September Social Studies

5th Grade 

Social Studies

Unit 1: Government 

This unit provides students with an opportunity to review essential civics and government concepts learned in previous grades. It also establishes a common foundation that sets the stage for deeper discussions about government throughout the year as students explore the question: Why is the federal government organized to give and to limit power? Students begin by examining what life would be like in the absence of government and hypothesize about the reasons people form governments.  Next, students review core democratic values and principles upon which our government is based and investigate how they are rooted in the organization of the federal government.  In doing so, concepts such as limited government, popular sovereignty, rule of law, and individual rights are stressed.  Students analyze and explain how the Preamble to the Constitution reflects the purposes of government and explore other parts of the Constitution for evidence of federalism, limited government, and individual rights.  In learning about federalism, students compare the powers delegated to the federal government and those reserved to the states (or the people).  Contemporary examples of government in action are used throughout the unit.  Moreover, this unit provides teachers with the opportunity to connect classroom rules with ideas about government, including why people form governments, what happens without rules or laws, and the importance of the rule of law. Finally, this unit allows for a smooth connection to Constitution Day, which is required by federal law.