The Social Studies, Year-Long Bundle provides a complete curriculum for upper-elementary classrooms with a focus on literacy development. 21st Century skills are emphasized with annotation and reading skills development, interactive hands-on activities, research, and more. Student workbooks include informational reading passages, meaning no textbook is needed! In addition, student reading-workbooks are Google compatible, which allows for digital learning.
Please note: Resources are not editable. For a better understanding of the lessons provided in this bundle, please click “View Preview” near the thumbnails at the top of the page and continue reading below, where specific topics in each unit are described. You can get more information and a suggested order of units/pacing guide by clicking HERE!
**INCLUDED:
– 9 Full Units
– 1 Read & Research Units (with another COMING SOON!)
– 4 Mini-Books for mini-units
——— Included in FULL UNITS ———
- Student Workbooks with Informational Text- No textbook needed!
- Embedded Reading Skills Tasks: Annotations Directions, Guided Notes, Checks for Understanding (Main Idea, Summarize, Cause & Effect, Draw a Conclusion, Compare & Contrast).
- Study Guide.
- Interactive Notebook / Lapbook Activities for hands-on learning.
- PowerPoints for teacher read alouds (fully aligned with the Student Workbook).
- A Teacher Guide: Scripted Lesson Plans, Teacher Prep Checklists, Learning Goals, Answer Keys.
- An End-of-Unit Test
- Google Compatible Workbooks
——– Included in READ & RESEARCH UNITS ———
- Student Workbooks with Informational Text- No textbook needed!
- Embedded Reading Skills Tasks: Annotations Directions, Checks for Understanding (Main Idea, Summarize, Cause & Effect, Draw a Conclusion, Compare & Contrast).
- Two optional research tasks- included in the Student Workbook.
- Interactive Flip Books.
- PowerPoints for teacher read alouds (fully aligned with the Student Workbook).
- A Teacher Guide: Unit Preparation Page with suggested websites for research, Answer Keys.
- An End-of-Unit Test
- Google Compatible Workbooks
——– Included in MINI-BOOKS ———
- Student-friendly directions for mini-book creation.
- Informational Reading Passages with directions for annotating and embedded reading skills tasks.
- Interactive Flip Cards to summarize content.
- An Assessment with Answer Key.
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**UNITS & TOPICS:
CONTINENTS, OCEANS, & MAP SKILLS (Full Unit):
Lesson 1: OVERVIEW OF THE EARTH
Lesson 2: THE OCEANS
– Pacific
– Atlantic
– Indian
– Arctic
– Southern
Lesson 3: THE CONTINENTS
– Asia
– Africa
– Europe
– North America
– South America
– Australia / Oceania
– Antarctica
Lesson 4: WHAT IS LATITUDE & LONGITUDE?
– Latitude and Equator
– Longitude and Prime (Greenwich) Meridian
Lesson 5: THE HEMISPHERES AND DIRECTIONS
– Hemispheres
– Directions and Compass Rose
TYPES OF MAPS (Full Unit):
Lesson 1: MAP BASICS
Lesson 2: POLITICAL MAPS
Lesson 3: PHYSICAL MAPS
Lesson 4: ROAD MAPS
Lesson 5: CLIMATE MAPS
Lesson 6: RESOURCE MAPS
Lesson 7: THEMATIC MAPS
MESOAMERICA: MAYA, AZTEC, AND INCA (Full Unit):
Lesson 1: AN OVERVIEW OF MESOAMERICA
– Location and Geography
– Farming and Resources
– Zapotec People
Lesson 2: MAYA CIVILIZATION
– Location, The Olmecs and their influence
– Government, Farming, Religion
– Advancements, Maya Spotlight: The Maya Ruins
Lesson 3: AZTEC EMPIRE
– Location, Tenochtitlan
– Government, Farming, Religion
– Advancements, Aztec Spotlight: Teotihuacan
Lesson 4: INCA CIVILIZATION
– Location, Cuzco
– Government, Farming, Religion
– Advancements, Inca Spotlight: Machu Picchu
Lesson 5: THE FALL OF ANCIENT AMERICA
– European Exploration
– Warfare, Disease, and Collapse
NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL REGIONS (Read & Research Unit):
Topics:
– AN INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL REGIONS
– EASTERN WOODLAND REGION
– SOUTHEAST REGION
– GREAT PLAINS REGION
– SOUTHWEST REGION
– PLATEAU REGION
– NORTHWEST COAST REGION
– CALIFORNIA INTERMOUNTAIN REGION
EUROPEAN EXPLORATION (Full Unit):
Lesson 1: AN OVERVIEW OF EUROPEAN EXPLORATION
– The Beginning
– The Voyage
– Tools and Technology
Lesson 2: SPANISH EXPLORATION
– The Spanish empire and the New World
– Spanish Explorers: Columbus and Balboa
– Spanish Conquistadors: Cortés, Pizarro, and de Soto
Lesson 3: PORTUGUESE EXPLORATION
– Portuguese trade with the east
– Portuguese Explorers: Diaz, da Gama, and Cabral
Lesson 4: FRENCH EXPLORATION
– France and the Northwest Passage
– French Explorers: Verrazzano, Cartier, de Champlain
Lesson 5: ENGLISH EXPLORATION
– England’s exploration of North America
– English Explorers: Cabot and Raleigh
Lesson 6: DUTCH EXPLORATION
– The Netherlands global trade and colonies
– Dutch Explorers: Henry Hudson
Lesson 7: INTERACTIONS WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
– Effect of European exploration on indigenous peoples
Lesson 8: TRANSATLANTIC TRADE
– Slavery and the Middle Passage
– The Columbian Exchange
THIRTEEN AMERICAN COLONIES (Read & Research):
Topics:
THE BEGINNING OF COLONIZATION
– European Land Claims
– Columbian Exchange
– Triangular Trade
SETTLING THE THIRTEEN COLONIES
– Religious Freedom
– The Lost Colony of Roanoke
– Relationships with Indigenous Peoples
NEW ENGLAND COLONIES
– Geography
– Settlers (Pilgrims, Puritans, John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson)
– The Economy
– Culture
MIDDLE COLONIES
– Geography
– Settlers (Quakers, William Penn)
– The Economy
– Culture
SOUTHERN COLONIES
– Geography
– Settlers (Jamestown, John Smith)
– The Economy
– Culture
AMERICAN REVOLUTION (Full Unit):
Lesson 1: A BRIEF HISTORY: THE COLONIAL PERIOD
– The Thirteen Colonies
– The French and Indian War
– King George III & Parliament
Lesson 2: CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
– The Colonists Want Representation
– Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny!
