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, Supplemental text: Nystrom: Atlas of World History.
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