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5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 9 of 12

Cultures of the Americas

Languages, celebrations and contributions

What your child practices

The languages, holidays, music, sports, art and other contributions of countries across the Western Hemisphere, and what the United States, Canada and Mexico share and do differently.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 5.5a · the languages, celebrations and contributions that make the countries of the Western Hemisphere distinct

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. People of the Americas have ancestors from Native nations, Europe, Africa and Asia.
  2. Languages come from history: Canada uses English and French; Haiti uses French and Haitian Creole; Brazil uses Portuguese.
  3. Each country has celebrations; Mexico's Independence Day is September 16.

Example: What are Canada's two official languages? Canada was colonized by France and Britain. Both languages are official. Answer: English and French

Cultures of the Americas in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 9 of 12 in 5th grade Social Studies, after Countries & Capitals and before Governments of the Americas.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Spanish is the most common language in…

    • Brazil
    • Jamaica
    • Canada
    • Most countries of Central and South America

  2. Question 2

    The most popular sport across most of Latin America is…

    • Cricket
    • Curling
    • Ice hockey
    • Soccer (fútbol)

  3. Question 3

    Maple syrup is a famous product of…

    • Brazil
    • Jamaica
    • Peru
    • Canada

  4. Question 4

    A country's contributions are…

    • Its border length
    • Its weather
    • Its taxes only
    • Things it gives the world, like foods, music, inventions and art

  5. Question 5

    Quechua and Aymara are Indigenous languages spoken today in…

    • Cuba and Jamaica
    • Peru and Bolivia
    • Mexico and Belize
    • Canada and Greenland

  6. Question 6

    Inuit artists in Canada are well known for…

    • Desert sand paintings
    • Glass skyscrapers
    • Stone carvings and printmaking
    • Rainforest pottery

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