Idaho Social Studies 5.SS.5.2

Social Studies5th GradeGlobal Perspectives

The Standard

Explain how countries try to resolve problems.

Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify a problem involving two or more countries. They explain ways governments might respond, such as talking, making an agreement, or sending aid.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a dispute over a shared river, a student can describe each country's concern and suggest an agreement that could help both. They can explain why sending aid makes more sense for an earthquake than for a water dispute.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think countries can settle disagreements only by fighting, or that talks always end in agreement. They may confuse aid, which provides help, with a treaty, which sets agreed rules.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Two countries share a river polluted upstream. Name one step their governments could take together, and explain how it could help both.

Lesson moves

Give pairs two country cards and ten water tokens; have them divide a shared river's water and write a deal both accept.
Ask: Two countries share a polluted river. What could they agree to do, and why might both accept that plan?
Give groups cards showing an earthquake, a border dispute, and overfishing; match each to aid, mediation, or a treaty, then explain.
Read a short paragraph about U.S. rescue teams sent to Japan after its 2011 earthquake; identify the problem and how they helped.

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