6th grade
The sixth grade social studies curriculum is a geography-based course which introduces students to the physical and human geography of the world. Beginning with a spatial perspective, students explore different ways in which the earth has been represented, how geographers use specific tools and technologies in geographic inquiry, and some of the limitations of these tools. They investigate patterns of natural and human characteristics and use case studies to examine how the physical environment has provided both benefits and obstacles to human societies. In doing so, students explore how humans have used, adapted, or modified their environment and the consequences. Through the study of culture, cultural characteristics and cultural diffusion, students learn how culture both influences and affects people throughout the world in similar yet distinct ways. Students also consider globalization and its impact on economic and political institutions and people worldwide.
In this course, students will examine a variety of global issues that emanate from human activities such as population change, migration, urbanization, culture and cultural diffusion, resource use, increased networks of trade and economic interdependence, and the interactions among nations. Students investigate how local, national, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations respond to a variety of contemporary issues. The different regions of the world are used to illuminate examples of how these global issues or problems affect people in places around the world. Thus, students explore the similarities among regions of the world in terms of causes and consequences of global issues. They also assess the extent to which geographic, historical, political, socio-cultural, and/or economic factors account for differences in the causes and/or consequences of global phenomena. Simply put, the curriculum and accompanying materials push students to take a global view of their world.
Throughout the course, students employ different spatial scales (local, regional, interregional, and global), to study human patterns and global issues throughout the course. In doing so, students deepen their understanding of the disciplines of history, geography, economics and political science, as well as broaden their understanding to other fields within the social studies such as anthropology, sociology, and archeology. Students explore how all of these social studies fields are both complementary and interdependent. Grounded in research on students’ thinking and learning in geography and other social science disciplines, the curriculum emphasizes how evidence from a myriad of social studies fields collectively provides a broad and detailed picture of our world.
In this course, students will examine a variety of global issues that emanate from human activities such as population change, migration, urbanization, culture and cultural diffusion, resource use, increased networks of trade and economic interdependence, and the interactions among nations. Students investigate how local, national, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations respond to a variety of contemporary issues. The different regions of the world are used to illuminate examples of how these global issues or problems affect people in places around the world. Thus, students explore the similarities among regions of the world in terms of causes and consequences of global issues. They also assess the extent to which geographic, historical, political, socio-cultural, and/or economic factors account for differences in the causes and/or consequences of global phenomena. Simply put, the curriculum and accompanying materials push students to take a global view of their world.
Throughout the course, students employ different spatial scales (local, regional, interregional, and global), to study human patterns and global issues throughout the course. In doing so, students deepen their understanding of the disciplines of history, geography, economics and political science, as well as broaden their understanding to other fields within the social studies such as anthropology, sociology, and archeology. Students explore how all of these social studies fields are both complementary and interdependent. Grounded in research on students’ thinking and learning in geography and other social science disciplines, the curriculum emphasizes how evidence from a myriad of social studies fields collectively provides a broad and detailed picture of our world.