Social Studies Curriculum, Sixth Grade

Social studies in the sixth grade expands students’ understanding of history through the study of people and events up to the era of European exploration in the 1600s. This study focuses not only on the significance of geography in the development of the human cultures, but also on the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of the people. Our study will emphasize the development of social, economic, and political structures in the major civilizations.

The Glencoe, McGraw-Hill world history textbook, Journey Across Time: The Early Ages, will be used with other supplementary materials. Topics will include the following:

Pre-History/River Valley Civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt

India, China, Japan

Africa

World Religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism

Greece

Rome/Christianity

Islamic Culture

Middle Ages

Renaissance and Reformation

The Americas

The Age of Exploration

Scientific Revolution

Your student will be given a 70- or 80-page spiral notebook in which he/she will write responses to the “Daily Kick-Offs" and  Essential Questions.   In addition, I will provide all students a folder in which they will keep class assignments and study sheets. The notebooks and the folders will be kept in our room, and the students will use them every day.

The following will be utilized for assessing, evaluating, and recording students’ progress and achievement.

Tests on chapters in the textbook

Map tests

Vocabulary tests

Projects (at least one per nine weeks)

Current events reports (one every week)

Periodic check of notebooks and folders

Tests and Projects:  50% of  9 Weeks Greade
Vocabulary and Map Quizzes:  20% of 9 Weeks Grade
Current Events:  20% of 9 Weeks Grade
Homework:  10% of 9 weeks Grade