Social Studies - 6th Grade (2024)
Lesson Plans

Strand 1: World Civilizations

Students will compare how the aspects of geography, culture, religion, government, technology, and systems in ancient civilizations met human needs and wants, as well as allowed and encouraged the growth and development of civilizations as humans migrated across the earth. They will compare early governments to the foundations of modern governments.

Compelling Questions:

• What characteristics or qualities must a group of people have to be considered a civilization?
• What role does religion play in the cultural expression of a civilization?
• How do cultures of different ancient civilizations compare? What influenced these similarities and differences?
• How do interactions between diverse groups of people influence the rise or fall of societies?
• How does appreciating and allowing for differences, while seeking out commonalities, contribute to the strength, resiliency, and sustainability of civilizations?

Standard 6.1.6

Compare the purposes and functions of early governments (for example, monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, pure democracy, republic, theocracy) to modern governments.

• Athenian Democracy
  This is a great resource on what athanian democracy was like. I would probably use this as a place for primary sources. Using directly as written would be a little above 6th Grade.
• Does It Matter How Leaders Are Chosen?
  Inquiry based lesson plan allows kids to explore governments around the world: who is in charge, how they are chosen, and what happens when leaders make unfavorable choices. Includes supporting questions, articles, and activities.
• Emperor or President?
  This lesson will help students trace attributes of the Unites States government to those of ancient Greek democracy.Essential Question: How can understanding the political systems of ancient times apply to modern day?
• How did Nature Impact the Development of Ancient Societies? Comparing Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
  This is an extensive lesson plan that allows students to compare Ancient Egypt and Ancient Mesopotamia in terms of geography, religion, and government. Inquiry based.
• Purpose of Government - Lesson Plan
  This is the lesson plan associated with the Purposes of Government resource.
• Roman Republic
  This is a great resource on what Roman Republic was like. I would probably use this as a place for primary sources. Using directly as written would be a little above 6th Grade.
• Text Structures-Informational Writing/Mesopotamia Unit
  This 18 day unit explicitly teaches text structures, summary, text features, reading informational text about Mesopotamia, and writing a book about Mesopotamia. Instruction moves from high scaffolding to moderate scaffolding to independent practice as students become familiar with the various text structures, how to identify them, what graphic organizer will work with each text structure, how to use notes recorded in graphic organizers to write summaries, and how to compile an informational book. Mesopotamia is the content used as an anchor.
• Types of Governments Challenge - Lesson Plan
  This is the lesson plan associated with the Types of Government Challenge resource.

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