
Essential Questions
I Can Statements
6th grade World
Geography
K. Copass
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
(Unit1) Landforms
Essential questions:
How are landforms created?
Where are the major landforms found
around the world?
How do landforms affect where human
activities are located?
I Can Statements:
I can define landforms and explain how
they are created.
I can identify various landforms using
a world map.
I can create a landform booklet with
drawings, definitions, and examples of
the following landforms:
archipelago
lake
basin
mountain
bay
oasis
canyon
ocean
cape
peninsula
cliff
plain
continent
plateau
desert
prairie
glacier
river
gulf
valley
hill
volcano
island
water
isthmus
(Unit
2) Introduction to
Geography
Essential questions:
What is the purpose of using a map?
What information would you expect to
find on a map?
What are the purposes of political,
physical, and thematic maps?
How are latitude and longitude
measured?
What is the difference between
absolute and relative location?
What features on a map will help you
find absolute location?
What are the five themes of
geography?
How do the five themes of geography
impact settlement?
What are some things that geographers
study about the earth?
Why are the five themes of geography
important to geographers?
I Can Statements:
I can identify the purpose of using
maps. (DOK 2)
I can identify different types of
information found on maps. (DOK 2)
I can I can identify three types of maps
used in class. (DOK 1)
I can differentiate between the different
types of maps. (DOK 2)
I can define equator. (DOK 1)
I can define prime meridian. (DOK 1)
I can define absolute location. (DOK 1)
I can define coordinates. (DOK 1)
I can define relative location. (DOK 1)
I can find the exact location of a place
using latitude and longitude. (DOK 2)
I can I can identify the starting point
for measuring latitude and longitude.
(DOK 2)
I can design a map with correct latitude
and longitude coordinates.
I can compare absolute and relative
location. (DOK 3)
I can name and describe the five
themes of geography. (DOK 2)
I can illustrate one of the five themes
of geography on poster board and
present to the class. (DOK 3)
I can describe Monroe County using
the five themes of Geography. (DOK
3)
September-November (Unit
3-United States and Canada)
Essential Questions:
How do you interpret a data file?
Why is it important to know the
location of the 50 states in the U.S.?
What are the physical features of the
United States and Canada?
What is a province?
What determines a region?
What are the regions of the U.S. and
Canada?
How do the Great Plains and the
Atlantic coastal Plain compare to one
another?
What are vegetation zones?
What determines the U.S. and
Canada’s vegetation zones?
What are the vegetation zones of the
U.S. and Canada?
What are the characteristics of the
vegetation zones of the U.S. and
Canada?
What is the role of immigration in the
development of United States culture?
What are some reasons people
immigrate?
What are some rights of U.S. citizens?
What are some responsibilities if U.S.
citizens.
What is citizenship?
Why is the Constitution important to
the citizens of the United States?
Why does society need strong laws and
a stable government?
What are the three branches of the U.S.
government?
What are the basic powers of each of
the three branches of government?
Why does the Constitution create a
balance of powers among the three
branches of government?
What is the difference between goods
and services?
What are the four factors of
production?
What are the qualities of a free
enterprise/market economy?
What is the law of supply and demand?
What is the difference between a
market, command, and traditional
economy?
What is NAFTA and what countries
are involved in NAFTA?
What factors have led to the
development of a global economy?
What is a constitutional monarchy?
What are the branches of Canada’s
government?
What is modern Canada’s relationship
with Great Britain?
What are some similarities and
differences between the Canadian and
U.S. governments?
What are Canada’s natural resources?
What are Canada’s main exports?
Why is Canada considered to be
bilingual?
I Can Statements
I can use a data file to interpret
information about the U.S. and Canada.
(DOK 2)
I can locate the 50 states on a blank
map of the United States. (DOK 1)
I can define province (DOK 1).
