What Will They Learn?
Mr. Rosenblum's 6th Grade Social Studies & World Geography Sixth grade is the study of history, geography, the economics and political makeup of the western hemisphere. Throughout the course of study, students will be able to analyze, use primary sources and geographic tools to provide a base for future social studies curriculum.
Units of Study
Geography: A study of the geographic tools used to evaluate people and systems of the Western Hemisphere. Our course of study is guided by the question How does where you live affect how you live?
First Nations: A study of the universals of cultural through examination and perspective of the First Nations of North America. Our course of study is guided by the question How do the universals of culture define a culture?
Ancient America: A study of the key people, events and ideas of the ancient civilizations of the Maya, Aztec and Inca. This third unit of study is guided by the question How do cultures develop in response to geography?
Conquest & Colonization: A study of the impact of European colonization on the indigenous people of the Western Hemisphere. Our studies are guided by the question What impact does cross cultural exchange have on both Western Europe and Latin America?
Projects Through The Year
Early Man and Indigenous Culture Disclaimer
Throughout the year the students will be taught the scientific and anthropological theory of how mankind migrated into the Americas across the land bridge of Beringia, and as well as down the coast of North and South America. I share that I don't discount theories based on theology. But because the school is a public institution, I point out to the students that the content is limited to the scientific, archaeological, and anthropological theories. As well, when I teach about the cultures of the Mayan, Aztec, Inca, and Inuit it is stressed how their spirituality and worldview is the culture of those people. I caution them to learn about the belief system of another cultures the same way one understands a character from a novel; to create a buffer and be a witness to polytheistic ancient cultures which they are not part of.
Guiding Our Studies:
The following questions are used in the classroom as overarching themes for each of the units of study.
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How does where we live affect how we live?
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How does geography affect the development of mankind’s civilization?
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Can a study of Ancient civilization help me understand the world today?
Assignments and Assessments:
Grades are determined by assessments and projects. Each grade and project is weighted in alignment with Standards Based Grading procedure. Students are allowed to retake tests and quizzes. The retakes, however, will involve more critical thinking and be more challenging than the original assessment. Hence, students are encouraged to study hard for the initial exams, which will be the simplest compared to the retakes that follow it.
Retakes will be offered on Wednesdays after school. To retake an assessment, they must be at the study session after school on Mondays so they can relearn the material and clear up any misunderstandings. If a student struggles with exams, they will be allowed to do a project instead of retake the assessment to receive a grade. A dialogue between teacher and parent is essential to make alternative assessment arrangements.
Classroom Policies:
Cell phones are to be off in class. If parents need to contact the students, please call the office. They will make sure the message gets to the student. They will call the student down for the phone call. If students need to talk to their parents, they will use the phone in the office.
Come to class with materials and homework completed. If you are unable to do your work at home, and sometimes that will happen, come to school early to do your work during RAM Time in the Library.
Tardy Policy:
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Students are expected to be in class on time, ready to learn with all required materials (see below).
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A written pass from a staff member is the only form of an “excused” tardy” that will be accepted
Quality of work:
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All work turned in should be:
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Completed, be neat and be answered in complete sentences.The student's own original work. Plagiarism (cheating) will not be tolerated. Consequences of cheating will include receiving an INS (insufficient evidence) for a grade and a call home. Opportunity for a retake will be at the teacher’s discretion once originality of achieving standard can be determined with additional evidence.
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Don’t cheat! Copying will have the same consequences for all parties involved in the incident.
End of Term
Game Board Project
Remember all those great board games? Risk! Monopoly. Clue. Life. Operation.
Now you can make your own; your own rules, your own design, your own questions & consequences! The only thing is, it must be related to a unit studied in Social Studies.
Make it fun, interactive – something that you’d want to play.
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