Here is a list of books,websites, and other resources that can be used for 5th grade Social Studies.
Pre-Colonial Era

(this website contains interactive games and information about early explorers from Portugal, Spain, France, and England.)

(database of information about explorers and other historical topics).

(web quest/ project instructions for students to complete in order to learn about an explorer.)

(database of discoverers)

(database of explorers)

( site about explorers and what they found)

(lesson plan about Columbus)

(information about early explorers and games about exploring)
The Anasazi by Ayer, Eleanor H. 1993
(This book, which traces the rise and fall of the Anasazi society in what is now the southwestern U.S., gives us a source of comparison between dwellings and societies in this and other areas of the country.)
Encounter by Jane Yolen
(about the Taino people’s view on Columbus coming to America)
Colonial America

(lesson plan for presenting about life in the American Colonies in the 17th century)

(project instructions for a research project on the Iroquois Confederacy in which students act as museum curators and reenact the initial meeting)

(virtual fieldtrips based on pilgrim and native American life)

( learn to talk like a pilgrim)
Night Journeys.byAvi
(Peter York's guardian, Everett, is a devout Quaker and, in 1768, his care of Peter seems unbending and unfair. He joins a hunt for some runaway indentured servants on the Pennsylvania - New Jersey border, only to find that they have been truly mistreated. Now he must seek help from Everett to help the children.)
Charlie's House. by Bulla, Clyde Robert 1993
(An indentured servant, Charlie Brig comes to America seeking a prosperous life and finds instead that he is indentured to an impossibly cruel man, the only escape from whom is to cast his lot with the runaway slaves.)
A Lion to Guard Us.by Bulla, Clyde Robert. 1981
(In this accessible, brief novel, we have the story of three children who, after their mother dies, make their way to Virginia Colony in search of their father.)
Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth by Clapp, Patricia 1968
(This novel gives us an imaginary journal kept by Constance Hopkins from the time she sails on the Mayflower until her wedding five years later. Although a work of fiction, the book sticks quite closely to the facts and gives us a personal look at the day to day life in Plymouth.)
Witches' Children: A Story of Salemby Clapp, Patricia 1987
(The first person narrative of a girl swept up in the witch hunt hysteria.)
The Seekers by Dillon, Eilis 1986
(A teenager travels with the family of his fiancee to Plymouth. The Saints (the Pilgrims who were in Plymouth for religious reasons) are shown as hardworking, generous and intolerant. After learning and experiencing much the young couple returns to England.)
Calico Bush by Field, Rachel 1931
(This 1931 Newbery Award winner stands the test of time. The story of a French orphan indentured to an English family, this book gives us an intimate portrait of the interactions and prejudices between the two groups of settlers and the English family's conflict with local Native Americans.)
Saturnalia by Fleischman, Paul 1990
(William's Narragansett village has been attacked and he seems to be its sole survivor. Apprenticed to a printer in Boston in 1681, he walks the night streets hoping to find some trace of his family.)
The Cabin Faced West by Fritz, Jean 1958
(The experiences of a ten year old girl adjusting to life in the woods without other children to play with. Based on the Jean Fritz's grandmother's experiences.)
Early Thunder by Fritz, Jean 1967
(This novel offers a more balanced view than most of the period immediately preceding the Revolutionary War.)
I Am Regina by Keehn, Sally M 1990
(The story of a white girl captured by Native Americans at the age of 10 and then returned at the age of 18 and her adjustments to the two cultures.)
The Primrose Way by Koller, Jackie French 1992
(The clash of cultures between the Pawtucket Indians and the new settlers is the focus for this novel. Rebekah, the daughter of a missionary, befriends a young Native American girl and is accused of siding against her own family.)
The House on Stink Alley by Monjo, F. N. 1977
(Based on primary sources this book tells of the Pilgrims' years in Holland prior to their sailing to the New World.)
Tituba of Salem Village by Petry, Ann 1991
(This slightly fictionalized account of the Salem witchcraft trials shows how suspicion is cast on Tituba, not only because she can tell fortunes, but because she is black and friendless. The girls who accuse her and others are portrayed variously as foolish, misguided, and self-centered.)
A Break with Charity by Rinaldi, Ann 1992
(The book deals with the witchcraft trials through Susanna English who knew from the beginning that the young women who "cried out" against witches were coldly aware of what they were doing. Unable to reveal the secret because of the very real fear that they might cry out against her or her family Susanna struggles with overwhelming guilt as one by one the nonconformists in that Puritan community were led to the gallows.)
The Fifth of March by Rinaldi, Ann 1993
(Rachel Marsh is the indentured servant for John and Abigail Adams. The skirmishes with the British soldiers have started but Rachel falls in love with a British soldier brought to trial after the Boston Massacre.)