- The Sugar Act
- The Stamp Act
- The Townshend Act & Boston Massacre
- The Tea Acts & Boston Tea Party
- The Intolerable Acts
- The Battle of Lexington and Concord
Lesson 3: THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
– The Decision to Declare Independence
– Create a ‘Declaration of Independence’ Mini-Book!
Lesson 4: THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR: MAJOR EVENTS
– The People of the Revolutionary War (Patriots, Loyalists, Red Coats)
– Important Battles (Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Yorktown)
Lesson 5: THE TREATY OF PARIS
– A Victory for the Colonists
– A Fresh Start- The Articles of Confederation
CHARTERS OF FREEDOM (3 Mini-Books- Can be used separately or together):
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE–
– Founding Fathers and the Committee of Five
– Reasons for Declaring Independence
– Signing the Declaration and Legacy
U.S. CONSTITUTION-
– Constitutional Convention
– The Framers
– Great Compromise
– The Preamble
– The Articles
– The Bill of Rights
– Ratification (Federalists v. Anti-Federalists)
BILL OF RIGHTS-
– Amendments 1-10 Defined
– Legacy
THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT (Full Unit):
Lesson 1: THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
– The Supreme Law of the Land, Bill of Rights, and Separation of Powers
Lesson 2: THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
– Organization and Legislative Powers
– The Senate and the House of Representatives
Lesson 3: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
– Executive Positions, Roles and Powers
– President, Vice President, and Cabinet
Lesson 4: THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
– Judicial Branch responsibilities and organization
– The Supreme Court
Lesson 5: CHECKS & BALANCES
– Checks & Balances Explained with Examples
Lesson 6: DEMOCRACY & ELECTIONS
– Democracy & Elections summary
WESTWARD EXPANSION (Full Unit)
Lesson 1: WHAT IS WESTWARD EXPANSION?
Lesson 2: THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE
– Purchasing the Louisiana Territory
– Effects of the Louisiana Purchase
– Manifest Destiny
– The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lesson 3: EXPANDING WEST
– The Annexation of Texas
– The Mexican-American War and Mexican Cession
– The Oregon Territory
– The Final Pieces (Gadsden Purchase, Florida)
Lesson 4: NEW LAND, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
– The Oregon Trail
– California Gold Rush
Lesson 5: THE EFFECTS OF WESTWARD EXPANSION
– Communication and Transportation (Pony Express, Erie Canal, Transcontinental RR)
– Effects on People
– Other Important Effects (The Buffalo, Wild West, Homestead Act)
ABOLITION MOVEMENT (Mini-Book)
– Slavery and the evolution of the Abolition Movement
– Harriet Tubman
– John Brown
– Frederick Douglass
– Sojourner Truth
– Harriet Beecher-Stowe
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (Full Unit)
Lesson 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH
– Different Geographies, Cultures, and Economies
Lesson 2: CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR
– Sectionalism
– Expansion and Attempts at Compromise (Missouri, 1850, Kansas-Nebraska)
– The Abolition Movement
– The Election of 1860- Lincoln
Lesson 3: THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
– Southern Secession & Fort Sumter
– The Advantages of the Union and Confederacy
– People to Know (Lincoln, Davis, Lee, Tubman, Grant, Barton)
– Major Battles (Bull Run, Shiloh, Antietam, Gettysburg)
– Big Lincoln Moments: Emancipation Proclamation & Gettysburg Address (pg. 18)
– The End of the American Civil War (Surrender at Appomattox)
Lesson 4: RECONSTRUCTION
– Reunifying and Healing the Nation (Amendments 13, 14, and 15)
– The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
– The Effects and End of Reconstruction (Sharecropping, Jim Crow, Compromise of 1877)
**Friendly Reminder: LICENSING TERMS: This purchase includes a license for one teacher only for personal use in their classroom. Licenses are non-transferable, meaning they cannot be passed from one teacher to another. No part of this resource is to be shared with colleagues or used by an entire grade level, school, or district without purchasing the proper number of licenses. If you are a coach, principal, or district interested in transferable licenses to accommodate yearly staff changes, please contact me for a quote at tonythetourist1@gmail.com. Thank you for respecting my terms!
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