Board Approved – June 2001
Social Studies
GUIDING QUESTIONS
Middle School Social Studies -- 6th Grade
Grade Level Theme: Ancient Civilizations -- Foundations of the Modern World
Guiding Questions:
Geography
1. How are cultures shaped by geography?
2. How do human patterns affect the geography?
3. What was the impact of cross-cultural exchange on developing civilizations? What is the impact of cross-cultural
exchange in today's world?
Civics
1. What are the needs of people that lead to an organized system of decision-making?
2. What are the characteristics of effective government systems?
History
1. How do historians learn about and interpret the past?
2. How do historical turning points influence individuals and communities?
3. What causes conflicts in-and-between civilizations and what are the effects?
4. How do individuals and groups shape history?
Economics
1. Using knowledge of ancient civilizations, how do limited resources affect the choices people make and how do those
choices affect their resources?
2. What are the chief characteristics of effective economic systems and how do such systems evolve?
Social Studies
OVERVIEW
6th grade: Ancient Civilizations -- Foundations of the Modern World
Overview: The purpose of Ancient Civilizations is to introduce, review and make practical application of social studies concepts, vocabularies and
skills. Students will learn how scientists draw conclusions about ancient civilizations based on the artifacts that have been discovered. From this
context, students will study the origins of civilizations and their connections to the modern world by understanding what affected the choices people
made long ago and how those choices affect the world today.
Unit
World Geography
Overview
(3-4 weeks)
Learning Outcome
 Identify the location and place of major
geographical and political regions as a
frame of reference.



Introduction to
Ancient
Civilizations
(6-8 weeks)
 Understand that history is based on

reasoned judgements as opposed to
fact.
 Identify and interpret factors that led
from hunter-gatherer to farming to the

development of cities, and ultimately to 
civilizations.
 Understand historical time, chronology
and causation.

Critical Content
relative and absolute location of major
landforms and bodies of water
relative and absolute location of
continents and their major political
divisions
map concepts and skills
 latitude/longitude
 hemispheres
role/function of scientists and
historians in the study of ancient
civilizations (fact, opinion, reasoned
judgement)
measurement of time in BC and AD
evidence of early humans
 hunter-gatherer lifestyle
 farming lifestyle
 elements of the city
 cultural groupings
role of technology in development of
human culture
Guiding Questions
EALRS
Geography 1.1,
1.2, 2.1, 2.2
Geography 1, 2, 3
Civics 1
History 1, 2, 4
Economics 1
Geography 3.1,
3.2, 3.3
History 1.1,
1.2, 1.3, 2.1,
2.2, 3.2, 3.3
Economics 1.1
OVERVIEW -- 6th GRADE
Unit
Elements of
Civilizations: A
study of the factors
that affect the rise
and fall of
civilizations
(2-3 weeks)
Overview of
geography related
to Early
Civilizations
(1-2 weeks)
Early Civilization:
Studies of the
Elements of
Societies
(6-7 weeks)
Learning Outcome
 Define and interpret the common
factors that affect the rise and fall of
civilizations.
Critical Content
 basic concepts of:
 culture
 geography
 economics
 ethics and belief systems
 political systems
 social systems
 Identify the location and place of major  relative and absolute location of:
geographical regions of early
 Middle East
civilizations.
 Asia
 Identify the location of past and present
 Europe (general areas)
political divisions of early civilizations.
 Africa
 India
 Americas
 Analyze the elements of civilizations
 rise and fall of River Valley
that apply to early River Valley
civilizations:
societies and how these factors have
 Mesopotamia
impacted history.
 Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
 Analyze the interactions within and
 Indus River Valley
between early societies.
 Huang He River Valley
Guiding Questions
Geography 1, 2, 3
Civics 1, 2
History 1, 2, 3, 4
Economics 1, 2
EALRS
Geography 3.1,
3.2, 3.3
History 1.1,
1.2, 1.3, 2.1,
2.2
Economics 1.1,
1.2
Geography 1, 2, 3
Geography 1.1,
1.2, 2.1, 2.2
Geography 1, 2, 3
Civics 1, 2
History 1, 2, 4
Economics 1, 2
Geography 3.1,
3.2, 3.3
Civics 1.1, 1.3,
2.1, 2.2, 2.3,
3.1, 3.2, 4.1,
4.2, 4.3
History 1.1,
1.2, 1.3, 2.1,
2.2, 2.3, 3.1,
3.2, 3.3
OVERVIEW -- 6th GRADE
Unit
Foundations of
Modern Western
Civilizations
(8-10 weeks)
Learning Outcome
Critical Content
 Analyze the elements of civilizations as  the rise and decline of:
they apply to ancient civilizations and
 Greece
how these factors have impacted
 Rome
history.
 Compare and contrast turning points,
major ideas, and people in different
civilizations.
Guiding Questions
Geography 1, 2, 3
Civics 1, 2
History 1, 2, 4
Economics 1, 2
EALRS
Geography 3.1,
3.2, 3.3
Civics 1.1, 1.3,
2.1, 2.2, 2.3,
3.1, 3.2, 4.1,
4.2, 4.3
History 1.1,
1.2, 1.3, 2.1,
2.2, 2.3, 3.1,
3.2, 3.3
Online Research Module (All students must complete a minimum of one research module every school year.)
Zeus-Successor
Sought
Essential Question: How do individuals shape the course of a civilization?
Scenario: It’s time for Zeus to retire and he is ready to pass on the leadership of Greece to one of his relatives. He has
narrowed his choice to these three possible successors: Apollo – his son, Athena – his daughter, or Poseidon – his brother.
Zeus now needs your help to decide which god or goddess is the most qualified to continue the growth of the Greek
civilization. This is a serious decision that may determine the path of world history. In your considerations, you will need to
evaluate how Greece will change under this new leadership. Greek civilization may change direction and it is up to you to
make a candidate recommendation that will be best for Greece. You will present your ideas to the Council of the Gods at the
Acropolis. You will need to persuade the Council that your candidate is the best possible choice to succeed Zeus. By a miracle
of heavenly powers, the Acropolis has been wired for electricity and you will be able to make a presentation to the Council
using PowerPoint slides and great speaking.