Warwick School District

Curriculum❯Social Studies 05

Social Studies 05

Grade Levels: 05 |

Course Description

Social studies instruction is tied directly to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards related to History, Geography, Civics & Government, Economics, and Personal Finance. The curriculum focuses on each standard area as it builds and broadens in scope from grade to grade. Fifth grade students will learn about geography, economics, civics including the constitution and government, personal finance, and history including colonization and the Revolutionary War.

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Civics and Government (2009-2012)

  • Principles and Documents of Government

    • GRADE 5

      • Understand the rule of law in protecting property rights, individual rights and the common good.(5.1.5.A)
      • Describe the basic purposes of government in the classroom, school, community, state, and nation.(5.1.5.B)
      • Describe the principles and ideals shaping local state, and national government. -Liberty / Freedom -Democracy -Justice -Equality(5.1.5.C)
      • Interpret key ideas about government found in significant documents: -Declaration of Independence -United States Constitution -Bill of Rights -Pennsylvania Constitution(5.1.5.D)
      • Identify the individual rights guaranteed by the PA Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.(5.1.5.E)
      • Explain the significance of state symbols, national symbols, and national holidays.(5.1.5.F)

  • Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

    • GRADE 5

      • Identify individual rights and needs and the rights and needs of others in the classroom, school, community, state, and nation.(5.2.5.A)
      • Identify behaviors that promote cooperation among individuals.(5.2.5.B)
      • Explain why individuals become involved in leadership and public service.(5.2.5.C)
      • Identify specific ways individuals participate in school and community activities.(5.2.5.D)

  • How Government Works

    • GRADE 5

      • Describe how the elected representative bodies function in making local, state, and national laws.(5.3.5.B)
      • Identify the requirements to vote in local, state, and national elections.(5.3.5.E)
      • Examine different ways conflicts can be resolved.(5.3.5.F)
      • Describe how groups try to influence others.(5.3.5.G)
      • Identify various sources of mass media.(5.3.5.H)

  • How International Relationships Function

    • GRADE 5

      • Describe the difference between nation and country.(5.4.5.B)

Economics (2009-2012)

  • Scarcity and Choice

    • GRADE 5

      • Explain ways in which people meet their basic needs and wants. Demonstrate the use of human and capital resources in the production of a specific good.(6.1.5.B)
      • Explain how people’s choices have different economic consequences.(6.1.5.C)

  • Economic Interdependence

    • GRADE 5

      • Explain why people specialize in the production of goods and services and divide labor.(6.4.5.A)
      • Explain the growth in international trade.(6.4.5.B)

  • Income, Profit, and Wealth

    • GRADE 5

      • Differentiate the requirements for different careers and occupations.(6.5.5.B)
      • Explain how positive and negative incentives affect individual choices.(6.5.5.D)

Geography (2009-2012)

  • Basic Geographic Literacy

    • GRADE 5

      • Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environment.(7.1.5.A)

  • Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

    • GRADE 5

      • Identify the basic physical processes that affect the physical characteristics of places and regions.(7.2.5.B)

  • Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

    • GRADE 5

      • Identify the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria: -Population -Culture -Settlement -Economic activities -Political activities(7.3.5.A)

History (2009-2012)

  • Historical Analysis and Skills Development

    • GRADE 5

      • Identify and explain the influences of economic features on continuity and change over time.(8.1.5.A)
      • Classify and analyze fact and opinion from multiple points of view, and secondary sources as related to historical events.(8.1.5.B)
      • Locate primary and secondary sources for the research topic and summarize in writing the findings. (Reference RWSL Standard 1.8.5 Research)(8.1.5.C)

  • Pennsylvania History

    • GRADE 5

      • Illustrate concepts and knowledge of historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to Pennsylvania history.(8.2.5.B)
      • Differentiate how continuity and change in Pennsylvania history are formed and operate. - Belief systems and religions - Commerce and industry - Technology - Politics and government - Physical and human geography - Social organizations(8.2.5.C)
      • Examine patterns of conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations that impacted the history and development of Pennsylvania for responding to individual and community needs. - Ethnicity and race - Working conditions - Immigration - Military conflict - Economic stability(8.2.5.D)

  • United States History

    • GRADE 5

      • Compare and contrast common characteristics of the social, political, cultural and economic groups in United States history.(8.3.5.A)
      • Illustrate concepts and knowledge of historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.(8.3.5.B)
      • Differentiate how continuity and change in U.S. history are formed and operate. - Belief systems and religions - Commerce and industry - Technology - Politics and government - Physical and human geography - Social organizations(8.3.5.C)
      • Examine patterns of conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations that impacted the history and development of the United States. - Ethnicity and race - Working conditions - Immigration - Military conflict - Economic stability(8.3.5.D)

  • World History

    • GRADE 5

      • Compare and contrast common characteristics of the social, political, cultural, and economic groups in world history.(8.4.5.A)
      • Illustrate concepts and knowledge of historical documents, artifacts, and sites, which are critical to World history.(8.4.5.B)

Career Education and Work (2002)

