6th Grade Social Studies Scope and Sequence

In 6th grade, the 3 units in social studies are guided overarching questions that support the standards and content listed below.

Unit: How do humans control their environment to meet their needs?

PowerStandards

Geography 

SS.G.1.6-8.MdC: Use mapping and graphing to represent and analyze spatial patterns of different environmental and cultural characteristics.

SS.G2.6-8.MdC: Compare and contrast the cultural and environmental characteristics of different places or regions.

SS.G.3.6-8.LC: Explain how environmental characteristics impact human migration and settlement. 

SS.G.4.6-8.LC: Identify how cultural and environmental characteristics vary among regions of the world.

History

SS.H.1.6-8.LC: Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity. 

SS.H.2.6-8.LC: Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time

SS.H.3.6-8.MdC: Detect possible limitations in the historical record based on evidence collected from different kinds of historical sources.

SS.H.4.6-8.LC: Explain multiple causes and effects of historical events

Essential Question: 

• How do humans control their environment to have their needs met? 

Supporting Questions:

• In what ways are humans dependent on sources of water?

• What is the importance of barriers (natural and man-made)? 
•  How do humans control food supplies?
• What is the connection between the environment and the establishment of civilization?

Students will be able to… 

• Describe why water is essential for physical survival, health, agriculture, travel, and trade.
• Explain how barriers provide protection and strengthen the identity of a culture. 
• Explain why humans went from hunter-gatherers to farmers and herders due to their ability to control their environment. 
• Describe how once the environment was controlled, there was a surplus of food, a division of labor, and the creation of cities.

Unit: How do civilizations progress through innovation and the creation of technology?

PowerStandards

Economics 

• SS.EC.1.6-8.LC: Explain how economic decisions affect the wellbeing of individuals, businesses, and society.
• SS.EC.2.6-8.LC: Analyze the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in a market economy. 

History 

• SS.H.1.6-8.LC: Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity.
• SS.H.3.6-8.LC: Classify the kinds of historical sources used in secondary interpretation. 
• SS.H.4.6-8.LC: Explain multiple causes and effects of historical events

Supporting Questions and Essential Understandings

• How did the rise of trade impact work and innovation?
• How does a stable economy improve the quality of life?
• How do “wants” drive innovation and entrepreneurship?

Students will understand… 

• People began relying on other workers to provide their needs and developed a lifestyle based on the idea of exchange. 
• When the economy is stable, people are not solely worried about meeting their basic needs. 
• When a person does not need to focus on meeting their needs, they can focus on creative endeavors.

Students will be able to…

• Identify the different roles (jobs) in an economic system. 
• Compare ancient economies to our modern economy. 
• Trace the ways in which goods and services were absorbed and changed by other cultures.

Unit: How do humans strive toward a fairer society by adapting how they are governing?

PowerStandards

Civics 

• SS.CV.3.6-8.LC, MdC, MC: Compare the means by which individuals and groups change societies, promote the common good, and protect rights. 
• SS.CV.6.6-8.LC: Determine whether specific rules and laws (both actual and proposed) resolve the problems they were meant to address. 

History 

• SS.H.1.6-8.LC: Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity. 
• SS.H.2.6-8.LC: Explain how and why the perspectives of people have changed over time. 
• SS.H.4.6-8.LC: Explain multiple causes and effects of historical events

Supporting Questions and Essential Understandings

• How fair or unfair were the earliest forms of government? 
• Why were constitutions and laws written and followed? 
•  What are the roles of an active citizen?

Students will understand…

• The earliest forms of government favored the few over the masses.
• Active citizens exchange ideas, exercise their rights, and work toward the greater good. 
• Rules of government and laws are written and followed to create order. 

Students will be able to…

• Evaluate the effectiveness of different types of government. 
• Analyze and evaluate the fairness of written laws. 
• Explain why governments change over time. 
• Analyze the ways in which a civilization’s architecture impacts or informs its civic ideals. 
• Compare and contrast the ways a civilization’s government meets the needs of different social classes.