California Social Studies Grade 5

New for Fall 2023: All four units are editable on Google docs!

I love writing about history and making history fun for kids. After someone requested I work on a California Social Studies pack, I was hooked. California history is one of my favorites.

This zip file includes four units with six packs. Each pack contains assessments, projects, and rubrics to make history come alive for your fifth graders. There is also a digital USA book template for reviewing important topics.

Unit 1

• Native Americans (82 pages) Your students will learn about the different groups of Native Americans around the United States: Eastern Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, Northwest, Subarctic, Southeast, California, and Plateau. You can go through each group together or have them break up into small groups and learn about one location and teach it to the rest of the class. There is a activity to go with each region. They will also learn about the cultural contributions of these great people. There is an ABC template included and an assessment. There is also a digital activity included that students can do on their own.
• Age of Exploration (76 pages) Your students will learn about European explorers and their routes. They will read or listen to the book Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad. Explorers studied include: Columbus, Cartier, Hudson, Verrazzano, Balboa, Cortes, Pizarro, Champlain, Coronado, and Drake. There is an activity that goes with each explorer. For example, after learning about Christopher Columbus, you can read a part of his journal. There is also a section on slavery, including information about Olaudah Equiano.

Unit 2

• European Colonies (124 pages) Your students will learn about the Europeans who colonized the Southern, Middle, and New England colonies. They will learn about the geography, climate, economy of each colony and how they cooperated and had conflict with the Native Americans. Your students will learn about the Powhatan, the Wampanoag, and the Lenape. They will also learn about the African Slave Trade and read a journal from someone who went through it. Studying the French and Indian War, Pontiac's Rebellion, and the Iroquois Nations is a part of this section. Your students will l learn about differences between the Pilgrims, the Puritans, and the Quakers.

Unit 3

• Revolutionary War (76 pages)-_Your students will learn so much information with the help of Liberty's Kids videos. Starting with The Townshend Acts and moving on to the Boston Tea Party and the First Continental Congress, students will get an understanding of these topics with activities and videos. There is a small group activity to better understand the Declaration of Independence. Your students will research a Revolutionary War hero and then finish up dividing your classroom like the Northwest Territory.
• Constitution (74 pages)- Not only will your students learn about
  compromise and study the Constitution, but they will also learn about the history of some patriotic songs. They will sort the powers of Congress, study a Founding Father, and learn about their first amendment rights. There is even a fun activity to learn about the separation of powers.

Unit 4

• Westward Expansion (80 pages)- Your students will learn about the explorations of Lewis and Clark and John Fremont. Your students will learn about the details of the trail and also planning their own journey. They will learn about the effects of Westward Expansion. A transportation book explains why these changes helped the west to grow. Students will learn about the Trail of Tears and read some Primary Sources to find out details about the event. Your students will learn about the annex of Texas, the Homestead Act, and how different states had different laws. To end this unit, you will learn about European Immigrants and why the came here.