Sixth Grade Social Studies

Paleolithic Era to the Agricultural Revolution

6.1: I can describe the early physical and cultural development of humankind.

6.1.1: I can describe hunter-gatherer societies. I can talk about how early tools were created and the use of fire.

6.1.2: I can find the location of the major early human communities of the world. I can describe how early humans adapted to their environments.

6.1.3: I can talk about the factors that led to farming, domesticating animals, and changes in clothing and shelter.

Early Civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Kush

6.2: I can compare different aspects of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Kush.

6.2.1: I can find the locations of the major river systems. I can explain how these river systems contributed to settlements in early civilizations.

6.2.2: I can explain how new agricultural techniques contributed to the emergence of cities.

6.2.3: I can describe the role that religion played in developing social and political order in Mesopotamia and Egypt.

6.2.4: I can tell you why Hammurabi's Code was important.

6.2.5: I can describe the main features of Egyptian art and architecture.

6.2.6: I can describe the role of Egyptian trade in the eastern Mediterranean and Nile Valley.

6.2.7: I can tell you why Queen Hatshepsut and Ramses the Great were important.

6.2.8: I can find the location of the Kush civilization. I can describe the relationship between the Kush and Egyptian civilizations.

6.2.9: I can discuss early languages and how they changed.

Ancient Hebrews 

6.3: I can tell you about Ancient Hebrew society. 

6.3.1: I can discuss why the development of Judaism was significant.

6.3.2: I can tell you about the central beliefs of Judaism. I can identify the sources of the ethical teachings of Judaism. I can describe how the ideas and traditions of ancient Hebrews are reflected in the moral and ethical traditions of Western civilization.

6.3.3: I can discuss key figures in the Jewish religion including Abraham, Moses, Naomi, Ruth, David, and Yohanan ben Zaccai.

6.3.4: I can locate the settlements and movements of the Hebrew people. I can explain why the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt was significant.

6.3.5: I can tell you how Judaism was able to survive as followers of the religion dispersed from Jerusalem and Israel after the destruction of the second Temple in A.D. 70.

Ancient Greece 

6.4: I can tell you about the early civilizations of Ancient Greece.

6.4.1: I can discuss the connection between geography and the development of city-states in the region of the Aegean Sea.

6.4.2: I can discuss the transitions to different forms of government in Ancient Greece.

6.4.3: I can tell you about the key differences between direct democracy and representative democracy.

6.4.4: I can explain the significance of Greek mythology to the everyday life of the people in the region. I can tell you about the importance of Greek literature in our society today.

6.4.5: I can describe the founding and growth of the Persian Empire.

6.4.6: I can discuss the similarities and differences between Athens and Sparta. I can explain their roles in the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars.

 6.4.7: I can describe the rise of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture eastward and into Egypt.

6.4.8: I can tell you about the contributions of important Greek figures in the arts and sciences.

Ancient India 

6.5: I can tell you about the early civilizations of India.

6.5.1: I can find the locations of the major river systems. I can explain how these river systems contributed to settlements in the early civilizations of India. 

6.5.2: I can discuss the significance of the Aryan invasions.

6.5.3: I can explain the major beliefs and practices in Brahmanism. I can tell you how they evolved into early Hinduism.

6.5.4: I can describe the caste system.

6.5.5: I can tell you about the life and moral teachings of Buddha. I can describe the spread of Buddhism.

6.5.6: I can describe the growth of the Maurya empire. I can describe the achievements of emperor Asoka.

6.5.7: I can discuss the major contributions of the early civilizations of India.

Ancient China 

6.6: I can tell you about the early civilizations of China. 

6.6.1: I can locate and describe the origins of Chinese civilization in the Huang-He Valley during the Shang Dynasty.

6.6.2: I can tell you how the geographic features of China isolated regions from each other and from the rest of the world.

6.6.3: I can tell you about the life and moral teachings of Confucius. I can discuss key ideas in Confucianism and Taoism.

6.6.4: I can tell you about the problems that Confucius wanted to solve.

6.6.5: I can tell you about the achievements of the emperor Shi Huangdi of the Qin Dynasty. 6.6.6: I can discuss the contributions of the Han Dynasty.

6.6.7: I can tell you why the "silk roads" were significant during the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire.

6.6.8: I can describe the diffusion of Buddhism during the Han Dynasty.

Ancient Rome 

6.7: I can tell you about the development of Rome.

6.7.1: I can discuss the rise of the Roman Republic. I can find the location of the Roman Republic. I can discuss key figures in the rise of the Roman Republic. 

6.7.2: I can describe the government of the Roman Republic.

6.7.3: I can discuss the key reasons for the growth of Roman territories and the expansion of the empire.

6.7.4: I can tell you how Julius Caesar and Augustus influenced Rome's transition from republic to empire.

6.7.5: I can tell you about the struggles of the Jewish people around the Mediterranean region.

6.7.6: I can discuss the origins of Christianity. I can talk about the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and the contributions of St. Paul the Apostle.

6.7.7: I can discuss the spread of Christianity in Europe and other Roman territories.

6.7.8: I can discuss the contributions of Roman society.