When Lira took a standardized achievement test at the end of the fourth grade, I saw exactly where I had failed to educate her, and that is why we will be spending a great deal of time on 5th grade social studies in United States History.
Our work will be based loosely on the k12 outline for 5th grade students, not to be aligned with common core standards but to make sure I am covering everything.
Since I could not find a textbook for 5th grade that I thought my hands-on learner would enjoy, I’ve decided to compile free and cheap resources to create unit studies for each topic.
5th Grade Social Studies
It is a little embarrassing to admit that this frugal living education blogger has failed to teach her child about money. Yeah… that will be corrected this year.
Government
- The President, Vice President, and Cabinet: A Look at the Executive Branch (Searchlight Books: How Does Government Work?)
- The Congress: A Look at the Legislative Branch (Searchlight Books)
- Judges and Courts: A Look at the Judicial Branch (Searchlight Books – How Does Government Work?)
- American Government Lapbook by Hands of a Child at Currclick
- How the U.S. Government Works at Education.com
- Engrade Digital Flashcards
Economics
- What Is Money, Anyway?: Why Dollars and Coins Have Value (Lightning Bolt Books)
- Economics and You by Mark Twain Media at Currclick
- Lots of Money at Education.com
- Do I Need It? or Do I Want It?: Making Budget Choices (Lightning Bolt Books)
at Amazon
- Who’s Buying? Who’s Selling?: Understanding Consumers and Producers (Lightning Bolt Books)
at Amazon
Follow Tabitha Philen (Meet Penny)’s board History on Pinterest.
5th Grade Homeschool History
Even as we continue through Mystery of History in the car, we need to catch up on the history of our country. Combining literature, lapbooks, geography, timelines, and research, we will study the early history of the United States.
Discovery of America
- Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air
at Amazon
- Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration With 22 Projects (Build It Yourself)
at Amazon
- Explorers I by Homeschool Learning Network at Currclick
- Leif Erickson (Reading Comprehension) at Education.com
- Marco Polo (Reading Comprehension) at Education.com
- Christopher Columbus (Reading Comprehension) at Education.com
- Amerigo Vespucci (Reading Comprehension) at Education.com
- Hands On History: Explorers at Currclick
Native Americans
- DK Eyewitness Books: North American Indian
at Amazon
- Native Americans Part 1 by Homeschool Learning Network at Currclick
- Native Americans Part 2 by Homeschool Learning Network at Currclick
- More Than Moccasins: A Kid’s Activity Guide to Traditional North American Indian Life (Hands-On History)
- Native American Lesson Plans
- Blood on the River: James Town, 1607
at Amazon
Colonial America
- Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in the New World (Hands-On History)
at Amazon
- Colonial America: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: Historical Eras) at Amazon
- Make & Learn Projects: Colonial America at Currclick
- Read-Aloud Plays: Colonial America at Currclick
- Hands-On History: Colonial America at Currclick
- Colonial America Unit Study at Currclick
The Colonies
- The Founding of a Nation: The story of the 13 Colonies
at Amazon
- Early American History (Bundle) at Currclick
- 13 Colonies Worksheets for Kids at Education.com
American Revolutionary War
- Meet George Washington (Landmark Books)
at Amazon
- Paul Revere’s Ride Workbook at Education.com
- The American Revolution Lapbook by A Journey Through Learning at Currclick
- My Brother Sam Is Dead
at Amazon
- All American Printables at Education.com
- American Revolution Workbook at Education.com
Pioneers
- Little House in the Big Woods
at Amazon
- Little House in the Big Woods Lapbook at Currclick
- Read Aloud Plays: Pioneers at Currclick
- Pioneer Days: Discover the Past with Fun Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes
- A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840
I see this post was written last summer! Id be interested to know how you implemented these links and lapbooks and such as we are going to approach 5th grade next year with my daughter and this being our first year of homeschooling..I quickly realized that 1. boxed curriculum does NOT work for us and 2. if left to my own devices of planning out a curriculum from scratch..I will get overwhelmed and do NOTHING…I love the looks of these type books and resources..Id love to see a rough outline of what and when 🙂
Hi there! I love the ideas you put together for the 5th grade history…. i have a couple of questions. how much time do you spend on each thing? i am trying to put together a more hands on curriculum for my girls. esp my rising 5th grader. she is very hands on and is getting tired of doing books. it is like pulling teeth to get her to do her work. it shouldn’t be like that. I am really struggling putting stuff together for her. i am used to an in the box curriculum with everything given to me page by page in a workbook. we are getting so tired of that. any advise would be greatly appreciated!!