CCSS Curriculum Map: 6th Grade Social Studies
Standard Grouping:
Theme/Topic
Culminating Project Time-frame
(Abbreviate)
Essential Question: (Summative
Possible Activities/Lessons/formative
Assessments
Assessment)
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-2
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-3
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-4
Unit 1 – Intro of
Pre-Test and Post
Geographic
Test on Map
Concepts and to
Essentials
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-7
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-8
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-10
Geography
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-2 A-F
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-4
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-9
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-10
the 5 Themes of
Where are we in
9 weeks
Hand Activity (Getting to Know Students)
Classroom Rules / Behavior Expectations
(Organization of the World)
Mental Maps
(continents, oceans,
Textbook for Maps (The Nystrom: World Desk
& map essentials)
Atlas)
Island Maps
5 Map Essentials Notes
the World?
How you would find (physical features)

Guided Notes / Class Discussion
your way home?

Why Map Skills
Quiz on Physical
Why do we act or
Features
behave differently
Direction Practice (Cardinal & Intermediate)

in various social
Quiz on Weather &
situations?
Climate
Animal Direction (Compass Rose)
As the World Turns (Hemispheres)
Grid Practice & Discussion (Latitude & Longitude)

Locations Practice (Several Warm-Ups)

NFL Locations
Physical Features (Landforms & Water Features)

Guided Notes / Class Discussion

Mountain Ranges of the World
Weather & Climate

Guided Notes / Class Discussion

12 Climates of the World
◦ 'What Climate Am I? Assignment

Recording of Current Conditions
◦ Weather Channel Website
▪ www.weather.com
Intro to Culture & Cultural Institutions

Social Customs

People of the World & World Languages

Common Religions of the World
* Tier II interventions
 Preferential seating
 Extra time on assessments & assignments
 Access to teacher for extra help before &




9 weeks
after school
Study guides
Guided notes
Teaming with students of different abilities
After school program to help learn
successful habits (Success Club)
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6.1
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-2
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-3
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-4
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-5
Unit 2 – Ancient
Post test on
Food of the Ancestor’s (Day of the Dead) Video
Civilizations of the
- History Vocabulary
Western
- Ancient
History Vocabulary Practice (Western Hemisphere
Hemisphere and
Civilizations
– Silver Burdett Ginn - Textbook)
Early Explorers to
- Early Explorers
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-6
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What's “new” with
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-1 A-E
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CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-4
survive as a Native
Hemisphere – Silver Burdett Ginn -
American?
Textbook)

Quiz on Vocabulary Words
the West
Ancient Civilization
the ancient
Project
Native American – Early History

Textbook reading with guided outline

Map on location of Native Tribes
civilizations of the
Western
Create a personal time line
Hemisphere?
Maya Civilization
How would you

Textbook reading & discussion (Western
Which of the

Guided outline
ancient civilizations

'Mayan Life' Guided Notes
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-5
do you think you
would have fit into
◦ Why did the civilization end?
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-6
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-7
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-8
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best?
◦ Learning like Mayan children


Mayan Journal
Class reading on Maya articles (titles
Which of the
below)
ancient civilizations
◦ Mayan Children
do you think would
◦ Popol Vuh
be a benefit to our
◦ Yucatan Family Story
society today?
◦ Cracking the Code
◦ The Next Apocalypse – 2012
◦ An Unknown Enemy – NY Times

Cracking the Mayan Code Video
Aztec Civilization

Introductions reading with questions

Textbook reading & discussion

Guided outline

'Aztec Life' Guided Notes

Class reading on Aztec articles
◦ Aztec Farms
◦ True Corn
◦ Montezuma
Inca Civilization

Intro Video (Discovery Ed)
◦ Two Truths & One Lie

Textbook reading & discussion

Guided outline

'Inca Life' Guided Notes

Intro Inca Reading
◦ Rope Bridges & Roads

'Secrets of the Lost Empire' Video
◦ See/Hear, Think, Wonder

Class reading on Inca articles
◦ Inca Story
◦ Machu Picchu
◦ The Inca & the Spanish Conquest

Discussion on Inca Religions
◦ Create an Inca god mask
Early Explorers

Early explorers vocabulary

Create a table with information on various
explorers credited with 'discovering' and
exploration of the Western Hemisphere
* Tier II interventions (see list from Unit 1)
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6.1
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-2
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-3
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CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-5
Unit 3 – South
Panama Canal
America, Central
- Performance Task
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-7
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CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-10
relationship with
South American
South American
Unit Post Test
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-1 A-E
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-2 A-F
CCSS.ELA-
America & the West
Indies
9 weeks
Discussion of major facts about South America
South America Maps – Student created
Create a South

