During the first half of the school year, the fifth grade will be studying   the history and culture of our neighbor to the north--CANADA.  We will begin with the geography of Canada and then move into the movement of the first people into this northern land.  We will then cover the European exploration and migration to Canada.  We will discuss the history of Canada's growth and how this country has evolved into one of the major powers in our world today.

Latin America

During the second half of the year the fifth grade will be studying the history and culture of Latin America.  We will begin with the history of Mexico where we will study the earliest civilizations and continue on to the present day. We will begin our studies with the Mayas, the Aztecs, and even the Incas, although the Incas are from South America.  We will then study the European exploration of this area and how they exploited this area and its people.  When we finish studying Mexico, we will study the other countries of this area.

South America will be discussed during the remaining weeks of school.  We will concentrate our studies on the country of Brazil and learn about its rich history and culture.

The first French settlement was Quebec, in 1603. It was a large settlement but little more than a trading center, like most other French settlements.

The first permanent settlement in North America was the English colony at Jamestown, in 1607, in what is now Virginia. John Smith and company had come to stay. The Pilgrims followed, in 1620, and set up a colony at Plymouth, in what is now Massachusetts.

Other English colonies sprang up all along the Atlantic coast, from Maine in the north to Georgia in the south. France, meanwhile, was taking control of most of eastern Canada. Swedish and Dutch colonies took shape in and around what is now New York.

England forced Sweden and Holland out of the picture in one way or another. Soon, English interests came into conflict with French interests. Disputes arose over the Ohio Territory and parts of Canada. War was approaching.

At first glance, it looked like a mismatch. English troops outnumbered French troops almost 2-to-1. English colonies had their own militias and produced their own food. French settlements had to rely on soldiers hired by fur-trading companies and food from the homeland.

On the other hand, French forces were controlled by a single government and had settlements that were close together and, therefore, more easibly defended. Each English colony had its own assembly government, and the colonies often argued with one another over simple things.