Middle School

Middle School Social Studies 1 (World History-Grade 6)

1 Credit
2 segments/ 36 weeks
High angle view of girl studying using laptop at home
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Somebody discovered the wheel. Somebody discovered written communication. Somebody even figured out how to count to ten. From the ancient river civilizations to China and its ancient dynasties, different civilizations left their mark on history. They also left their mark on how we live today. In this course, students join travel agent Mr. Lightfoot to travel back in time digging out the past of these ancient civilizations.

In ancient Egypt students visit the pyramids and find out the secrets of preserving mummies. They see how the Mayans developed astronomy to a precise science. They even investigate the difference between the Athenians and the Spartans. Students will journey through India discovering their contributions to medicine, moving on to Africa to follow the rise and fall of the ancient east African kingdoms of Kush and Axum. Throughout the centuries, and still today, our world is made up of dozens of different cultures. They all are different, and they all have made big contributions to what we know and who we are.

 

Major Topics and Concepts

Module 1: Ancient Origins

Students are introduced to how and why history is studied. They also learn about the change from hunter and gatherers to early agricultural settlers to the growth of the first civilizations.

Module 2: Ancient River Civilizations

Students will compare the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological and economic features of ancient river civilizations.

Module 3: Ancient Americas

Students will learn about the ancient societies of the Maya, the Aztecs, and the Native Americans.

Module 4: Ancient Greece

Students will study the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological and economic features of ancient Greece.

Module 5: Ancient Rome

Students will study the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological and economic features of ancient Rome.

Module 6: Ancient India

Students will study the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological and economic features of ancient India.

Module 7: Ancient China

Students will study the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological and economic features of ancient China.

Module 8: Asia & Africa

Students will study the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological and economic features of Asia & Africa.

 

Course Materials

 

 

Competencies

Ancient Greece

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Greece by explaining the contributions of ancient Athens towards the American political process, analyzing the geography of ancient Greece, and summarizing the key achievements of ancient Greek civilizations.

Ancient River Civilizations

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient river civilizations by analyzing the relationship between physical geography and the development of ancient river valley civilizations, summarizing the achievements of the Egyptian civilization, and comparing the river valley civilizations.

Aspects of Ancient America

Students will demonstrate an understanding of aspects of ancient America by comparing the Maya and Aztec civilizations, explaining factors of ancient American civilizations facilitating economic growth, explaining the contributions of the Incas, and describing the cultures of the first North Americans.

The Process of Studying Ancient Origins

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient origins examination by explaining the relationship between how and why history is studied, analyzing the lives of early humans, and describing the growth of the first civilizations.

Ancient Asia and Africa

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Asia and Africa by explaining the effects of the Mongol Empire, summarizing the contributions of ancient African kingdoms, and describing the importance of geography to the development of ancient West African civilizations.

Ancient China

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient China by explaining aspects of ancient Chinese dynasties, describing the major beliefs of ancient Chinese philosophers, and analyzing the significance of ancient China’s achievements.

Ancient India

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient India by explaining the development of Hinduism, analyzing the spread of Buddhism, and summarizing important achievements of ancient Indian empires.

Ancient Rome

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Rome by evaluating the culture of the Roman Republic, explaining factors of the Roman Empire leading to its growth, analyzing factors of the Roman Empire leading to its fall, and explaining the importance of Rome’s contributions.

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Projects

Competencies

Ancient Greece

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Greece by explaining the contributions of ancient Athens towards the American political process, analyzing the geography of ancient Greece, and summarizing the key achievements of ancient Greek civilizations.

Ancient River Civilizations

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient river civilizations by analyzing the relationship between physical geography and the development of ancient river valley civilizations, summarizing the achievements of the Egyptian civilization, and comparing the river valley civilizations.

Aspects of Ancient America

Students will demonstrate an understanding of aspects of ancient America by comparing the Maya and Aztec civilizations, explaining factors of ancient American civilizations facilitating economic growth, explaining the contributions of the Incas, and describing the cultures of the first North Americans.

The Process of Studying Ancient Origins

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient origins examination by explaining the relationship between how and why history is studied, analyzing the lives of early humans, and describing the growth of the first civilizations.

Ancient Asia and Africa

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Asia and Africa by explaining the effects of the Mongol Empire, summarizing the contributions of ancient African kingdoms, and describing the importance of geography to the development of ancient West African civilizations.

Ancient China

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient China by explaining aspects of ancient Chinese dynasties, describing the major beliefs of ancient Chinese philosophers, and analyzing the significance of ancient China’s achievements.

Ancient India

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient India by explaining the development of Hinduism, analyzing the spread of Buddhism, and summarizing important achievements of ancient Indian empires.

Ancient Rome

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Rome by evaluating the culture of the Roman Republic, explaining factors of the Roman Empire leading to its growth, analyzing factors of the Roman Empire leading to its fall, and explaining the importance of Rome’s contributions.

Closed

 

 

Major Topics and Concepts

 

 

Course Materials

 

 

Competencies

Ancient Greece

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Greece by explaining the contributions of ancient Athens towards the American political process, analyzing the geography of ancient Greece, and summarizing the key achievements of ancient Greek civilizations.

Ancient River Civilizations

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient river civilizations by analyzing the relationship between physical geography and the development of ancient river valley civilizations, summarizing the achievements of the Egyptian civilization, and comparing the river valley civilizations.

Aspects of Ancient America

Students will demonstrate an understanding of aspects of ancient America by comparing the Maya and Aztec civilizations, explaining factors of ancient American civilizations facilitating economic growth, explaining the contributions of the Incas, and describing the cultures of the first North Americans.

The Process of Studying Ancient Origins

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient origins examination by explaining the relationship between how and why history is studied, analyzing the lives of early humans, and describing the growth of the first civilizations.

Ancient Asia and Africa

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Asia and Africa by explaining the effects of the Mongol Empire, summarizing the contributions of ancient African kingdoms, and describing the importance of geography to the development of ancient West African civilizations.

Ancient China

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient China by explaining aspects of ancient Chinese dynasties, describing the major beliefs of ancient Chinese philosophers, and analyzing the significance of ancient China’s achievements.

Ancient India

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient India by explaining the development of Hinduism, analyzing the spread of Buddhism, and summarizing important achievements of ancient Indian empires.

Ancient Rome

Students will demonstrate an understanding of ancient Rome by evaluating the culture of the Roman Republic, explaining factors of the Roman Empire leading to its growth, analyzing factors of the Roman Empire leading to its fall, and explaining the importance of Rome’s contributions.

Open

 

 

Major Topics & Concepts

 

 

Open

 

 

Major Topics and Concepts

 

 

Course Materials