Social Studies 6 - The Ancient World

Chapter 3: From Hunters and Gatherers to Farmers
 
In chapter 3 students learn how people progressed into being nomadic hunters and gatherers to being able to farm their own food. This is one of the greatest achievements modern humans have ever discovered!
 
Topics for discussion include how Farming lead to an eventual change in the way people live. Discussions include: new jobs, trade, creating a stable food supply, establishing communities and having permanent shelters 
 
Chapter 4: The Rise of Sumerian City-States
 
The rise of communities and city-states did not come without difficulty. Challenges these early humans faced are some that we still fight today. Students will focus on the southern part of Mesopotamia called "Sumer" in a group problem/solution simulation activity. While completing this activity, students will work together to hypothesize and brainstorm solutions for problems such as: flooding rivers, lack of good farmland, enemy attacks and more. Reading notes will be completed simultaneously.
 
Look for a Chapter 3-4 Review Guide to come home along with the attached PowerPoint. A Kahoot.it review game MONDAY 10/2 and  Quiz TUESDAY 10/3
Ancient Greece Unit:
 
Chapter 25: Geography and the Early Settlement of Greece

Essential Question: How did geography influence settlement and way of life in ancient Greece?

Students examine and analyze thematic maps to learn about the physical geography of ancient Greece and how it influenced the development of Greek civilization.

 
Chapter 26: The Rise of Democracy

Essential Question: How did democracy develop in ancient Greece?

Students Will examine the various forms of government in ancient Greece that led to the development of democracy.

 
Chapter 27: Life in Two City-States: Athens and Sparta

Essential Question: What were the major differences between Athens and Sparta?

In a Social Studies Skill Builder, students examine the major differences between Athens and Sparta by working in pairs to create Foldables as a means of graphically organizing information. Venn Diagram to be included.

 

**Kahoot.it Review Game Wednesday 1/11

**Ancient Greece QUIZ Wednesday 1/11

 
 
 
 
Chapter 29: The Golden Age of Athens

Essential Question: What were the major cultural achievements of Athens?

Students take a "walking tour" of Athens, visiting six sites to learn about various aspects of Greek culture. Students then write a speech describing Athens during its Golden Age.

Ancient China Unit
 
Chapter 19: Geography and the Early Settlement of China

Essential Question: How did geography affect life in ancient China?

Students will complete the Geography Challenge for China; during this activity, they will gain a clear understanding of the varying degree of geographical regions. Mountain ranges, Deserts, Plataeus, Basins, and Plains all make China's geography do diverse. 

Students should be able to label on a map with a word bank (attached China Map HA): Himalaya Mountains, Gobi Desert, Taklamakan Desert, Tibet Plateau, North China Plain, Chang Jiang Basin, Yellow River, Chang Jiang River, China, India, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea
 
Chapter 20: The Shang Dynasty

Essential Question: What do Shang artifacts reveal about this civilization?

Students work in pairs in a Social Studies Skill Builder to "excavate" a tomb to learn about the government, social structure, religion, writing, art, and technology of the Shang dynasty. Students will simulate what it would be like to "crack the code" and learn two interesting facts about each of the six areas above.

 
Study Guides for Ch 19 and 20 to be completed Friday 12/2 and reviewed 12/5
**Kahoot.it Review Game and PowerPoint Review Tuesday
China Geography and Shang Quiz Wednesday** 12/7/16
 
 
Chapter 21: Three Chinese Philosophies

Essential Question: How did Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism influence political rule in ancient China?

In an Experiential Exercise, students learn about Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism under classroom conditions that reflect the main beliefs of each philosophy..

 
 
 
 
Chapter 24: The Silk Road

Essential Question: How did the Silk Road promote an exchange of goods and ideas?

Students travel along a simulated Silk Road in an Experiential Exercise to learn about facing obstacles, trading products, and absorbing cultural exchanges that occurred along the Silk Road during the Han dynasty.

 

Study Guides for Ch 21 and 24 to be completed Thursday 12/15
**Kahoot.it Review Game and PowerPoint Review Thursday
China Part 2 Quiz Friday** 12/16/16
Chapter 11: The Origins of Judaism

Essential Question: How did Judaism originate and develop?

