The department seeks to prepare students to be independent, forward-thinking participants, actively involved in the 21st century. Inclusion of technology and evidence-based learning are paramount to the curriculum which is designed to motivate each student to think for himself/herself, to analyze, and to draw conclusions from a variety of primary and secondary sources. At least one research paper is required at each level. The curriculum is supplemented with works of historical non-fiction and/or other works of literature in the content area. Each course integrates the social, political, economic and historical elements of culture, nations and governments as outlined in the NYS Syllabi for Social Studies as well as the NYS learning standards. Social Studies courses in grades 9-11 are Regents courses, culminating in a Regents exam in grades 10 and 11. College Board Advanced Placement courses are offered in grades 10, 11, and 12. For more information regarding the New York State Core Curriculum for Social Studies go to: 

https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-k-12-social-studies-framework

Grade 6

Curriculum Level: Grade level

State Exam: None

Frequency: Every day
______________________________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION

Grade 6 Social Studies is based on the geography and history of the Eastern Hemisphere, including the development of cultures, civilizations, and empires, interactions between societies, and the comparison of trends in government and economics. It also incorporates some elements of other social sciences. The course begins with an examination of the Eastern Hemisphere today using geographic skills. This provides the foundation for making connections between the past and the present throughout the course. The remainder of the course is divided into seven key ideas that cover a time span from prehistory into the 1300s. Students are provided the opportunity to explore belief systems across time and to examine the foundations of democracy.

TEXT AND OTHER MATERIALS

Teacher provided handouts and articles & ebook World Civilizations

Selected readings, fiction and nonfiction

WORK EXPECTATIONS

Participation in class discussions and group activities, daily reading and writing assignments, analysis and synthesis of primary/secondary documents, quizzes, essays, research based projects

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Present day Eastern Hemisphere Geography
2. The first humans through the Neolithic Revolution in the Eastern Hemisphere
3. Early River Valley Civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere (ca. 3500 B.C.E. - ca. 500 B.C.E.)
4. Comparative world religions  (ca. 2000 B.C.E – ca. 630 C.E)
5. Comparative Classical Civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere (ca. 600 B.C.E. – ca. 500 C.E.)
6. The Mediterranean World: Feudal Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Islamic Caliphates (ca. 600 C.E. – ca. 1450)
7. Interactions across the Eastern Hemisphere (ca. 600 C.E. – ca. 1450)