The curriculum guide presents a working draft of the fifth grade component of a K-6 social studies program using the expanding environments approach which was developed by the Allegany County Board of Education in Maryland. The overall objective is to help teachers assist their students in gaining the understanding needed to deal with the problems of a complex society. The bases for each unit are three goals (development of social science concepts, skills, and social attitudes), and six conceptual statements relating to ethnic heritage studies; family life; and citizenship, career, consumer, and environmental education. The key question/suggested activity format involves students in gathering and organizing data, and in analyzing its content and implications. The fifth grade unit is presented in two sections. Section I covers the expansion period in U.S. history, studying biographies of people who contributed to the development of the country. Activities focus on the reasons for the results of their accomplishments. Section II considers ways of living in various regions of the United States. Activities emphasize the interdependence of the regions and develop the concept that interaction with environmental factors affects the way people live. Each section includes key questions relating to the topic, a list of community resource people, and a bibliography briefly annotating many tradebooks, texts, and multimedia resources. (CK)