Possible Draft of New SS Curricuulm?

Sixth Grade

In the following areas of Social Studies, the grade 6 student will:

Peace and Justice: (focus on dignity of work and rights of workers)

1. Work is a way to continue participation in God’s act of creation
2. The basic rights of workers, owners, and others must be respected
3. These rights must be exercised in a way that advances the common good.

Geography: (focus on Europe, Asia, and Africa as connected with the history studied)

 The study of the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa should focus on:

4. Placing countries, cities, deserts, mountain ranges, and bodies of water on the continents on which they are located
5. Use coordinates of latitude and longitude to locate points on a world map
6. Name and identify on a map the countries in each continent
7. Identify:

·         Major mountain ranges

·         Rivers

·         Bodies of water

·         Climate

·         Natural resources

8. Describe ways humans depend on and modify the environment and the positive and negative consequences of the modifications
9. Explain how particular regions and resources in these regions influence the availability of the growth of technology, transportation, and communication
10. Identify and describe a variety of physical and human regions by analyzing maps, charts, and graphs that show patterns and characteristics that define regions

History: (focus on world history from early civilizations through medieval times in Europe, Asia, and Africa)

11. Describe the early cultural development of humankind from the Paleolithic Era to the revolution of agriculture including:
• Hunter-gatherer life
• Technology (tools, use of fire)
• Development of cultural features among prehistoric peoples, especially religion
• Domestication of animals and plants
• Development of farming
• How communities emerged and what life was like in early villages

12. Compare the early river civilizations (Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley and China) with emphasis on:
• Geography especially the impact/importance of river valleys
• Government
• Culture
• Economic system
• Religion
• Technology
• Agricultural practices
• History
• Key Figures

13. Compare the characteristics of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and their enduring impact on later civilizations, with emphasis on the following:
• Geography
• Government
• Culture
• Economic system
• Religion – especially role in the spread of Christianity
• Technology
• Art and architecture
• History 
• Key figures

14. Describe the Byzantine Empire and the rise of Islam and Arab world, with emphasis on:
• Geography
• History of the Byzantine Empire and connections to Rome
• Division of the Christian church into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox church
• Dessert life on the Arabian peninsula 
• Teachings of Muhammad and Islam
• Spread of Islam

15. Compare the characteristics (Geography, Government, Culture, Economic system, Religion, History, Key figures) of medieval life in China, Japan, Europe and Africa and their impact on later civilizations, with emphasis on the following:

China:

• Tang dynasty
• Mongol Empire
• Ming Dynasty

Africa:

·         Empire of Ghana

·         European slave trade

Japan:

·         feudal society and the influence of China on its culture

·         role of Shinto and Buddhism

Europe:

·         Feudalism

·         Limited monarchy - Magna Carta

·         The role of the Roman Catholic Church

·         Crusades

·         Black Plague

Civics and Government:(focus on forms of government, especially those found in historical cultures and countries studied)

16. Students will describe and compare the defining characteristics of democracy, republic, and limited monarchy and show connections to American rights today:
• Democracy – voting rights, legislative bodies, written constitutions
• Republic – separation of powers, representative government, civic duty
• Monarchy – limited monarchy

17. Explain how opportunities for citizens to participate in and influence the political processes differ under these various systems of government
18. Compare the rights and responsibilities of citizens living under various systems of government

Economics (focus on human resources and rights of workers)

19. Explain how the availability of productive resources and labor affects the production of goods, specialization, trade, interdependence, and services in different world regions
20. Explain why trade occurs when individuals, regions, and countries specialize, and how this causes both production and consumption to increase
21. Describe the growth of cities due to the establishment of trade routes in Asia,Africa, and Europe and the products and inventions that traveled along these