I can locate the provinces and
territories of Canada.(DOK 2)
I can define region. (DOK 1)
I can identify the regions of the U.S
and Canada on a map. (DOK 2)
I can compare the characteristics of
each region. (DOK 3)
I can define vegetation zone. (DOK 1)
I can identify the vegetation zones of
the U.S. and Canada. (DOK 2)
I can describe the characteristics of
each vegetation zone. (DOK 2)
I can define immigrant. (DOK 1)
I can describe how immigration has
contributed the mixture of cultures in
the U.S. (DOK 2)
I can lists reason why people
immigrate to the U.S. (DOK 2)
I can distinguish between rights and
responsibilities of U.S. citizens. (DOK
2)
I can define citizenship. (DOK 1)
I can create a poster illustrating
responsibilities of U.S. citizens. (DOK
3)
I can define Constitution. (DOK 1)
I can distinguish between the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
(DOK 2)
I can recognize that the Constitution is
the framework of the U.S. government.
(DOK 2)
I can name the three branches of
government.(DOK 1)
I can describe the basic powers of each
branch of government. (DOK 2)
I can define checks and balances.
(DOK 1)
I can give an example of how the
Constitution created a balance of
powers among the three branches of
government (checks and balance) DOK
3
I can distinguish between a good and a
service. (DOK 2)
I can define production. (DOK 1)
I can name the four factors of
production. (DOK 1)
I can create a poster of a product
illustrating how the four factors of
production are used to create this
product. (DOK 4)
I can identify qualities of a free
enterprise/market economy. (DOK 2)
I can describe the law of supply and
demand. (DOK 1)
I can define competition? (DOK 1)
I can explain how competition benefits
the consumer. (DOK 2)
I can identify market, command, and
traditional economies.(DOK
I can explain why the U.S. has a
market economy. (DOK 2)
I can define NAFTA and name the
countries involved. (DOK 1)
I can define global economy. (DOK 1)
I can list factors that have led to the
development of a global economy.
(DOK 2)
I can define constitutional monarchy.
(DOK 1)
I can define parliament. (DOK 1)
I can describe Canada’s relationship
with Great Britain. (DOK 2)
I can compare Canada’s and the U.S.
government. (DOK 3)
I can identify Canada’s natural
resources (DOK 2).
I can identify industry. (DOK 1)
I can list Canada’s main exports. (DOK
1)
I can explain how Canada’s geography
both helps and hinders transportation.
(DOK 3)
I can define bilingual and identify the
two main languages spoken in Canada.
(DOK 2)
December –January
(Unit 4-Latin America)
Essential Questions:
How is Latin America a region?
What land areas make up Latin
America?
How were the Caribbean Islands
formed?
What are some important geographic
regions of South America?
What is significant about the Andes
mountain range?
How has deforestation affected the
Amazon rain forest?
Why do natural disasters occur
frequently in Latin America?
What ancient civilizations flourished in
Latin America and where were they
located?
What are the achievements of the
Maya?
What are the achievements of the
Aztec?
What are the achievements of Inca?
What kinds of products were part of the
Columbian Exchange?
Mexico
What kind of government does Mexico
have today?
What are some ways in which the
government of Mexico is similar to that
of the U.S.?
How has Mexico’s economy changed
over the years?
Why is Mexico rich in natural
resources?
What factors have contributed to the
growth of Mexico City?
What problems have resulted from this
growth?
What three traditions mix in Mexico’s
culture today?
Central America and Caribbean
Islands
What are the seven nations of Central
America?
Why did European rulers bring
Africans to the Caribbean and how did
this affect people today?
What sources of wealth did European
nations have in the West Indies?
How did the U.S gain control of the
land around the Panama Canal?
Why did the U.S declare war on Spain?
What were the results of the SpanishAmerican war?
What was the Caribbean Island’s main
industry in the colonial period?
In what ways did the United Fruit
Company change economies in Central
America?
What ethnic influences have combined
to form Caribbean cultures?
How did Cuba become a communist
country?
How was the Cuban economy once
dependent on the Soviet Union?
What are some of the effects of Cuba
forming a Communist government?