The Wonders curriculum has developed a social studies curriculum resource that is standards-based.  The curriculum is based on the adopted social studies standards from Rhode Island (2023). Portsmouth Middle School will begin piloting this new curriculum resource during the 2025-2026 school year, with a full implementation for the 2026-2027 school year.  This curriculum dovetails well with the ELA content, supporting students’ comprehension and writing skills through social studies topics. The fifth-grade teachers have enhanced the social studies class with supplemental materials to enrich students’ learning further.

In fifth grade, the social standards include the geography of North America and the study of key periods in U.S. history, including the formation of the Colonies, the American Revolution, the establishment of the U.S. government, and the growth of the republic through the Civil War and Reconstruction.