Grade 5 Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 5 social studies in the Newfoundland and Labrador Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Citizenship, power and governance. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and the origins, functions, and sources of power, authority, and governance.
- Culture and diversity. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of culture, diversity, and world view, recognizing the similarities and differences reflected in various personal, cultural, racial, and ethnic perspectives.
- Individuals, societies and economic decisions. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to make responsible economic decisions as individuals and as members of society.
- Interdependence. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the interdependent relationship among individuals, societies, and the environment—locally, nationally, and globally—and the implications for a sustainable future.
- People, place and environment. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the interactions among people, places, and the environment.
- Time, continuity and change. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the past and how it affects the present and the future.
Easy ways to practise social studies at home
- Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently.
- Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying.
- Use an atlas or online map to trace a trade or travel route.
- Ask “Whose voice is missing from this story?” when reading about the past.
What each unit covers
Early Visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador
Your child learns who came to Newfoundland and Labrador long ago, why they came, and how historians use sources such as archaeology and maps to find out. It also reminds them that Indigenous peoples were already here and still are. This is practice, not a report-card mark.
The Fishery and Outport Life
Your child learns about the cod fishery, outport life, resettlement and the 1992 cod moratorium, and thinks about fair, sustainable economic choices such as quotas. This is practice, not a report-card mark.
Levels of Government
Federal, provincial/territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments: who leads them, what each looks after, and how they're funded.
Making Laws
How a bill becomes law in Parliament, elections and ridings, local bylaws, and how young people can take part in democracy.
Rights & Freedoms
The main parts of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, applying them to real situations, and the responsibilities that come with rights.
Immigration & Multiculturalism
Push and pull factors, refugees and citizenship, Canada's multiculturalism policy, and a reading about a family's new start in Canada.
Learning from the Past
An age-appropriate, factual look at the Chinese Head Tax, the Komagata Maru, the internment of Japanese Canadians and residential schools, with a focus on apologies, redress and reconciliation. No graphic detail.
Regions & Resources
The natural resources and industries of Canada's regions, how they shape regional identity, and First Peoples' land rights and title.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Not Yet Achieving
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Good
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Excellent
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Newfoundland and Labrador report card guide.
Common questions
Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently. Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Curriculum Grade 5 social studies units include early visitors to newfoundland and labrador, the fishery and outport life, levels of government, making laws, rights & freedoms, immigration & multiculturalism.
Free printable Grade 5 social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.