Subscribe

5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 11 of 13

Symbols, Rights & Citizens

Landmarks, the Bill of Rights and taking part

What your child practices

Patriotic and political symbols (Uncle Sam, the donkey and elephant), Labor Day, the history of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the meaning of the Pledge, the White House, the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore, federalism and checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and how citizens take part.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 5.15(B); 5.15(C); 5.16(A); 5.16(B); 5.16(C); 5.16(D); 5.17(A); 5.17(B); 5.18(A); 5.18(B); 5.19 · patriotic symbols, landmarks, federalism and checks and balances, rights in the Bill of Rights, and civic participation

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Landmarks and symbols: the Statue of Liberty (a gift from France), the elephant (Republicans), the donkey (Democrats).
  2. Majority rule means the choice with the most votes wins.
  3. Some jobs belong to the national government, like printing money.

Example: A class votes and the most popular project wins. What is this called? The most votes means most of the group. That is the majority. Answer: majority rule

Symbols, Rights & Citizens in Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 11 of 13 in 5th grade Social Studies, after America in the 20th & 21st Centuries and before Free Enterprise & Work.

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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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

    A leadership quality shared by many presidents is…

    • avoiding responsibility
    • never listening to others
    • the ability to make hard decisions
    • breaking promises

  2. Question 2

    “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem in…

    • 1776
    • 1865
    • 1814
    • 1931

  3. Question 3

    Who leads the executive branch of the national government?

    • the speaker of the House
    • the governor
    • the chief justice
    • the president

  4. Question 4

    The White House is the home and office of the…

    • president
    • chief justice
    • speaker of the House
    • governor

  5. Question 5

    Which is a duty of the national government, not a state?

    • printing money
    • setting up city governments
    • running public schools
    • issuing driver's licenses

  6. Question 6

    The song “Yankee Doodle” was popular during the…

    • Great Depression
    • space race
    • Civil War
    • American Revolution

More 5th grade