Political
American Travel

Physical (Landforms & Bodies of Water)

Climatic
Why is important to Brochure
have a positive
Brazil Guided Notes

countries?
Read “Around the World” article on Brazil
with discussion & questions
Map Quiz

Textbook sections on Brazil (Pearson: My
How has the
- South America
World Geography Western Hemisphere)
Panama Canal
- Central America &
◦ Sec 7.1 & 7.3
been a benefit to
the West Indies
society?
Paraguay & Uruguay
Literacy.WHST.6-4
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
Flag Sheets with Historical Facts
Where in South
America would you
want to live or
Read Together as Class

explore?
Rio de la Plata Nations Article
◦ Includes discussion & questions

Geography of the Southern Cone Article
◦ Includes discussion & questions

Observing Gaucho Life
The Andes & the Pampas

Textbook section on included countries
(Pearson: My World Geography Western
Hemisphere)
Ecuador & Peru

Guided Notes
Read “Around the World” article on Ecuador

Includes discussion & questions
Venezuela

Guided Notes
Bolivia & Columbia

Flag Sheets with Historical Facts
South America Travelers Video

Celebrations of South America
Presentations of South America Brochures
Central America & the West Indies Maps –
Student created

Political

Physical (Landforms & Bodies of Water)

Climatic
Read “Around the World” article on Nicaragua

Includes discussion & questions
Analysis Maps & Charts of Central American
Countries
Read textbooks sections with discussion &
questions (Pearson: My World Geography
Western Hemisphere)

Central America & the Caribbean
◦ Section 4.1 (As a class)
◦ Section 4.2 (In Groups)
◦ Section 4.3 (Individually)
Modern Marvels: The Panama Canal

Watch video

Develop & organize facts that will be used
on Performance Task
Panama Canal Articles

Connecting Oceans

Panama Canal: Locks, Crocs, and Sketters
* Tier II interventions (see list from Unit 1)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6.1
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-2
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Unit 4 – Mexico &
Map Quiz
Canada
- Mexico

Political
- Canada

Physical (Landforms & Bodies of Water)

Climatic
Why do we work so
9 weeks
Mexico Maps – Student created
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-5
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CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-8
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-9
CCSS.ELALiteracy.RH.6-10
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-2 A-F
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-4
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-6
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-7
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-8
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-9
CCSS.ELALiteracy.WHST.6-10
hard to build our
Post test on Mexico
relationships with
our neighboring
Mexico Atlas Assignment
Mexico Projects

Culture & People
countries to the
north and south?
End of course exam
Land Distribution by Mexican Presidents
Mexico Refineries & 19th Century Leaders
Mexico Today & Mexico Facts Handout

Guided Notes
Visit Mexico Video

See/hear, think, wonder
Textbook sections on Mexico (Pearson: My World
Geography Western Hemisphere)

Section 3.1 – Atlas of Mexico
◦ Section Quiz & Vocab

Section 3.3 – Mexico Today
◦ Section Quiz & Word Wise

Movement of people withing Mexico
Mexico Packets

The Spanish

Mexico: An Introduction

Mexico Government

Mexico's Geography

Mexico's People

The Cities of Mexico

The Fiestas

Santa Anna

Pancho Villa
Presentation of Mexico Project

Student choice on project subject
◦ Mexican Holiday
◦ Mexican Historical Figure
◦ Create a Mexican Food
◦ Create a Mexican Travel Brochure
Canada Maps – Student created

Political

Physical (Landforms & Bodies of Water)

Climatic
Canada Atlas Assignments

Physical Features

Regions of Canada
Visit Canada Video

See/hear, think, wonder
Develop Time line on major events in Canadian
History
Textbook sections on Canada (Pearson: My World
Geography Western Hemisphere)

Canada's Government
◦ Make comparison to America

Section 2.2 – History of Canada

Section 2.3 – Canada Today
O'Canada Flag Sheet with Canadian Holidays

Compare holidays to American

Sing as a class O'Canada (Canadian
National Anthem)
◦ View & Listen to French version
Canadian National Symbols

Flag Sheet with Historical Facts
Read “Around the World” article on Canada

Includes discussion & questions
* Tier II interventions (see list from Unit 1)