Grade 5 Social Studies SOL Standards

Skills

Geography of North America

A New Nation and its Expansion

Early Cultures of North America

The Civil War

Colonial America and the American Revolution

The student will apply history and social science skills to the content by

synthesizing evidence from information sources including, but not limited to artifacts, primary and secondary sources, charts, graphs, and diagrams to understand events in United States history

applying geographic skills to determine patterns and trends of people, places, or events

developing questions, enhancing curiosity, and engaging in critical thinking and analysis

integrating evidence to construct and analyze timelines, classify events, and distinguish fact from opinion

comparing and contrasting historical, cultural, economic, and political perspectives

determining and explaining cause-and-effect relationships

using economic decision-making models to make a decision and explain the incentives and consequences of a specific choice

engaging and communicating as a civil and informed individual with persons with different perspectives

developing products that reflect an understanding of content

The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the geography of North America by

locating North America in relation to the other continents and the oceans

locating and describing major geographic regions and bodies of water of North America and their impact on the early history of the United States

locating the 50 states

The student will apply history and social science skills to describe how early cultures developed throughout North America by

describing how archaeologists have recovered artifacts from ancient settlements, including, but not limited, to Cactus Hill in Virginia

locating and explaining where Indigenous peoples lived prior to the arrival of Europeans, with an emphasis on how the various geographic regions they inhabited influenced their daily lives

The student will apply history and social science skills to explain European exploration and colonization in North America by

describing the motivations for, obstacles to, and accomplishments of the Dutch, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish explorations

describing cultural and economic interactions between Indigenous peoples and Europeans that led to cooperation and conflict

The student will apply history and social science skills to understand how the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, impacted West Africa by

identifying the location and characteristics of West African societies of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai before European exploration

examining the arrival of the first Africans to colonial America at Old Point Comfort (Fort Monroe)

explaining the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its impact on the African coast and Western Hemisphere

identifying the cultural connections, conflicts, and common values of enslaved people in the Western Hemisphere, as well as challenges and hardships endured by enslaved people brought to the United States

The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the social, political, religious, economic, and geographic factors that shaped colonial America by

describing the characteristics and differences among the New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Southern colonies

explaining Virginia’s importance as one of the most populous and wealthiest colonies

comparing life from the perspectives of various groups, including, but not limited to large landowners, farmers, artisans, clergy, merchants, women, indentured servants, and enslaved and free Blacks

explaining the specialization and interdependence of the regions

explaining the changing political and economic relationships between the colonies and Great Britain, including, but not limited to representative government and self-rule in the colonies

The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the American Revolution by

identifying the causes and effects of the French and Indian War

identifying the issues of dissatisfaction that led to the American Revolution, including, but not limited to the “injuries and usurpations” outlined in the Declaration of Independence

comparing and contrasting the political ideas and principles that shaped the revolutionary movement

describing the leadership roles of individuals, including, but not limited to George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, John Adams, and the Marquis de Lafayette

examining the causes, course, and consequences of key events and battles of the era

The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the challenges faced by the new nation by

explaining the strengths, weaknesses, and outcomes of the government established by the Articles of Confederation

describing the Constitutional Convention and the development of the Constitution of the United States, with emphasis on the role of James Madison

examining constitutional issues debated, including the role of the national government and the debate over ratifying of the Constitution, the influence of the Federalist Papers, and the reasons for the addition of the Bill of Rights

explaining the Three-Fifths Compromise

examining the three branches of government

The student will apply history and social science skills to explain westward expansion and reform in America from 1801 to 1861 by

describing how territorial expansion affected the political map of the United States, including, but not limited to the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition and the role of Sacagawea, the acquisitions of Florida, Texas, Oregon, and California, and the results of the Mexican American War

describing the causes, course of events, and effects of the War of 1812, the role of Andrew Jackson, and the development of the Monroe Doctrine

identifying geographic, economic, and religious motivations that influenced the movement of settlers

analyzing the impact of westward expansion on Indigenous peoples, including, but not limited to the Indian Removal policies, the Trail of Tears, and the Seminole Wars

explaining technological advancements and innovations and their effects on life in America, including but not limited to the cotton gin, the reaper, the steam engine, and the steam locomotive

describing major developments in the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements

explaining how the expansion of U.S. territory led to increased momentum for the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements

The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the cause, major events, and effects of the Civil War by

describing how slavery and its expansion was the primary cause of the cultural, economic, and constitutional issues that divided the nation and led to the secession of southern states

describing the differences in the economies of the North and the South, growth of agriculture and industry, and how those economies impacted the outcome of the war

evaluating the leadership and impact of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War

describing how individuals influenced the course of the Civil War, including, but not limited to Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and Frederick Douglass

describing major political texts during the war, including but not limited to Lincoln’s Inaugural Address, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

analyzing the effects of the war from various perspectives of Union and Confederate soldiers, Indigenous peoples, women, European Americans, and enslaved and free Blacks during the war including, but not limited to Clara Barton, John Brown, Robert Smalls, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Van Lew, and Mary Bowser