Welcome to 6th Grade Social Studies.

THIS CLASS IS FOCUSED ON THE ANCIENT WORLD, STRETCHING FROM PRE-HISTORY (BEFORE THE ADVENT OF WRITING) TO THE FALL OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE IN 476 C.E.

Objectives:

We focus on 3 common themes throughout the year:

Power: This begins with early humans’ struggle for control their surrounding environment, all the way to the complexities and competitions for control in vast civilizations. Everything we humans do, we do for power.
Change and Repetition: We have the unique vantage point of being able to learn from our ancestors’ successes and mistakes. We will look at how people can avoid the follies of earlier cultures.
Cultural Interaction: History does not happen in a vacuum, and it should not be learned that way. The Ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian peoples all interacted, traded, and shared ideas. Some of the Western World’s best ideas came from as far away as Asia. This must be recognized.

What You Need to Succeed Everyday

1) A pen or pencil. (No crayons, colored pencils, or markers) 2) Your Agenda. (To write down assignments) 3) Your Class Folder. (I will provide the first one, if you lose it, it is on YOU to get the missing materials back)

Plan for the School Year

Pre-History

Aug 31st-Sept 20th

Everything you need to know about life before anyone bothered to write anything down. Yes, there will be Cavemen and Cavewomen.

Mespotamia

Sept 21st-Oct 20th

The First Civilization. These people had to figure out everything. They were like the babies of modern humans, trying stuff and learning as they go. They probably cried.

Egypt

Oct 21st – Dec 15

Pyramids, Chariots and Ra, the Sun God. It’s all here. These people were a little better at civilization, but still newbies.

Greece

Dec 16th – Mar 1st

These People are the Double Fudge Sundae of civilization. People, to this day, still think they did it perfectly. Spoiler Alert: They didn’t.

Rome

Mar 1st – June 15th

Gladiators? Check. Exciting story lines? Check. Backstabbing? Check. The largest empire that had yet existed? Check. Democracy? Ehhh….

Class Expectations

This course is writing-intensive (there will be LOTS of writing).

Students will learn to take information from multiple sources and create their own arguments based off of solid, factual information.

Everyone in the class will be expected to back up their statements with sound reasoning and proof, including myself.

You will not hear, “because I said so” from me. My expectations are high and are based off the belief that what we do and learn in 6th grade Social Studies will carry on with students for years.

Students must come ready to give their best effort. “The only failure is not trying.”