Class Overview

6th Grade Social Studies is an introductory overview of the discipline detailing and blending Geography, History (archaeology and anthropology), Economics, and Civics of the Western Hemisphere through authentic experiences and learning opportunities. Students will be guided through thinking critically about issues facing our world today and engage in problem-solving simulations. 


History

Standards 

Skills

Inquiry Questions

1. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources to ask and research historical questions about the Western Hemisphere. 

2. The historical eras, individuals, groups, ideas, and themes within regions of the Western Hemisphere and their relationships with one another. 

1. Examine various resources, to look for and find value in different perspectives expressed by others

2. Make connections between information gathered and personal experiences to research historical questions

3. Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources

  • How do we learn about the past?

  • Why have civilizations succeeded and failed? 

  • How do people adapt to and change their environment to meet their needs?

  • Why did Europeans leave home to explore, conquer, and colonize?

  • What were the effects of European colonization in the Americas?

  • How does Latin American culture today reflect its colonial past?


Geography

Standards 

Skills

Inquiry Questions

1. Use geographic tools and resources to research and make geographic inferences and predictions about the Western Hemisphere. 

2. Regional differences and perspectives in the Western Hemisphere impact human and environmental interactions.

1. Spatial thinkers use geographic tools to develop spatial thinking and awareness skills. 2. Spatial thinkers use geographic tools to help to solve problems in daily life. 

3. Geographic thinkers evaluate patterns that connect people in the Western Hemisphere to the rest of the world. 

4. Geographic thinkers explore how technology is used by individuals and businesses to answer geographic problems.

5. Geographic thinkers examine places and regions and the connections among them. 

6. Geographic thinkers study how human and physical systems vary and interact 

  • What is Geography?

  • What are the tools of Geography?

  • What is a region?

  • How are regions similar and different?

  • How does where you live influence how you live?

  • How have humans interacted with our planet in positive and negative ways?

  • How do National Parks help preserve our planet’s unique features?

  • How does Urban Sprawl affect people and the planet?


Economics

Standards 

Skills

Inquiry Questions

1. Investigate how societies create different economic systems in the Western Hemisphere. 

2. Investigate the role of consumers within the Western Hemisphere (PFL). 

1. Plan and evaluate complex solutions to global economic system challenges that are appropriate to their contexts using multiple disciplinary perspectives such as cultural, historical, and scientific.                                                             2. Look for and find value in different economic perspectives.                                                              3. Make connections between information gathered and personal experiences to research economic questions.                                                                   4. Financially capable individuals determine how history, location, and the distribution of resources have impacted financial decisions. 


  • How do the resources available to a country impact its development?

  • How do countries and individuals manage scarce resources?

  • How does culture influence financial decisions, products, services and advertising?

  • How do different economies control (or not) production of goods and services?


Civics

Standards 

Skills

Inquiry Questions

1. Analyze the relationships of different nations in the Western Hemisphere. 

2. Systems of government in the Western Hemisphere

1. Discuss and analyze how various government decisions impact people, places, and history.             2. Analyze how the actions of individuals and groups can have a local, national, and international impact.  3. Analyze the relationship between rights and responsibility in national and global contexts.  4.Explain how nations are interconnected and affect each other on a daily basis.                                        5. Demonstrate how technology provides daily information regarding the interaction between the United States government and other nations.


  • How are the nations of the world Interdependent?

  • What Inequalities is our world facing today?

  • What does a good citizen do for their country? What does a good country do for their citizens?

  • How do different governments and economic systems compare?

  • What are examples of “good” and “bad” governments in the past and present?

  • What are the consequences if a government does not help the majority of its people?