with the rights that they wish they would have!

In this cooperative economics activity, students learn about the division of labor in a real way. Students will be able to see first hand the advantages and disadvantages of the division of labor.

Use this lesson to show your students that dreams can become reality with dedication and determination. This lesson will teach them about a man who made his dream come true by standing firm in front of the most challenging obstacles.

In this 2-day lesson honoring Indigenous People’s Day, children will learn about powerful Native American leaders, how they led and what they stood for. Students will actively engage in research, art integration and presenting to peers.

Integrate reading, writing, and social studies in this lesson about famous jazz musicians! This lesson would fit perfectly in a unit about biographies or Black History Month.

Settlers began arriving to build homes for themselves in America in the early bits of the 17th century. In this lesson, your students will learn a little about what it took to leave home and become a settler.

It's time to take out the trash! Educate your students on the history of garbage in America, including the effects our pollution have had on the environment and what we can do to make it better.

How does a bill become a law? Help your students figure out the answer with this engaging, hands-on social studies lesson.

Students will be given information on the three branches of the US government. This is an introduction where students fill out information.

Use this lesson to teach your students how people survived in the New England colonies when they were first created.

Explore a Native American legend with your students to discover the ways of life and beliefs of the Algonquin people.

In this lesson you will allow students to explore the inferences in the opening chapter of Bud, Not Buddy. Then they will have the opportunity to develop these skills further with high cognitive partner and individual activities.

Use this lesson to show your students the differences and similarities between the various countries in terms of political, economic, cultural, and population regions.

A Lesson about the Great Depression doesn't have to depress your students! They will enjoy building background knowledge for Bud, Not Buddy with great interactive and cooperative learning tasks.

The students are coming! The students are coming! Debunk common myths and teach your students about Paul Revere's ride with this lesson plan that lets students finish their own graphic novels.