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Social Studies Curriculum Social Studies - 5th Grade (2024)
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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 5.5.1

Compare the motivations for and desired outcomes of U.S. entry into two or more of the wars of the 20th and 21st centuries.
  • 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.

UEN logo 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.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.