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What does a student learn in ?

This is the year history zooms in on how the United States got started. Students follow the story from the first peoples of North America through European explorers, the thirteen colonies, the Revolutionary War, and the writing of the Constitution. They learn the reasons behind the fighting and the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. By spring, students can name the 50 states on a map and explain why the colonies broke away from Britain.

  • Native American tribes
  • European explorers
  • Thirteen colonies
  • American Revolution
  • Declaration of Independence
  • Constitution and Bill of Rights
  • US map skills
Source: Mississippi Mississippi College- & Career-Readiness Standards
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 5.
US History: Pre-Columbian Era to American Revolution
  • Identify major geographic areas of the world and specifically North America

    5.1

    Identify major geographic areas of the world and specifically North America.

  • Map the seven continents and five oceans

    5.1.1

    Map the seven continents and five oceans.

  • Identify and locate the main mountain ranges, rivers

    5.1.2

    Identify and locate the main mountain ranges, rivers, and other key bodies of water.

  • Locate on a map and discuss the pre-Columbian civilizations in North and South…

    5.1.3

    Locate on a map and discuss the pre-Columbian civilizations in North and South America.

  • Investigate the people and ways of life of North America and the Caribbean…

    5.2

    Investigate the people and ways of life of North America and the Caribbean Basin prior to the Columbian Era.

  • Identify the major Native American tribes of North America and the Caribbean…

    5.2.1

    Identify the major Native American tribes of North America and the Caribbean Basin at the beginning of the Columbian Era.

  • Map the territories of the major Native American Tribes of North America and…

    5.2.2

    Map the territories of the major Native American Tribes of North America and the Caribbean Basin at the beginning of the Columbian Era.

  • Determine how tribes in different regions used their environment to obtain…

    5.2.3

    Determine how tribes in different regions used their environment to obtain, food, clothing, and shelter.

  • Differentiate the lives and cultures of Native American tribes by region or…

    5.2.4

    Differentiate the lives and cultures of Native American tribes by region or territory.

  • Analyze the motivations and consequences of the exploration of North America

    5.3

    Analyze the motivations and consequences of the exploration of North America.

  • Map the European countries of Spain, Portugal, Great Britain

    5.3.1

    Map the European countries of Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, and France and their initial settlements in North America and Caribbean Basin with respect to trade routes and mitigation.

  • Identify significant European explorers

    5.3.2

    Identify significant European explorers (e.g., Ferdinand Magellan, Hernando de Soto, Rene' Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, John Cabot, Christopher Columbus, Samuel de Champlain, etc.), their motivation to and through North America and the Caribbean Basin.

  • Explain the causes and effects of the Columbian Exchange

    5.3.3

    Explain the causes and effects of the Columbian Exchange.

  • Examine the economic, political

    5.4

    Examine the economic, political, and religious reasons for the founding of colonial settlements.

  • Identify the influential leaders

    5.4.1

    Identify the influential leaders (e.g., Willian Penn, John Smith, Roger Williams, Lord Baltimore, William Bradford, John Winthrop, etc.) responsible for founding colonial settlements.

  • Describe the role of indentured servitude and slavery in early settlements

    5.4.2

    Describe the role of indentured servitude and slavery in early settlements (e.g., Triangular Trade, indentured servitude, enslaved and free Africans, etc.).

  • Compare and contrast colonial life in the different regions

    5.4.3

    Compare and contrast colonial life in the different regions (e.g., New England, Middle, Southern, etc.) including resources, way of life, economics, local government, etc.

  • Contrast the views of land use and ownership by Native Americans and colonists

    5.4.4

    Contrast the views of land use and ownership by Native Americans and colonists.

  • Trace the development of the revolutionary movement in North America

    5.5

    Trace the development of the revolutionary movement in North America.

  • Identify the causes and consequences of the French and Indian War

    5.5.1

    Identify the causes and consequences of the French and Indian War.

  • Explain the reasons for the American Revolution

    5.5.2

    Explain the reasons for the American Revolution.

  • Examine the actions taken by the British and colonists and explain how each led…

    5.5.3

    Examine the actions taken by the British and colonists and explain how each led to the Revolutionary War (e.g., British Stamp Act, Intolerable Acts, Boston Massacre, Tea Act, etc.).

  • Explain major events of the American Revolution

    5.6

    Explain major events of the American Revolution.

  • Describe the roles of major contributors

    5.6.1

    Describe the roles of major contributors (e.g., Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Haym Salomon, etc.).

  • Identify key battles of the American Revolution and their outcomes

    5.6.2

    Identify key battles of the American Revolution and their outcomes (e.g., Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Cowpens, Yorktown, etc.).

  • Discuss the contributions of African Americans, women

    5.6.3

    Discuss the contributions of African Americans, women, and ordinary citizens in general to the American Revolution.

  • Examine efforts to mobilize support for the American Revolution by the…

    5.6.4

    Examine efforts to mobilize support for the American Revolution by the Minutemen, Committees of Correspondence, First Continental Congress, Sons of Liberty, and the Second Continental Congress.

  • Explain the colonial victory of the American Revolution

    5.6.5

    Explain the colonial victory of the American Revolution.

  • Summarize the effects of the Treaty of Paris of 1783 on the development of the…

    5.6.6

    Summarize the effects of the Treaty of Paris of 1783 on the development of the United States.

  • Examine the development of the founding documents of the United States

    5.7

    Examine the development of the founding documents of the United States.

  • Analyze the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the purpose of…

    5.7.1

    Analyze the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the purpose of government.

  • Analyze the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation

    5.7.2

    Analyze the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.

  • Explain how the Northwest Ordinance influenced the framers of the Constitution

    5.7.3

    Explain how the Northwest Ordinance influenced the framers of the Constitution.

  • Identify significant attendees of the Constitutional Convention

    5.7.4

    Identify significant attendees of the Constitutional Convention.

  • Examine the development of the Constitution of the United States

    5.8

    Examine the development of the Constitution of the United States.

  • Identify key political members of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists

    5.8.1

    Identify key political members of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

  • Contrast the ideology of Federalists from that of the Anti- Federalists

    5.8.2

    Contrast the ideology of Federalists from that of the Anti- Federalists.

  • Describe the plans and compromises that contributed to the creation of the…

    5.8.3

    Describe the plans and compromises that contributed to the creation of the Constitution.

  • Evaluate the features of the Bill of Rights

    5.8.4

    Evaluate the features of the Bill of Rights.

  • Compare and contrast the treatment of African Americans, Native Americans

    5.8.5

    Compare and contrast the treatment of African Americans, Native Americans, and women regarding the principles in the Bill of Rights.

  • Compare and contrast the three branches of government

    5.8.6

    Compare and contrast the three branches of government.

  • Recognize symbols, customs

    5.9

    Recognize symbols, customs, and celebrations representative of the United States.

  • Define symbols and customs

    5.9.1

    Define symbols and customs.

  • Identify school, community, state

    5.9.2

    Identify school, community, state, and national symbols (e.g., United States flag, American eagle, etc.).

  • Compare and contrast the Pledge of Allegiance, Preamble

    5.9.3

    Compare and contrast the Pledge of Allegiance, Preamble, and patriotic songs as expressions of patriotism.

  • Explain historically significant people and events that shaped America

    5.9.4

    Explain historically significant people and events that shaped America (e.g., our first president, etc.).

  • Identify United States and individual states on a globe and a map

    5.10

    Identify United States and individual states on a globe and a map.

  • Identify the United States on a map

    5.10.1

    Identify the United States on a map.

  • Identify and label each of the 50 states on a map

    5.10.2

    Identify and label each of the 50 states on a map.