Sixth Grade Early Cultures: Prehistory to Exploration
John M Coster
Edgewood Middle School
School Phone # 864-543-3511
Email: jcoster@greenwood52.org
Social Studies in grade sixth is the study of people and events before the era of European
exploration and settlement. It focuses on the development of the human story but also on
the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of the people and their roles in
developing social, economic, and political structures of the major civilizations. This
curriculum was designed in accordance with S.C. sixth grade social studies standards.
Students will write the standards of each unit and objective we begin in their notebook.
The standards for each objective we are currently working on will be posted in the
classroom as well.
This syllabus should be read by the student and their parents and placed in the
front of the social studies section in binder.
I. Course Overviewa. First nine weeks: the transition of humans from nomadic to settled life in the cradles
of civilization, and the life in ancient classical civilizations and their contributions to the
modern world.
b. Second nine weeks: Ancient Greece, the Roman Republic, and the rise and fall of the
Roman Empire.
c. Third nine weeks: The Middle Ages and the emergence of the nation-states.
d. Fourth nine weeks: Changing political, social, and economic cultures in Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the Americas, the Renaissance and the Reformation on Europe and rest of the
world, and the age of European exploration and settlement in the New World.
II. Textbook: Journey Across Time, The students will have an in class set of social
studies books. They will not have a social studies book for home unless you request one.
I do not give homework assignments from the Journey Across Time text book. This
would be needed if your child needed extra reading or studying from the text book.
III. Materials Needed:
a. Binder for all classes, (provided)
b. filler paper and 5 dividers
c. pencils (mechanical allowed)
d. index cards for vocabulary all year (keep on hand)
IV. Grading
Test & Projects: Counts 3 times
Quizzes: Counts 2 times
Class work : Counts 1 time
Home work : Counts 1 time
VI. Assessments
Students will be assessed a number of ways through test, projects, quizzes, homework,
Teacher led discussion, Question and Answer, groups etc. It is my discretion whether an
assessment will be put in the grade book.
-Tests are given when a unit is finished or the Pace of each class. They are not given on a
specific date until I have a good assessment of where the students are at.
-Projects are usually done in class. There will be enough time given in class so if they are
working at home they are not utilizing their time efficiently in class.
-Homework will be given. I utilize Edmodo and other sites on the internet for students to
read and write summaries or answer questions about what they read. The summary
should be their words and should not be more than a page long. For every day a student
is late on an assignment 10 points will be deducted from the grade. If a student does
not have homework assigned for that day, they should spend time studying vocabulary
and preparing for quizzes or tests.
-Classwork will be vocabulary, copying notes, listening and participating in classroom
activities
VII. Internet
The students will be required to use the internet. If your child does not have internet at
home there are opportunities for your child to use the internet at school to get work done.
Not having internet is not an excuse for missing assignments. For those experiencing
difficulty with internet please see me for assistance and certain arrangements can be
provided.