Stranded at Plymouth Plantation 1626 by Bowen, Gary 1994
(The journal entries of a young indentured servant are short and successful in showing the character of the boy as well as depicting the daily life of Plymouth. Much of the superstition, folk cures and early medicinal treatments are included. The woodcuts are well done and add an authentic note.)
Homes in the Wilderness: A Pilgrim's Journal of Plymouth Plantation in1620 by Bradford, William 1988
(Based on Bradford's own journal, this small book tells of the Mayflower journey, and the events of the first years in Plymouth Colony. Included are entries from the actual journal.)
Slumps, Grunts, and Snickerdoodles: What Colonial America Ate and WhybyPerl, Lila
(Examines the diets and culinary innovations of the American colonists.)
The First Americans byHakim, Joy.
(Tells about the Native Americans, and the first permanent settlements of the European explorers. Discusses the thirteen original American colonies, and explores many aspects of daily life.)
Making ThirteenColonies byHakim, Joy
(Presents the history of the United States from the colonization of the New World through the middle of the eighteenth century.)
The Colonial Wars: Clashes In theWilderness byCarter, Alden R.
(Chronicles the history of the Colonial Wars, also called the French and Indian Wars, which gave the British control of North America.)
Founding the American Colonies byReische, Diana L.
(Describes the founding, problems, and social and economic survival of the original thirteen American colonies)
Sarah Morton's Day: A Day In the Life Of a Pilgrim GirlbyWaters, Kate
(A typical day of a pilgrim girl on Plymouth Plantation in which she milks the goats, cooks and serves meals, and adjusts to her new stepfather.)
Series by Fradin, Dennis B.
(presents the history, economy, culture, and people of each of the thirteen colonies)
The Massachusetts Colony
The Virginia Colony
The New Hampshire Colony
The New York Colony
The Pennsylvania Colony
The Rhode Island Colony
The Georgia Colony
The Connecticut Colony
The Maryland Colony
The New Jersey Colony
The North Carolina Colony
The South Carolina Colony
The Delaware Colony
TheSerpent Never Sleeps: A Novel of Jamestown And Pocahontas byO'Dell, Scott
(In the early seventeenth century, Serena Lynn, to be with the man she has loved since childhood, travels to the New World and comes to know the hardships of colonial life and the Princess Pocahontas.)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
(Newbery Award Winner. Takes place in colonial America. A a girl who is from the Caribbean is accused of being a witch after normal behavior in the Caribbean is considered strange in the Colonies.)
Revolutionary War
*My name is America: The Journal of William Thomas Emerson, A Revolutionary War Patriot by Barry Denenberg (First person account of an orphan in Boston during 1774)
*My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier (Story of a family torn apart by the Revolutionary War)
*George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer (Perspectives from both sides of the Revolutionary War.)
*Katie’s Trunk by Anne Warner Turner
*War Comes to Willy Freeman by Collier
*Early Thunder by Jean Fritz
*The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz
*Saratoga Secret by Sterman
*Why Don’t You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? By Jean Fritz
*Magic Tree House #22: Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne
* (Website on The Revolutionary war)
*Constitution/ Early Independence
We the People: The Story of Our ConstitutionBy Lynne Chenney(A lovely illustrated picture book about the constitution and its creation.)
Constitution Translation for Kids by Cathy Travis (This books takes the constitution and translates it line-by-line for students to better understand. It is written on a 5th grades reading level. It also includes historical context.)
The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood (This novel takes place in 1777. It is a fiction story that describes what America could have be like if the revolution had failed.)
The Star Spangled Banner by Barbie H. Schwaeber, illustrated by: Frank Oraz (Can be used to teach about the War of 1812 or national anthem. Illustrated book that includes a CD of the anthem. There are pictures that depict each line of the song to show the meaning of each line.)
In Defense of Liberty: the Story of America's Bill of Rights by Russell Freedman (A OrbisPictus honor book. A non-fiction book about why the Bill of Rights were created and how it affects our lives today.)

(This website has a list of 22 books that deal with the constitution and creation of the US government.)

(The first page has lesson plans for activities that require application of the constitution.)

(Lesson plans and activities for lessons that deal with the constitution and application. There is classroom constitution were students make their own constitution worksheet are also included with the lesson plans. Some of the lesson even include ideas to expand the lesson. All activities include pre-made worksheets in PDF format)

(Great resource page for teachers to use. Includes many things like games and activities for students, mini-units for teachers with lesson plans)

(A resource page that gives numerous lesson plans, multimedia, and activities to teach about the Constitution. There are also crossword puzzles and links to news articles.)

