Course Description:
Students in the middle-level social studies program will be engaged in the geographic study of world regions as they examine major civilization development. The 6th grade curriculum is designed to allow students to observe societies dissimilar to their own in such a way as to broaden their understanding of people and places in an increasingly interdependent world. Students examine areas of the world having the longest record of human habitation and the richest diversity of human experience. These are regions within which the vast majority of the world's people live and regions that possess some of the world's most valuable resources. Students will trace the development of human society from its origin through the Renaissance Era. Students will explore patterns of change in continuity by focusing on the expansion of and the decline of civilizations, patterns of geography, and development of political, economic, and societal systems. Students will analyze and evaluate how foundations of society influence the modern era. This class will be interactive for students to enhance their understanding of global connections and their role in the world around them.
Interactive Notebook:
Each student will be keeping an interactive notebook for the year. This means that all in-class assignments and notes will be kept in the notebook. This will allow students to have a personal portfolio of their work for each quarter. In addition, it will be used as a study aid and documentation of the work that is being completed daily.
Year at a Glance
First Six Weeks
Introduction to Geographical Concepts
Geographic tools
Location
Patterns of settlement
Physical/human interaction
Introduction to Culture
Define culture
How culture defines regions
Influence of groups on culture
Relationship of religion and regional culture
Introduction to Government, Citizenship, and Economics
Limited vs. unlimited government
Forms of government
Roles and responsibilities of citizens in differing governmental systems
Define economics and examine different economic systems
Understand the relationship between forms of government and economic systems
Second Six Weeks
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico
Influence of Aztecs, Mayans, Incas and Spanish—expression/diffusion of culture
Columbian Exchange, colonization and migration
Geography of the region
The environment—adaptations, resources and conflicts (rain forest)
Multiculturalism (impact on the USA)
Economic activity and development
Current events
Third Six Weeks
Sub-Saharan Africa
Colonization and slave trade
Independence and apartheid
Geography of the region
Impact of geographical factors on settlement and economic activity
Environmental concerns (drought, famine, disease)
Religious conflicts and genocide
Economic concerns and levels of development
Diffusion of African culture
Current events
Fourth Six Weeks
Western Europe
Impact of Greece, Rome, Middle Ages and Enlightenment on the modern world.
Geography of the region
Transportation corridors and barriers
Resources and the Industrial Revolution
Factors of production
Forms of government (including democracy, republic, constitutional monarchy) and economic systems
WW II and Cold War
Economic activity and development
European Union / Euro.
Current events
Eastern Europe and Russia
Czarist Russia, the Soviet Union and the fall of communism
Geography of the region
Patterns of settlement
Economic systems and development levels
Limited and unlimited government
Diffusion of regional cultural
Current events
Southwest Asia and North Africa (Middle East)
History of the region including Mesopotamia
Geography of the region
Impact of resources and climate on settlement patterns
Monotheism, and religious conflicts
Economic concerns and levels of development (impact of oil)
Forms of government including absolute monarchy and theocracy
9/11 and terrorism
Diffusion and isolation of culture
Current events
Fifth Six Weeks
South Asia
Impact of colonization and independence
Geography of the region
Impact of geographical factors on settlement patterns
Regional culture including religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.) and the caste system
Population issues and population density
Economic issues including outsourcing, and levels of development
Current events
Sixth Six Weeks
East Asia
Impact of historical events the region such as the Silk Road, WWII and the rise of communism
Geography of the region
Impact of geographical factors including the Ring of Fire
Impact of resources, including scarcity
Communism vs. Free Enterprise
Economic issues including import/export and development levels
Population density
Impact of cultural diffusion and isolation (North Korea)
Forms of government including dictatorship and totalitarianism
Current events
Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Realm
Impact of colonization and communism in the region
Geography of the region
Transportation corridors including sea lanes, choke points, and piracy
Effects of eco-tourism
Levels of economic activity
Impact of cultural diffusion on indigenous peoples
Current events
Students in the middle-level social studies program will be engaged in the geographic study of world regions as they examine major civilization development. The 6th grade curriculum is designed to allow students to observe societies dissimilar to their own in such a way as to broaden their understanding of people and places in an increasingly interdependent world. Students examine areas of the world having the longest record of human habitation and the richest diversity of human experience. These are regions within which the vast majority of the world's people live and regions that possess some of the world's most valuable resources. Students will trace the development of human society from its origin through the Renaissance Era. Students will explore patterns of change in continuity by focusing on the expansion of and the decline of civilizations, patterns of geography, and development of political, economic, and societal systems. Students will analyze and evaluate how foundations of society influence the modern era. This class will be interactive for students to enhance their understanding of global connections and their role in the world around them.
