Out of Many, One Unit

Unit QuickLinks

Grade Level: 5th
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Unit At A Glance

This fifth grade unit outline is designed to solicit critical thinking about the rule of law. There is one fully developed lesson which has students become “game designers” and communicate effectively through the rules they create.

California Content Standards

This unit is designed to address the following California State Board of Education's content standards for History-Social Science. See below for specific standards addressed. For more information on the standards, or to see the complete list, please visit: www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/

Content Standards

5.7.5

5.7.3

Click here to get more details on these standards and Common Core information

Big Ideas/Essential Questions

Big Ideas

E Pluribus Unum: out of many, one

Through actions come change, and change in the political process involves participation

Essential Questions or Issues:

1. How does the use of symbols help convey a message?

2. What does it take to work in a successful group?

3. Why is being united essential?

4. How can a strong individual still be part of a group?

5. Does the strength of the individual make the whole stronger?

Concepts and Skills Students Will Learn

Lesson One—The Importance of Symbols

Reading and background information about symbols—natural
and man-made.
Interview parent/guardian about symbols
Create a crest using symbols to describe self.

Lesson Two—George Washington—Man or Man?

Research and discuss George Washington
Research and understand Presidential Cabinet
Create own Presidential Cabinet

Lesson Three—The Rule Paradox

Board Game playing (Scrabble, Bananagrams, Pentago,etc.)
Discussion about rules: necessary, unnecessary?
Create a game using four materials

End of Unit Assessment