Fifth Grade Social Studies is taught to the National Council for the Social Studies (U.S.) standards, covering U.S. history, civics, and geography. Learners will explore the history of the United States from pre-colonial times through the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the founding documents and the Bill of Rights, the three branches of government, elections, voting, and what it means to be a republic and a democracy. 

I have a master of arts degree in American history, and bachelor of arts degrees in political science, English, and communications with a journalism emphasis. I am lead teacher at The Foster Woods Folk School, which focuses on humanities education within an ecosocial justice framework aimed at celebrating and improving our connections as a global community of humans and non-humans living on Planet Earth. In this role, I work with learners of all ages with a primary focus of working with learners in grades three through 12. I was the director of a social justice center for three years during which time I routinely taught about and facilitated conversations about historical and current political events for both teen and adults participants. Before that, I was a newspaper editor and reporter for 15 years. I have been teaching history, social studies, and English Language Arts classes for several years. 

Homework Offered
There is daily homework to be completed outside of class time. Homework includes reading and writing assignments, as well as worksheets and other learning projects. 
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Weekly homework is assessed as follows for learners seeking a letter grade and letter of completion: 

60 Points: Journal and Worksheets
20 Points: Quiz
20 Points: Class Participation 

Letters of completion with final grade will be issued to students who complete the course with a C (70 Percent) or greater. 
Grades Offered
All student workbooks are graded throughout the course. 

The fifth grade social studies course pulls from a myriad of sources. We explore the nation's founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. We will use many primary sources to explore historical events and periods through the eyes of people who were firsthand witnesses.These may include diary entries, letters, court testimonies, and other sources. Assigned readings will come from sources such as NewsELA, Zinn Education Project, and Learning for Justice. 

As far as lecture development, I pull on several sources. The sources I use most often include Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" and Eric Foner and Lisa McGirr's "American History Now."