(This page gives links to free PowerPoint presentations that can be used to teach various aspects of the constitution, amendments, founding fathers, a jeopardy game, and even ratification debates.)
(A site from the White House that has a transcipt of the constitution
(School House Rock, preamble)
(School House Rock, I’m Just a Bill.)
(School House Rock, The Three Ring Government.)
(A site all about the preamble for kids to use)
Expansion
Sing Down the Moon by Scott O’ Dell (takes place between 1863 and 65 based on the relations between white settlers and Navajo tribe)
The Last of the Roundup Boys by Debra Seely (sequel to Grasslands about cowboys and ranchers on the frontier)
Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate (A boy from Africa immigrates to the US and is sent to Minnesota during the winter. Takes place in modern time, may be good as a way to bring history into the present.)

(Has a model unit of the overview of expansion. It includes a brief, yet descriptive, overview of the time period that helps teachers review the era. Also has focus questions that would be important in the unit and includes answers with a lot of detail to support.)
Civil War/Post Civil War
*Journeys of Courage on the Underground Railroad by Darwin McBeth Walton, Glennette Tilley Turner (Short trade book with experiences and history of people who traveled on the underground railroad.)
*Freedom River by Doreen Rappaport
*If you Traveled on the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine
*The Blue and the Gray by Eve Bunting
*Nightjohn by Paulsen (Pre-civil war, southern plantation)
* (The Underground Railroad interactive website)
* (Civil War interactive website)
* (Interactive map of civil war battles)
*Cecil’s Story by George Ella Lyon and Peter Catalanotto (Civil War picture book)
*Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen
*Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco (Picture book based on a true story)
*Daily Life on a Southern Plantation by Paul Erickson (informational picture book)
*The Boy’s War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk about the Civil War by Jim Murphey(letters, diaries and oral histories to tell experiences of young soldiers)
*I’ll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by Anita Silvey
*For Home and Country: A Civil War Scrapbook (offers largely visual information, ideal for less capable readers. Concentrates on the social effects of the war)
World War I

(interactive website with lessons about the Navajo code talkers in World War 1)

(full of multimedia resources for World War I)

(quizzes, games, and lessons on World War I)

(lesson plans for World War I)

(World War I information for kids)
Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War II by Bruchac, Joseph 2005 (book about the Navajo code talkers that participated in code making during World War 1 and World War 2)
War Game: Village Green to No-Man’s-Land
(Based on a true story of four soldiers who are finding war to be much less exciting than they imagined. During a short-lived Christmas day cease fire, the English and German troops play a game of soccer, raising spirits and hope, which are then dashed again by the realities of war.)
The Night Flyers
(Pam's father is a soldier fighting in WWI, and while he is away, Pam is responsible for his business of raising homing pigeons. When a stranger with an accent moves into their North Carolina town, people think he's a German spy. When the stranger offers to buy Pam's pigeons and she refuses to sell, Pam grows suspicious when the birds start disappearing.)
When Christmas Comes Again: The World War I Diary of Simone Spencer
(When Simone's brother goes off to war, she wants to help in the war effort too, so she becomes a "Hello Girl" operating the army switchboards on the Western Front. This book provides an engaging look at the role of women in World War 1 and how sometimes "things work out better when they go the opposite way of what is expected.")
Archie’s War: My Scrapbook of the First World War, 1914-1918
(Archie's War is a fictional scrapbook set in the year 1914, the year the Great War began. Through its pages, readers can see the war through a child's eyes, and see the impact it has had on his life and on the lives of those whom he writes to on the front, who write him back. Real mementos of the day fill this collage style view of WWI and its era.)
Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting
(On December 25 during WW1, troops defied orders and ceased fighting in honor of Christmas, even celebrating the holiday with their "enemies". This heartwarming tale reminds readers that beyond politics and fighting lie the seeds of brotherhood and love. One of the most powerfully told World War 1 books for the middle grades.)
Lord of the NutcrackerMen by Iain Lawrence
(Johnny, age 10, loves to play war with the soldiers his father made for him. Soon people he knows are sent away to the war, including his father, whose letters home are upbeat at first, but then speak of the horrors of the war. A confused young Johnny starts to believe his toy soldier battles are influencing the real war. In a starred review, Kirkussaid "Big themes are hauntingly conveyed through gripping personal story and eerie symbolism.")
After the Dancing Days by Margaret Rostkowski
(At the end of WWI, Annie sees many wounded soldiers being wheeled off a train, headed to the hospital where her father works. She becomes friends with two soldiers in the hospital, and begins to wonder about the war, about her uncle's death, and about the future of her new soldier friends. A coming of age story about standing up for yourself and coming to terms with the full impact of war.)
The War to End All Wars: World War I
(People hoped WWI would be the only war of it's kind, but the seeds of a second world war were sown in the first. The beginnings, meaning, and legacy of the world's first "total" war is clearly told, and powerful, vivid archival photographs give the often moving topic much realism. One of the best World War 1 books to lead into WW2 studies.)
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo