Sixth Grade World Geography and Cultures I – Western Hemisphere

This course begins by building on basic geographic understanding and map skills and then continues with a region by region approach, starting in Canada, moving south into Latin America and ending across the Atlantic Ocean in Europe.  In addition to identifying different ways of using maps, globes, and other social science tools like charts and graphs,  students will be exposed to the Five Themes of Geography and learn to apply them during their study of each region. They will become skilled at interpreting and analyzing maps by identifying key physical and political locations around the globe and exploring the similarities and differences among both ancient and modern societies.

To understand the impact of geography on the culture and history of a region, students gather information through a variety of interactive formats which require them to draw their own conclusions and support their ideas with evidence.  For example, students participate in class debates on topics like human-environment interaction, working in teams to research and present persuasive arguments.   The class also travels back in time to reenact important events from ancient civilizations to understand cause and effect or analyze the impact history has on modern day societies. With these concrete experiences, students engage in meaningful class discussion and writing tasks such as historical journals and persuasive essays.Throughout the year, we also read historical fiction to further engage their understanding of different time periods and cultural perspectives.