In a Writing for Understanding activity, students identify key historical leaders of the ancient Israelites and explain their role in the development of Judaism.

 
Chapter 12: Learning about World Religions: Judaism

Essential Question: What are the central teachings of Judaism, and why did they survive to modern day?

In an Experiential Exercise, students identify the central teachings of Judaism as they explore ways in which these traditions have survived throughout history.

Ancient Egypt Unit
 
Chapter 7 Geography and Early Settlement of Egypt and Canaan

Essential Question: How did geography affect early settlement in Egypt, Kush, and Canaan?

Students will explore the physical geography of ancient Egypt and Canaan to learn about how environmental factors influenced early settlement in these areas.

 
Chapter 8 The Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs

Essential Question: What did the pharaohs of ancient Egypt accomplish, and how did they do it?

In a writing for understanding activity, students board an Egyptian sailing boat and "visit" monuments along the Nile River, to learn about four ancient Egyptian pharaohs and their important accomplishments.

 

Chapter 9 Daily Life in Ancient Egypt

Essential Question: How did social class affect daily life in ancient Egypt?

Students create and perform interactive dramatizations in a problem solving groupwork activity to learn about the social structure of ancient Egypt and its effect on daily life for members of each social class.

 

Sarcophagus Project: Students will work in small groups to research a Pharaoh, construct a Sarcophagus and present the mummification process in a way that accurately relates to Ancient Egypt. Students will research information relating to their sarcophagus design such as hieroglyphics and symbols.

Ancient Sumer
 
Chapter 5: Ancient Sumer Essential Question: Why do historians classify ancient Sumer as a civilization?
How did Sumerian City-States rise into empires? What characteristics define a civilization? In this chapter, students will explore characteristics that ALL civilizations have by looking at how Sumerians developed these first.
 
Chapter 6: Exploring Four Empires of Mesopotamia

Essential Question: What were the most important achievements of the Mesopotamian empires?

Students work in small groups in a Problem Solving Groupwork activity to create "mechanical dioramas" that illustrate major achievements of the Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian empires that ruled Mesopotamia from approximately 2300 to 539 B.C.E.

Chapter 2: Early Hominids
 
In this chapter students will explore cave paintings made by prehistoric humans. Scientists call these prehistoric humans hominids. They will be learning about five important groups of hominids and how they advanced over time.
 
Activities include: Vocabulary, Reading Notes 2, PowerPoint, image analysis and discussion
 
Key Terms: Anthropologist, Biped, Remains, Migrate, Land Bridge 
 
 
Quiz On Chapters 1-2 Tuesday, September 20th
Investigating the Past!
 
In chapter 1 students Investigate the past!!!!
 
Students will learn how Geographers, Historians, and Archaeologists use their unique skills to discover what came before us. This chapter includes our 1st Geography Challenge, Vocabulary, Textbook readings, and PowerPoint discussions. 
Ancient Rome
 
Chapter 32: Geography and the Early Development of Rome

Essential Question: How did the Etruscans and Greeks influence the development of Rome?

In a Response Group Activity, students learn about the founding of Rome, and examine images to identify evidence of Etruscan and Greek influences on Rome.

 
Chapter 33: The Rise of the Roman Republic

Essential Question: What were the characteristics of the Roman Republic and how did they change over time?

In an Experiential Exercise, students assume the roles of patricians and plebeians to learn how the struggle between these two groups led to a more democratic government in the Roman Republic.

 
Chapter 34: From Republic to Empire

Essential Question: Did the benefits of Roman expansion outweigh the costs?

In a Problem Solving Groupwork activity, students explore and record events leading to the expansion of Roman territory and the creation of the empire.

 
Chapter 35: Daily Life in Ancient Rome

Essential Question: How did wealth affect daily life in the Roman Empire?

In a Social Studies Skill Builder, students work in pairs and read about eight aspects of ancient Roman life—such as education and family life—and explore how a teenager might have experienced each.

Please note: the attached PDF documents are often modified and/or guided through direct instruction in class and other activities. They may be updated daily based on the different worksheets used that day.
If a student misses significant class time do to an absence or other reason, please have them  see me during extended CPR to make up missing work. Do not hesitate to email me with any questions you may have. Thank you!