Quarter 1: Foundations of the Western Hemisphere

Weeks 7–8

The Inca Empire

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

Daily Plan

Monday

Andes Geography and Inca Origins

The Andes mountain range; Cusco; vertical climate zones.
Math
Begin volume as an attribute of 3D solids (5.MD.C.3); cubic units.
ELA
Compare descriptions of the Andes from a travel guide and an encyclopedia (RI.5.6).
Science
Conservation of mass investigation: melting and freezing water (5-PS1-2).
Materials & prepShow

Social Studies

Math

ELA

Science

Tuesday

Inca Government and Mit'a

Sapa Inca; the four suyu (regions); the mit'a labor system.
Math
Find volume by counting unit cubes in rectangular prisms.
ELA
Theme analysis in the legend of Manco Cápac (RL.5.2).
Science
Mass before and after dissolving sugar/salt; graph results.
Materials & prepShow

Social Studies

Math

ELA

Science

Wednesday

The Inca Road System

25,000 miles of roads; tambos; chasqui runners; suspension bridges.
Math
Volume word problems with whole-number cubic units.
ELA
Write a journal entry from the perspective of a chasqui (W.5.3).
Science
Mass before and after a chemical change (rust, vinegar+baking soda).
Materials & prepShow

Social Studies

Math

ELA

Science

Thursday

Inca Architecture and Agriculture

Machu Picchu; terraced farming; Inca masonry without mortar.
Math
Volume: V = l × w × h on rectangular prisms (early 5.MD.C.5).
ELA
Continue narrative journal; apply L.5.1 grammar conventions.
Science
Graph mass results; argue from evidence that mass is conserved (5-PS1-2).
Materials & prepShow

Social Studies

Math

ELA

Science

Friday

Quipu and the Inca Record

Quipu knot records; recent decoding research.
Math
Volume practice; short formative assessment.
ELA
Finalize journal entry; share aloud.
Science
Conclude unit: matter is made of particles, and mass is conserved.
Materials & prepShow

Social Studies

Math

ELA

Science

Standards-tagged tasks landing in this window — reading responses, vocabulary, writing, grammar, or assessments from the Grade 5 ELA Package.

NYS-framework map work, primary sources, comparison charts, and quizzes landing in this window — with state adaptations for TX, FL, CA, and VA available in the hub.

Student Workbook Pages for This Week

Open student workbook →

Color-coded printable pages students grab during the week — surfaced right when they're used.

End-of-Week Review & Quick Check

Wrap up the week with three review takeaways and a 3-question check per subject. Pick an answer in each item, then tap Check answers.

End-of-week review

Social Studies

Key takeaways

  • The Inca built Tawantinsuyu ("the four regions") across the Andes from modern Colombia to Chile.
  • The Inca road system covered ~25,000 miles, with tambos (rest stops) and chasqui runners carrying messages.
  • Inca innovations include terraced farming, mortarless masonry, and quipu knotted-cord records.

Quick check

  1. 1.The capital of the Inca Empire was…

  2. 2.Chasqui runners were used to…

  3. 3.A quipu was a…

0 of 3 answered

End-of-week review

Math

Key takeaways

  • Volume measures the amount of space a 3D object takes up, in cubic units.
  • For rectangular prisms, V = l × w × h.
  • You can find volume by counting unit cubes that fit inside the shape.

Quick check

  1. 1.What is the volume of a box that is 4 × 3 × 2?

  2. 2.Volume is measured in…

  3. 3.A prism has length 5, width 5, height 5. Its volume is…

0 of 3 answered

End-of-week review

ELA

Key takeaways

  • Theme analysis works for legends and myths, not just modern stories.
  • Narrative writing uses sensory details, dialogue, and a clear sequence of events.
  • Editing for grammar (L.5.1) sharpens meaning and credibility.

Quick check

  1. 1.A first-person narrative uses pronouns like…

  2. 2.Which sentence has the strongest sensory detail?

  3. 3.A theme of the Manco Cápac legend might be…

0 of 3 answered

End-of-week review

Science

Key takeaways

  • Mass is conserved during physical changes such as melting, freezing, and dissolving.
  • Mass is also conserved during chemical changes — even when gas is produced in a sealed system.
  • Graphing before/after data helps you see whether a difference is real or measurement error.

Quick check

  1. 1.Ice melts into water in a sealed cup. The mass…

  2. 2.Vinegar + baking soda fizz in an OPEN cup. The mass on a scale…

  3. 3.A bar graph helps compare…

0 of 3 answered