SIXTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

Description:   

Sixth Grade Social Studies will explore ancient cultures including Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greece, Rome, and others.  The geography, economy, traditions and governments of these cultures will be discussed.  Sixth Grade Social Studies allows the student to look at the past to understand the present.  The major project for the year is a country report that will be presented by the individual student in the spring.   

Standards: 

The Learner Will: 

• Develop a chronological understanding of early world history.
• Use a variety of tools (e.g., primary and secondary sources, data, artifacts) to understand the

interpretive nature of world history from early civilizations prior to 1800 A.D.

• Analyze the social, political, and economic changes in human societies in historical eras prior to 1800 A.D.
• Examine the impact of significant individuals and groups on world history prior to 1800 A.D.
• Recognize cause-and-effect relationships and multiple causes of events in early world history.
• Recognize how religion has affected the development of civilizations.
• Recognize the importance of physical environments (e.g., natural resources, natural disasters, natural barriers) in the settlement and development of early world civilizations.
• Examine how technology influences modifications of the physical environment.
• Explore migration and settlement patterns in early world civilizations.
• Recognize and use maps:  title, key, symbols, direction, grids, scales, longitude and latitude.
• Understand the concept of scarcity (imbalance between unlimited wants and limited resources) in civilizations prior to 1800 A.D.
• Recognize that all societies must address the questions of production, distribution, and consumption.
• Explain how resources were used in early world civilizations to produce goods and services and explore ways productivity was increased.
• Examine relationships between personal and national economic activities.
• Recognize how values influence economic activity.
• Examine the essential roles of government in early civilizations.
• Compare and analyze various forms of government in early civilizations prior to 1800 A.D.
• Investigate the development of human rights and responsibilities prior to 1800 A.D.
• Investigate the emergence of social institutions and how they responded to human needs.
• Give examples of cooperation, conflict, and competition that resulted from the interaction of cultures.
• Show how language, literature, the arts, architecture, other artifacts, traditions, beliefs, values and behavior contribute to the development of major part civilizations.

Grading: 

Students will be evaluated on class assignments and activities including but not limited to the following:   

·         Homework (chapter questions, worksheets)

·         Projects/Reports

·         Tests/Quizzes

·         Essay questions

·         Power Point Presentation 

Course Content:  (Time Frame is approximate) 

FIR S T QUARTER 

Map Skills and Charts                                                                       One week 

Introduction to International Day 

Studying History and Geography                                                     Two weeks            

Beginnings of Civilization                                                                Two weeks 

Fertile Crescent Civilizations                                                          Two weeks               

Ancient Egypt                                                                                       Two weeks 

SECOND QUARTER    

Ancient Egypt                                                                                       One week 

Civilization of India                                                                             Three weeks 

Civilization of China                                                                           Three weeks 

Contributions of the Hebrews                                                           One week 

THIRD QUARTER 

Greeks                                                                                                  Three weeks 

Romans                                                                                                 Three weeks 

Middle Ages                                                                                         Three weeks 

FOURTH QUARTER 

Renaissance and the Reformation                                                   Three weeks 

Age of Exploration and Science                                                        Two weeks 

The Age of Enlightenment and Revolution                                     One week 

World Wars I & II                                                                              Two weeks