Interactive Notebook:
Each student will be keeping an interactive notebook for the year. This means that all in-class assignments and notes will be kept in the notebook. This will allow students to have a personal portfolio of their work for each quarter. In addition, it will be used as a study aid and documentation of the work that is being completed daily.
Year at a Glance
First Six Weeks
Introduction to Geographical Concepts
Geographic tools
Location
Patterns of settlement
Physical/human interaction
Introduction to Culture
Define culture
How culture defines regions
Influence of groups on culture
Relationship of religion and regional culture
Introduction to Government, Citizenship, and Economics
Limited vs. unlimited government
Forms of government
Roles and responsibilities of citizens in differing governmental systems
Define economics and examine different economic systems
Understand the relationship between forms of government and economic systems
Second Six Weeks
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico
Influence of Aztecs, Mayans, Incas and Spanish—expression/diffusion of culture
Columbian Exchange, colonization and migration
Geography of the region
The environment—adaptations, resources and conflicts (rain forest)
Multiculturalism (impact on the USA)
Economic activity and development
Current events
Third Six Weeks
Sub-Saharan Africa
Colonization and slave trade
Independence and apartheid
Geography of the region
Impact of geographical factors on settlement and economic activity
Environmental concerns (drought, famine, disease)
Religious conflicts and genocide
Economic concerns and levels of development
Diffusion of African culture
Current events
Fourth Six Weeks
Western Europe
Impact of Greece, Rome, Middle Ages and Enlightenment on the modern world.
Geography of the region
Transportation corridors and barriers
Resources and the Industrial Revolution
Factors of production
Forms of government (including democracy, republic, constitutional monarchy) and economic systems
WW II and Cold War
Economic activity and development
European Union / Euro.
Current events
Eastern Europe and Russia
Czarist Russia, the Soviet Union and the fall of communism
Geography of the region
Patterns of settlement
Economic systems and development levels
Limited and unlimited government
Diffusion of regional cultural
Current events
Southwest Asia and North Africa (Middle East)
History of the region including Mesopotamia
Geography of the region
Impact of resources and climate on settlement patterns
Monotheism, and religious conflicts
Economic concerns and levels of development (impact of oil)
Forms of government including absolute monarchy and theocracy
9/11 and terrorism
Diffusion and isolation of culture
Current events
Fifth Six Weeks
South Asia
Impact of colonization and independence
Geography of the region
Impact of geographical factors on settlement patterns
Regional culture including religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.) and the caste system
Population issues and population density
Economic issues including outsourcing, and levels of development
Current events
Sixth Six Weeks
East Asia
Impact of historical events the region such as the Silk Road, WWII and the rise of communism
Geography of the region
Impact of geographical factors including the Ring of Fire
Impact of resources, including scarcity
Communism vs. Free Enterprise
Economic issues including import/export and development levels
Population density
Impact of cultural diffusion and isolation (North Korea)
Forms of government including dictatorship and totalitarianism
Current events
Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Realm
Impact of colonization and communism in the region
Geography of the region
Transportation corridors including sea lanes, choke points, and piracy
Effects of eco-tourism
Levels of economic activity
Impact of cultural diffusion on indigenous peoples
Current events