Grade 6 World Cultures

Required Materials: 

• Paper
• Pencil
• Colored pencils or crayons
• Atlas or map
• Notebook
• Marker
• 11x17 paper
• Construction paper
• Ruler
• Stickers or other materials

Syllabus:

Unit 1 - One World, Many Cultures

Objectives:

• Consider the role and impact of history, geography, economics, resources, and technology on the development of societies.
• Distinguish between and analyze reference and thematic maps, globes, and Mercator and Winkel projections.
• Utilize latitude and longitude to locate geographic locations.
• Understand the importance of primary sources and archaeology in understanding past events.
• Identify and discern the differences between myths and legends.
• Recognize the limitations of dating ancient events.
• Understand the characteristics that constitute a civilization.
• Describe the development of early civilizations in the Fertile Crescent and the progression of ancient Middle East civilizations and empires.
• Describe the development of early civilizations in the Nile River valley and subsequent civilizations from the Old Kingdom to Roman rule
• Describe the contributions and development of early civilizations in the Indus River valley and subsequent Indian civilizations.
• Describe the development of early civilizations in the Yellow River valley and subsequent Chinese dynasties.
• Survey the history, beliefs, and impact of three major world religions with roots in the Middle East.
• Survey the history and geography, and cultural traits of representative Middle Eastern countries.
• Survey and evaluate how culture and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Middle Eastern societies today.

Lessons:

• Understanding World Cultures
• Maps to Success
• How Do We Know What Really Happened?
• The Land Between The Rivers
• The River in the Sand
• India: Advanced Ancient Cultures
• China: The Mandate of Heaven
• Three Religions, One Birthplace
• Israel and Its Neighbors
• Countries of the Persian Gulf

Unit 2 - Western Europe

Objectives:

• Survey the history and geography of Greece.
• Consider the influence of ancient Greece on contemporary western society.
• Identify cultural traits of Greece.
• Evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Greece.
• Consider the influence of ancient Rome on contemporary western society.
• Survey the history, geography, and culture of Italy.
• Evaluate how aspects of social science influence the culture of Italy.
• Survey the history and geography of Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire to today.
• Evaluate the impact of historical events on the development of modern-day Europe.
• Survey the history, geography, and culture of Spain.
• Evaluate how aspects of social science influence the culture of Spain.
• Survey the history, geography, and culture of France.
• Evaluate how aspects of social science influence the culture of France.
• Survey the history, geography, and culture of Germany.
• Evaluate how aspects of social science influence the culture of Germany.
• Understand the political and geographical definition of the Balkans.
• Survey the history, geography, and culture of Bulgaria.
• Evaluate how aspects of social science influence the culture of Bulgaria.
• Survey the history, geography, and culture of the United Kingdom.
• Evaluate how aspects of social science influence the culture of the United Kingdom.
• Survey the history, geography, and culture of Sweden.
• Evaluate how aspects of social science influence the culture of Sweden.

Lessons:

• Ancient Greece
• Legacy of the Roman Empire
• Europe From the Middle Ages to the World Wars
• Spain
• France
• Germany
• The Balkans-Bulgaria
• The United Kingdom
• Sweden

Unit 3 - The United States and Canada

Objectives:

• Survey the geography of the United States.
• Survey the history of the United States from a cultural perspective.
• Understand how and why the United States Constitution originated.
• Understand the organization and responsibilities of the three branches of government.
• Summarize limits placed on the national government of the United States.
• Differentiate between the rights, duties, and responsibilities of American citizens.
• Distinguish differences between limited and unlimited governments.
• Evaluate how different aspects of social science influence the culture of the United States.
• Survey the history, geography, government, and economy of Canada.
• Investigate the significant roles of French and Inuit cultures in Canada.
• Evaluate how different aspects of social science influence the culture of Canada.

Lesson:

• From Sea to Shining Sea
• Where Do Americans Come From?
• The Changing Face of America
• Birth of a New Republic
• Duties and Responsibilities of Patriots
• Living in America
• Too Much Geography?
• A Colorful History and a Bright Future
• Canada's Independent Cultures

Unit 4 - Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

Objectives:

• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Mexico today.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Cuba today.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of the Dominican Republic today.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Guatemala today.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Panama today.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Honduras today.

Lessons:

• Mexico-Land of the Mayas and Aztecs
• A Long Struggle for Independence
• Mexican Economy and Culture
• Cuba
• The Dominican Republic
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Panama

Unit 5 - South America

Objectives:

• Survey the geography and early history of South America.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Colombia and Venezuela today.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador today.
• Survey and evaluate how history, geography, and other aspects of social science influence the culture of Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay today.

Lessons:

• Geography and Early History of South America
• Colombia
• Venezuela
• Brazil
• Peru
• Ecuador
• Chile
• Argentina
• Paraguay