updated version

Sue - here is an updated version of the curriculum. I've highlighted some things I changed based on your comments. I also added in a few "focus topics" for various sections. I've been working a lot at UD with teachers from the Archdiocese on curriculum mapping, and I pulled some of the "focus topics" from the 5th grade maps they've been working on as things that teachers currently put emphasis on. Hopefully this would give first year teachers (or teachers new to this content) some guidance. (We don't necessarily have to leave it in if you think it makes things too wordy!) Let me know any changes you want to make, and I can email a draft version to Sr. in time for our deadline next week.

~Michelle

Peace and Justice:

A study of the dignity of work and rights of workers as it applies both to the historical settings studied as well as their own experience.

1. Identify work as a way to continue participation in God’s act of creation
2. Identify the basic rights of workers, owners, and others must be respected
3. Give examples of how these rights must be exercised in a way that advances the common good.

Focus topics:

·         What is their own work at school, home, in the community, and in the Church?

·          In what ways is this work a "participation in the creation?" 

·         What are the students’ rights and responsibilities as a worker? 

·         How does the work you do, and the way in which you do it, advance the common good? 

·         What is the common good?

Geography:

A study of the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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

·         Major mountain ranges

·         Rivers

·         Bodies of water

·         Climate

·         Natural resources

9. Describe ways humans depend on and modify the environment and the positive and negative consequences of the modifications
10. Explain how particular regions and resources in these regions influence the availability of the growth of technology, transportation, and communication
11. 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:

A study of focus world history including early civilizations through medieval times in Europe, Asia, and Africa

12. Describe the early cultural development of humankind from the Paleolithic Era to the revolution of agriculture including:

• Hunter-gatherer life
• Recognize differences in prehistory and history
• Technology (tools, use of fire)
• Development of cultural features among prehistoric peoples, especially religion
• Domestication of animals and plants
• Development of farming, and how farming led to development of cities and civilizations
• How communities emerged and what life was like in early villages

13. 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 (identify difference between polytheism and monotheism)
• Technology
• Agricultural practices
• History
• Key Figures

Focus topics for Egypt:

·         Explain importance of Pharaohs and Pyramids

·         Identify Rosetta Stone used to decode Hieroglyphics

·         Analyze the relationship between Egypt and Nubia

Focus topics for Fertile Crescent:

·         Cuneiform as the first writing

·         Code of Hammurabi

·         Judaism and Ten Commandments

14. 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

Focus topics for Rome:

·         Summarize the legend of Rome's founding

·         Define republic

·         Explain the impact of Rome's conquests

·         Compare & contrast patricians & plebeians

·         Recognize Hannibal's achievements

·         List achievements of the Romans

·         Explain the significance of Augustus & Pax Romana

·         Describe the beginnings of Christianity & the Church

·         Explain how barbarian invasions affected the Roman Empire

·         Illustrate the impact of Constantine I on the Roman Empire

Focus topics for Greece:

·         Compare democracy & aristocracy

·         Contrast Athens & Sparta

·         Discuss the role of women

·         Describe the Golden Age of Athens

·         Name important philosophers

·         Greek Architecture

·         Olympics

15. 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

16. 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:

Focus topics for China:

• Tang dynasty
• Mongol Empire
• Ming Dynasty

Focus topics for Africa:

·         Empire of Ghana

·         European slave trade

Focus topics for Japan:

·         feudal society and the influence of China on its culture

·         role of Shinto and Buddhism

Focus topics for Europe:

·         Feudalism

·         Limited monarchy - Magna Carta

·         The role of the Roman Catholic Church

·         Crusades

·         Black Plague

Civics and Government:

A study of forms of government.

17. 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

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

Economics

20. Explain how the availability of productive resources and labor affects the production of goods, specialization, trade, interdependence, and services in different world regions
21. Explain why trade occurs when individuals, regions, and countries specialize, and how this causes both production and consumption to increase
22. 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

Internet resources and Links:

Peace and Justice:

http://www.educationforjustice.org/resources/type/lesson-plans

http://www.educationforjustice.org/taxonomy/term/247

http://www.laborrights.org/

Geography:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/g68.html

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/geog.html#6-8

http://www.mrdonn.org/geography.html

http://www.lessonplans4teachers.com/geography.php

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#africa

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#specificafricancountries

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#middleeast

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#asia

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#specificasiancountries

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#oceania

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#australia

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#europe

http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#specificeuropeancountries

History:

Paleolithic Era

http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?grade=6-8&keywords=paleolithic+era&media=lesson

http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=362

http://www.archaeolink.com/archaeology_lesson_plans.htm

Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley and China

http://www.uen.org/cc/uen/core/pub/displayCoreCourseLessonPlans.action?ccId=6220&itemId=3459

http://www.teacheroz.com/rivervalleys.htm

http://www.smithlifescience.com/SSEarlyCivilizations.htm

http://www.enotes.com/river-paulsen-lesson

Greece and Rome

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/6-8.html

http://www.archaeolink.com/ancient_greece_lesson_plans.htm

http://greece.mrdonn.org/lessonplans.html

http://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/exhibitions/coa/re_lesson_plans.html

http://www.lessonplanet.com/directory/social_studies/history/ancient_greece

http://www.mrdonn.org/ancienthistory.html

http://www.archaeolink.com/ancient_rome_lesson_plans.htm

http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/pdf/lesson1.pdf

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/expansion/

http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/pdf/lesson2.pdf

http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/social/rome/

Byzantine Empire

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/byzantium/

http://www.archaeolink.com/byzantine_civilization.htm

http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1094

http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_crusades.htm

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/islamhistory/

http://dnet01.ode.state.oh.us/ims.itemdetails/lessondetail.aspx?id=0907f84c805313db

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/islam/

http://www.icgc.info/

http://www.cair.com/

Medieval Cultures

http://africa.mrdonn.org/dailylife.html

http://www.archaeolink.com/ancient_african_civilizations.htm

http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=501

http://ruafrica.rutgers.edu/resources/lesson_plans.html

http://lessonplans.mrdonn.org/SPAM.html

http://ncta.osu.edu/lessons/japan/history/netter-japan.pdf

http://www.pbs.org/empires/japan/images/Japan_study_guide.pdf

http://www.outreachworld.org/resource.asp?curriculumid=294

http://ncta.osu.edu/lesson_on_jp.html

http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/lessonplans.html

http://www.besthistorysites.net/medieval_europe.shtml

http://www.archaeolink.com/medieval_civilization_lesson_pla.htm

http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=448

http://www.edselect.com/grade_41.htm

Civics and Government:

http://government.pppst.com/types.html

http://www.nationmaster.com/lps/intro.php

Economics:

http://www.lessonplanet.com/directory/social_studies/economics