Grade 5

Organizing Idea: Time and Place: Exploring the dynamic relationships between people, place, and time supports understanding of perspectives and events to make meaning of the world

Organizing Idea: Systems: Evaluating processes and structures of organizations builds understanding of decision making in the world

Organizing Idea: Citizenship: Understanding local, national, and global issues empowers individual and collective action toward an inclusive society

Learning Outcome: Students examine ancient civilizations

Learning Outcome: Students examine how geographical features and environmental changes contributed to the settlement and trade of ancient civilizations

Learning Outcome: Students examine the development of economic practices in ancient civilizations

Learning Outcome: Students examine government and social systems in ancient civilizations and empires

Learning Outcome: Students investigate ways to learn about the world and take action for change

The rise of civilizations and empires depends on internal and external factors, for example: organized structures, strong leadership, military power, innovations, wealth opportunity

The decline of civilizations and empires is caused by internal and external factors, for example: environmental changes, rebellions, expenses, struggles for power and leadership, changes to values and belief systems, war and military conquest

Innovations in contemporary societies have evolved from innovations originating in ancient civilizations, for example: writing systems, agriculture, architecture, calendars, trade, currency, and economics, literature and philosophy, mathematics and science, systems of decision making, rights and freedoms

Social scientists (historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, geographers) study evidence of ancient civilizations to learn about the past

Interpretations of the past can evolve based on new evidence and technology

Legacies of ancient civilizations continue

Explain the rise and fall of civilizations

Examine the evolution of innovations from ancient civilizations

Compare the work of historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, and geographers

Distinguish between primary and secondary sources

Compare information provided by primary and secondary sources

Imagine ways that advancements in technology could change interpretations of history

Ancient civilizations were complex societies that existed thousands of years ago (3000 BCE–500 CE) in different locations around the world, for example: Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, India, Arab civilizations

Geographical features, such as abundant water, fertile soil, and moderate climate in river valleys, supported agriculture in ancient civilizations

Many ancient civilizations were located along river valleys or coastlines

Location can be described using elevation, latitude, and longitude

Increased agriculture led to a greater number of settled societies

Geographical features, such as oceans and bays along coastlines, supported trade and travel in ancient civilizations

Changes in the environment, including natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, can cause people to adapt or move

Changes, including building infrastructure such as aqueducts, can be made to the environment to meet needs

Environment and settlement of people are interrelated

Compare the locations of multiple ancient civilizations

Justify the settlement of ancient civilizations along river valleys and coastlines

Determine effects of environmental change on human behaviour

Agricultural and technological advancements in ancient civilizations, including irrigation and domesticated animal labour, increased agricultural production and decreased labour requirements

Urban settlements grew as labour specialized beyond agriculture

The exchange of excess agricultural products for goods and services developed trade in ancient civilizations

Economic practices that developed in response to growing urban settlements included: exchanging goods at markets, storing valuables in banks, buying goods and services with the first forms of currency, supporting government services with taxation

Taxation first developed in ancient civilizations

As ancient civilizations grew through expansionism, extensive networks of land-based and water-based trade routes developed, for example: the trans-Saharan trade route, the Royal Road, the Silk Road

Trade routes provided opportunities to exchange goods, such as food and spices, over great distances, increasing the variety of products available in places around the world

International trade increased contact between ancient civilizations, which allowed for the spread of cultures, innovations, and ideas, for example: religions and belief systems, gunpowder, medicine

Technological advancements and interactions resulted in social, political, economic, and environmental transformations of civilizations and empires

Taxes are ways the government collects money from citizens to protect communities and provide services

Relate advancements in agriculture to the development of urban settlements

Relate economic practices in ancient civilizations to economic practices in contemporary societies

Identify trade routes that connected ancient civilizations

Explain impacts of expanding trade in ancient civilizations

Authoritarian governments, including monarchies and dictatorships, are ruled by a single leader or small group of leaders

Authoritarian leaders may claim power and authority through divinity rights (divine right of kings, mandate of heaven), heredity, and force

Followers of authoritarian leaders can be motivated by tradition, desire for stability, and fear

Social systems in ancient civilizations were patriarchal (patriarchy), matriarchal, or egalitarian

In patriarchal and matriarchal (matriarchy) social systems, power is based on gender

In egalitarian social systems, power is not based on gender

Social systems in ancient civilizations and empires were hierarchical and could cause divisions: The highest social class included the fewest people with more power, privilege, rights, and freedoms based on heredity, wealth, occupation, and education, The lower social classes (enslaved people) included the most people with less power, privilege, rights, and freedoms

Empires grew through trade and military conquest, and took over more land, for example: Persia, Rome, Greece, Arab

African empires experienced economic disputes that resulted in the end of some empires and the beginning of others, for example: Kush and Axum, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, Ife and the kingdom of Benin

Power can be maintained through government and social systems

Differentiate between ancient civilizations and empires

Explain authoritarian governments

Discuss ways authoritarian leaders gain and maintain power

Compare opportunities and challenges for different social classes within an ancient civilization or empire

Describe ways gender influenced roles in social systems within an ancient civilization or empire

The study of historical issues and events, such as those in ancient civilizations and empires, can provide insight into contemporary issues and events, for example: the evolution of technology, the economic impact of exploration and trade, the successes and failures of social and government systems

Informed citizens seek information from multiple sources that present various perspectives on issues and events

Consideration of various perspectives can support development of empathy for the actions and values of others

Informed citizens can respond to issues and events by taking actions, such as sharing information, collecting donations, volunteering, and changing personal behaviours

Informed citizenship is empowering

Relate historical issues and events to contemporary issues and events

Compare perspectives about an issue or event

Investigate an event or issue using multiple sources

Describe opportunities of informed citizenship