Social Studies - 5th Grade (2024)
Lesson Plans

Strand 5: 20th Century to Now (Modern America: Social Movements, Economic Changes, Modern Warfare, and Current Events)

Students will examine impactful conflicts, moments, movements, communities, and people of the 21st century. They will analyze the role of the United States as a world power and the effects of its territorial and colonial expansion.

Compelling Questions:

• What makes an event historically significant and worthy of remembering?
• Have the benefits of leading on the world stage outweighed the costs for the United States?
• How do social movements form and grow?
• What are the benefits of learning about communities that are different from our own?
• How did the United States’ territorial expansion affect the people native to those lands?

Standard 5.5.2

Compare the motivations for and desired outcomes of the entry of the United States into World War I and World War II.

• 9/11 and Civil Liberties
  This lesson explores the challenges the United States faced as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and examines the governmentâ"s response through the lens of protection and civil liberties. Students will consider the balance between security and liberty in the United States.
• Impact of World War I on the United States
  After reading about World War I, students will decide which event had the most impact on the United States.Enduring Understanding - The United States emerged as a world power with influence which spanned the globe.
• Social Movements of the 20th Century
  Students will select a social or political movement of the 20th century (e.g. woman's movement, civil rights movement) to research and share what they learned with their classmates.Enduring Understanding:The U.S. emerged as a world influence through the contributions of individual groups, movements, and events.
• Were Suburbs Good for America?
  C3. Inquiry based lesson plan. Using supporting questions and formative performance assessments, students formulate an argument about whether or not the development suburbs was good for America. Focuses on the rapid urbanization following WWII from 1945-1950, students learn about the social and economic conditions of the U.S. during this time as well as the role of government.

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

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