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A statue near Independence Hall with autumn trees, a Maryland state seal, and a large number 5 overlay.
Social Studies Alive!

5th Grade (MD Edition)

A new country had to decide what kind of country it would be. Students follow the Revolution into the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the economy, then west to the Civil War and into the present.

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What Students Will Explore

Unit 1

The American Revolution

Tensions with Great Britain open the program, from the British actions that angered colonists to the arguments Loyalists and Patriots made about independence. Students study drafts of the Declaration of Independence and experience the war itself through a game of tug-of-war.

Unit 2

Civics and Economics in America

Civics and economics center on how the U.S. government functions and what the Bill of Rights protects. Students perform mini-dramas about rights violations, study the civic values of early leaders to develop a community improvement plan, and work through economic concepts.

Unit 3

Manifest Destiny to Today

Manifest destiny to today runs from westward expansion to the modern United States. Students solve six historical challenges, perform skits about the groups that moved west, and work through primary sources and a Civil War mystery.

Explore the Program

  • View the Scope and Sequence

    See every unit and lesson at a glance — compelling questions, objectives, and how content builds across History, Geography, Civics, and Economics.

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  • Review Correlations

    See exactly how the program aligns to your state standards, with direct links to the text, activities, and assessments tied to each one.

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Student Materials

  • A red brick building with a clock tower and a statue in front, surrounded by trees with autumn leaves.

    Student Journal

    The colorful, easy-to-use, print consumable Student Journal combines standards-based content and rich activities to support student learning. Students will make personal connections that allow them to develop a deep understanding of key social studies content while building critical social studies and ELA skills. Also available in Spanish.

Teacher Materials

  • A statue of a man in colonial attire stands on a pedestal, featured on the cover of a Social Studies teachers guide.

    Teacher's Guide

    Teacher's Guide supports everything from lesson planning to grading—step-by-step procedures, time estimates, differentiation strategies, and answer keys, ready to use offline or as a quick reference while teaching.

  • Red cover of Activity Cards for Social Studies Alive! Americas Past with a statue image in the top right.

    Activity Cards

    The Activity Cards are laminated, reusable cards that contain vibrant, interactive content for students. The cards include large maps, game boards, and manipulatives that can be cut out and be reused year after year. Also available in Spanish.

Reviews & Recognition

At TCI, we don't just say our programs work — we invite independent reviewers to put them to the test. Our social studies and science programs are reviewed by respected third-party organizations that analyze our resources for quality, effectiveness, and alignment with standards.

In addition to national recognition, our programs are reviewed and approved by individual states to ensure they meet specific requirements and standards. We also participate in landscape analyses that compare our offerings with those of other leading programs, so educators and districts can make informed choices.

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