Alief ISD
Social Studies Lesson Plans
5th Grade Unit 6
New Ideas and Innovations
Date: _______________
Desired Results: (Unit
Understanding)
Business innovation,
inventions, and new
technology created an
economic and
transportation
revolution in America.
Time Allotted: 8 days
Objective/TEKS:
I can tell how the American free enterprise
economy grew during the 1800s. (5.12B, 5.12C)
I can tell about famous inventors of the 1800s and
how their inventions helped Americans make a
better living. (5.24A, 5.24B, 5,24C)
Assessment:
I can describe how new ways of producing goods
Research paper for inventions
faster caused the American economy to grow
from the industrial revolution.
during the 1800s. (5.14D)
I can analyze how improved transportation and
communication helped the U.S. economy grow
during the 1800s. (5.14E)
Anticipatory Set: (Universal Generalization) (Hook) New ideas and innovations
Topics:
can lead to great progress and change.
The Economic
Have the students write about their life without a major invention. (electricity, television,
Revolution
internet, computers, Play Station, etc)
 Inventions/Inventors
 Innovations
Instructional Input: (Line) Modeled/Guided Practice
 Transportation
An industrial revolution is a time during a country’s history when there is rapid change
Revolution
from a farming society to an industrial society. The Industrial Revolution began in Britain
 Interchangeable
in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The innovations from Britain quickly spread to the
Parts
United States. This week you will be finding out the way the United States expanded
 Free Enterprise
industrially during the time between the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Below are the
 Mass Production
research choices, the parts of the research paper you will hand in, and some ideas for the
Vocabulary:
project.
cotton gin, canal,
National Road,
This is what you will do:
mechanical reaper,
1. Select a topic and research and write a paper on the topic you chose.
transcontinental
2. Construct a model or make a drawing of the object of your research.
railroad, telegraph
3. Finally, present your findings and your project to the class.
Materials/Resources:
Research Choices:
 Locomotive
 cotton gin
 cash register
 steamboat
 stagecoach
 Franklin stove
 Sewing machine
 Spinning Jenny
 Suspension bridge
 Steam engine
 Telegraph





Unit Question:
Why did the United States have
an economic revolution in the
1800s?
Rubber
Steel plow
Elevator
Bicycle
First American
factory
 The Erie Canal
Grade 5 Unit 6
Research paper:
1. Gather information on your
topic and record it on index
cards. Get enough information
to fill 5 or more cards.
2. Make an outline of the
information. It must be clear,
concise, and interesting.
3. Write a rough draft.
4. Edit your work and write a
final draft that is typed or
neatly written.
Project Ideas:
You should chose a project
that will clearly show other
people how the object you
researched functioned. Some
ideas for projects include:
 Diorama
 Poster
 Scale model
 Diagram

Text, Ch. 14, pp.
408-415
(background)
 Text, Ch. 16, pp.
562-567
 Additional resources
from library
 Online search
 History Alive!
America’s Past,
page 208
(background)
 Eli Whitney, the
Cotton Gin, and
Interchangeable
Parts
Economic Growth, 18001860
1
Alief ISD
Independent Practice: (Sinker)
Present projects to the entire class. Audience will take notes on the presentations.
Modifications/Extensions:
Include a bibliography listing all your resources from your research.
Closure:
Students will create a timeline as a class, inserting their invention in the appropriate
location. Timeline can be displayed on wall.
Grade 5 Unit 6
How will you check
for understanding?
 Daily research journal
checks by teacher
 Conference with
teacher
 Presentation
2