Social Studies Plan for the Year

In New Mexico, we teach American history/geography in 5th grade (mainly history). So with that in mind, this is how I lay out the school year. I will provide links as I add them to this blog.


Unit 1: Pre-Columbian History

• Maya, Inca, Aztec / Ancient America
• Pre-Columbian United States / New Mexico
• World Exploration

Unit 2: Discovery and Founding of North America

• Founding of the Colonies
• Slave Trade
• Pilgrims in the Colonies
• Exploration

Unit 3: Revolution

• Life Under British Rule
• Rebellion / Declaration of Independence
• Revolutionary War
• Reconstruction

Unit 4: Westward Expansion

• Trails West
• Challenges / Difficulties

Unit 5: The Civil War

• Slavery
• North vs. South
• Civil War Battles
• Reconstruction

During the school year, but especially after Unit 5, I always teach geography, including the states and capitals, commerce and economy of the United States, and map skills.

GEOGRAPHY UNIT

Unit 6: The World Wars

• World War I
• The Great Depression
• World War II

Unit 7: Mid to Late 20th Century to Now

• Korea & Vietnam Wars
• Cold War
• America at the end of the 20th Century
• 9/11
• 9/11 to Now