  • Career Awareness and Preparation

    • GRADE 5

      • Describe the impact of individual interests and abilities on career choices.(13.1.5.A)
      • Describe the impact of personal interest and abilities on career choices.(13.1.5.B)

  • Career Retention and Advancement

    • GRADE 5

      • Explain how student attitudes and work habits transfer from the home and school to the workplace.(13.3.5.A)
      • Explain the importance of working cooperatively with others at both home and school to complete a task.(13.3.5.B)
      • Identify effective group interaction strategies, such as, but not limited to: -Building consensus -Communicating effectively -Establishing ground rules -Listening to others(13.3.5.C)

  • Entrepreneurship

    • GRADE 5

      • Identify the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship.(13.4.5.A)
      • Discuss the entrepreneurial character traits of historical or contemporary entrepreneurs.(13.4.5.B)
      • Discuss the steps entrepreneurs take to bring their goods or services to market, such as, but not limited to: -Marketing -Production -Research and development -Selection of goods and services(13.4.5.C)

Economics (2026)

  • Fundamentals of Economics

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Identify the three basic questions that all economic systems attempt to answer: What goods and services should be produced? How will goods and services be produced? Who will consume goods and services?(6.1.3-5.B)
      • Define scarcity and how it impacts personal, household, and community decision- making.(6.1.3-5.C)
      • Explain the costs and benefits of an economic decision.(6.1.3-5.F)
      • Define opportunity cost and describe the opportunity cost of a personal choice.(6.1.3-5.G)
      • Explain how negative and positive incentives affect choices.(6.1.3-5.H)
      • Define specialization and identify examples of interdependence.(6.1.3-5.I)
      • Explain why countries trade.(6.1.3-5.J)
      • Identify and define imports, exports, and international trade.(6.1.3-5.K)
      • Explain why some products are produced locally while others are not.(6.1.3-5.M)

  • Microeconomics

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Describe how consumers purchase goods and services from producers.(6.2.3-5.A)
      • Identify ways local businesses compete for customers.(6.2.3-5.B)
      • Define and provide an example of a monopoly.(6.2.3-5.C)
      • Explain how markets bring together buyers and sellers.(6.2.3-5.D)
      • Describe businesses that provide goods and businesses that provide services.(6.2.3-5.H)
      • Define profit and loss.(6.2.3-5.I)

  • Macroeconomics

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Define unemployment and inflation.(6.3.3-5.A)
      • Explain how taxes affect the price of goods and services.(6.3.3-5.E)
      • Explain how the government pays for goods and services through taxes.(6.3.3-5.F)

  • Money & Economic Institutions

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using money instead of bartering.(6.4.3-5.A)
      • Explain why most countries create their own form of money.(6.4.3-5.B)

Personal Finance (2026)

  • Income

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Describe how people receive income (e.g., work, gifts, renting property to others).(17.2.3-5.A)
      • Explain ways people improve their ability to earn income through education, training, and experience. (17.2.3-5.C)
      • Describe how people earn income through entrepreneurship and supplemental employment. (17.2.3-5.G)

  • Spending

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Provide examples of household spending and sources of income.(17.3.3-5.C)
      • Identify taxes applied to certain purchases. (17.3.3-5.L)

  • Saving and Investing

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Identify items that might increase or decrease in value over time. (17.4.3-5.A)
      • Describe a variety of savings goals and the factors that influence them.(17.4.3-5.B)
      • Identify reasons people deposit money to be saved in accounts at financial institutions and factors they might consider when selecting a financial institution. (17.4.3-5.C)

  • Risk and Insurance

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Describe how unexpected events could impact a person's finances (e.g., floods, automobile accidents, illness). (17.5.3-5.A)

  • Credit

    • Grades 3 to 5

      • Identify traits that could impact a person's ability to borrow items or money.(17.6.3-5.A)
      • Identify goods and services people often pay for over time using credit. (17.6.3-5.C)
      • Explain why borrowers might be asked to repay more than they initially borrowed (e.g., interest, fees). (17.6.3-5.E)

Units

Unit #1 - Units 1 & 2: America's Geographic Setting & Colonial Times

Unit #2 - Unit 3: The American Revolution

Unit #3 - Unit 4: Civics & Economics in America

Unit #4 - Junior Achievement (JA)

Course Resources

Required:
TCI Social Studies Alive Online Resource
Junior Achievement Resources

Optional/Supplemental:
A History of US books by Joy Hakim
Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill
"Squanto: A Warrior's Tale" movie via Swank
Those Rebels John and Tom by Barbara Kerley

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow/Christopher Bing
George vs George by Rosalyn Schanzer
Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson: Patriot Soldier by Beth Anderson
Her Name Was Mary Katharine: The Only Woman Whose Name Is on the Declaration of Independence by Ella Schwartz
King George: What Was His Problem by Steve Sheinkin
Sybil Ludington: Revolutionary War Rider by E.F. Abbott

"Liberty's Kids" videos available on YouTube
"National Treasure" movie via Swank
Discovery Ed
We the Kids by David Catrow
BrainPOP resource videos