World Cultures and Geography Objectives

 In Grade 6, students study people, places, and societies of the contemporary world. Societies for study may be from but are not limited to the following regions of the world: Europe, Russia and the Eurasian republics, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Southwest Asia-North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific realm. Students describe the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events in those societies and identify the locations and geographic characteristics of various societies. Students identify different ways of organizing economic and governmental systems. The concepts of limited and unlimited government are introduced, and students describe the nature of citizenship in various societies. Students compare institutions common to all societies such as government, education, and religious institutions. Students explain how the level of technology affects the development of the various societies and identify different points of view about events.

To support the teaching of the essential knowledge and skills, the use of a variety of rich primary and secondary source materials such as biographies, autobiographies, novels, speeches, letters, poetry, and historical sites.songs, and artworks is encouraged. Motivating resources are available from museums, art galleries,

The eight strands of the essential knowledge and skills for social studies are intended to be integrated for instructional purposes. Skills listed in the social studies skills strand in subsection (b) of this section should be incorporated into the teaching of all essential knowledge and skills for social studies. A greater depth of understanding of complex content material can be attained when integrated social studies content from the various disciplines and critical-thinking skills are taught together. Statements that contain the word  "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.

History/Culture:

The student will compare and contrast similarities and differences in and among cultures in different societies. Define the concept of culture and cultural regions. Describe traits that define culture.

Understand certain institutions that are basic to all societies but may vary among them ( government, economy, education, religion, traditions). Explain why cultures borrow from others. Evaluate how cultural borrowing/diffusion affects world cultures. Evaluate the consequences of improved communications among cultures.

 

 

Geography:

The student uses maps, globes, graphs, charts, models and databases to answer geographical questions.  Students will locate major historical and contemporary societies on maps and globes (Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece, Rome, China, and Japan).

Students will identify and explain the geographical factors responsible for the location of economic activity in places and regions.

 

Government:

The student will understand concepts of limited government, totalitarian and nondemocratic governments.  Students will describe, identify examples of and reasons for governments ran by one, few, and many. Students will compare how the government functions in countries such as China, Germany, and Russia.

 

Economy:

The student understands various ways in which people organize economic systems.  Compare ways societies organize production and distribute goods and services.  Students will identify and differentiate among traditional, market, and command economies of contemporary societies.  Students will understand the benefits of US free enterprise systems.  The student will explain the impact of scarcity of international trade and economic interdependence: primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary.

Social Studies Skills:

The student will communicate in written, oral, and visual forms.  Students will express ideas orally based on research and experience, create written & visual material such as journal entries, projects, reports, graphic organizers, outlines, and bibliographies using standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, and terminology correctly in the interactive class notebook.

 

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