5FifthGrade
All quarters

Quarter 1 · Weeks 1–9

Foundations of the Western Hemisphere

Anchor the year with the physical geography of the Americas, then meet the first peoples and the three great civilizations — Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Math grounds place value and decimals to thousandths; science investigates matter at the particle level.

Q1 worksheet bundle (100 pages)With answers (200 pages)Answer key only (100 pages)

Subject Focus

Mathematics

Place Value, Decimals & Volume Foundations

5.NBT.A.1, 5.NBT.A.3, 5.OA.A.1, 5.MD.C.3

ELA

Informative Writing & Multiple Accounts

RL.5.2, RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.6, W.5.2, L.5.1

Science

Properties of Matter

5-PS1-1, 5-PS1-2, 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4

Social Studies

Geography & Ancient Civilizations (Maya, Aztec, Inca)

NYS 5.1, 5.2, 5.4

Anchor Texts

  • •Encounter (Jane Yolen)
  • •Pedro's Journal (Pam Conrad)

Milestones & Signature Deliverables

  • Three-civilization comparative essay (Maya / Aztec / Inca)
  • Properties-of-matter performance task: identify unknowns
  • Mass-conservation lab notebook
  • Q1 portfolio + family showcase

Weekly Planner

Expand any week to see its objectives, activities, and materials at a glance — then jump into the daily plan.

  • Weeks 1–2

    The Geography of the Americas

    Physical geography of North, Central, and South America; major landforms, rivers, and climate zones.

    Objectives

    • •Physical geography of North, Central, and South America
    • •major landforms, rivers, and climate zones
    5.NBT.A.15.NBT.A.3RI.5.1RI.5.65-PS1-15-PS1-2NYS 5.4

    Activities

    1. →Monday: Hemispheres and Continents
    2. →Tuesday: Major Landforms of the Americas
    3. →Wednesday: Climate Zones
    4. →Thursday: Rivers and Watersheds
    5. →Friday: Map Skills Workshop

    Materials

    • •Student notebook & vocabulary log
    • •Atlas or wall map of the Western Hemisphere
    • •Math manipulatives (place-value blocks, unit cubes)
    • •Science lab notebook & balance scale
    • •Baking soda, vinegar, sand, salt, sugar for mixing investigations
    • •Lined drafting paper or word processor
    • •Anchor text: Encounter (Jane Yolen)
    • •Anchor text: Pedro's Journal (Pam Conrad)
    Open the full Mon–Fri lesson plan

  • Weeks 3–4

    The Maya Civilization

    Geography, architecture, mathematics, writing, and decline of the Maya in southern Mexico and Central America.

    Objectives

    • •Geography, architecture, mathematics, writing, and decline of the Maya in southern Mexico and Central America
    5.NBT.A.35.OA.A.1RI.5.2RI.5.6W.5.25-PS1-3NYS 5.2

    Activities

    1. →Monday: Maya Geography and Origins
    2. →Tuesday: Maya Cities and Architecture
    3. →Wednesday: Maya Mathematics and Calendar
    4. →Thursday: Maya Daily Life
    5. →Friday: Maya Decline and Legacy

    Materials

    • •Student notebook & vocabulary log
    • •Atlas or wall map of the Western Hemisphere
    • •Math manipulatives (place-value blocks, unit cubes)
    • •Science lab notebook & balance scale
    • •Lined drafting paper or word processor
    • •Anchor text: Encounter (Jane Yolen)
    • •Anchor text: Pedro's Journal (Pam Conrad)
    Open the full Mon–Fri lesson plan

  • Weeks 5–6

    The Aztec Empire

    Tenochtitlán, tribute, religion, and the empire of central Mexico.

    Objectives

    • •Tenochtitlán, tribute, religion, and the empire of central Mexico
    5.NBT.A.35.OA.A.1RL.5.2RI.5.3W.5.2L.5.15-PS1-4NYS 5.2

    Activities

    1. →Monday: The Founding of Tenochtitlán
    2. →Tuesday: Aztec Society and Government
    3. →Wednesday: Aztec Religion and Cosmology
    4. →Thursday: Aztec Engineering
    5. →Friday: Aztec Art, Music, and Markets

    Materials

    • •Student notebook & vocabulary log
    • •Atlas or wall map of the Western Hemisphere
    • •Math manipulatives (place-value blocks, unit cubes)
    • •Science lab notebook & balance scale
    • •Baking soda, vinegar, sand, salt, sugar for mixing investigations
    • •Lined drafting paper or word processor
    • •Anchor text: Encounter (Jane Yolen)
    • •Anchor text: Pedro's Journal (Pam Conrad)
    Open the full Mon–Fri lesson plan

  • Weeks 7–8

    The Inca Empire

    Andes geography, road system, government, and engineering of Tawantinsuyu.

    Objectives

    • •Andes geography, road system, government, and engineering of Tawantinsuyu
    5.MD.C.35.MD.C.5RL.5.2RI.5.6W.5.3L.5.15-PS1-2NYS 5.2

    Activities

    1. →Monday: Andes Geography and Inca Origins
    2. →Tuesday: Inca Government and Mit'a
    3. →Wednesday: The Inca Road System
    4. →Thursday: Inca Architecture and Agriculture
    5. →Friday: Quipu and the Inca Record

    Materials

    • •Student notebook & vocabulary log
    • •Atlas or wall map of the Western Hemisphere
    • •Math manipulatives (place-value blocks, unit cubes)
    • •Science lab notebook & balance scale
    • •Baking soda, vinegar, sand, salt, sugar for mixing investigations
    • •Centimeter cubes for volume work
    • •Anchor text: Encounter (Jane Yolen)
    • •Anchor text: Pedro's Journal (Pam Conrad)
    Open the full Mon–Fri lesson plan

  • Week 9

    Quarter 1 Synthesis and Portfolio Review

    Compare the three civilizations; consolidate the quarter's skills; assemble the portfolio.

    Objectives

    • •Compare the three civilizations
    • •consolidate the quarter's skills
    • •assemble the portfolio
    5.NBT.A.15.NBT.A.35.OA.A.15.MD.C.3RI.5.6W.5.2RL.5.25-PS1-3

    Activities

    1. →Monday: Comparison Project Kickoff
    2. →Tuesday: Drafting
    3. →Wednesday: Drafting Continued
    4. →Thursday: Revision and Portfolio Assembly
    5. →Friday: Showcase and Quarterly Report

    Materials

    • •Student notebook & vocabulary log
    • •Atlas or wall map of the Western Hemisphere
    • •Math manipulatives (place-value blocks, unit cubes)
    • •Science lab notebook & balance scale
    • •Baking soda, vinegar, sand, salt, sugar for mixing investigations
    • •Lined drafting paper or word processor
    • •Anchor text: Encounter (Jane Yolen)
    • •Anchor text: Pedro's Journal (Pam Conrad)
    Open the full Mon–Fri lesson plan