Social Studies 6

The 6th grade social studies course builds upon the 5th grade geography foundations of examining maps, regions, and physical features to explore the rich cultural and societal achievements and legacies of ancient civilizations. Over the course of the year, students will grow their historical thinking skills through primary and secondary source evaluation, research and media literacy, and cause and effect timelines. With this foundation, students will travel back in time to major geographic and cultural hubs in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Through this lens, students explore the essential question of ‘How does where we live affect how we live?’ by analyzing timelines, artifacts, and various historical perspectives to recognize how societies and cultures stay the same and transform over time. Students will engage in discussion, debate, research projects and thesis writing to communicate their findings. Resources such as the National Geographic World History Great Civilizations textbook, articles, documentaries, and the novel A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park provide additional source material for the course.