Essential Questions
for the
6th Grade Social Studies Program
(Mike Adams & Michael Bailey)
CONTENT–SKILLS–CHARACTER
“From Ancient Civilizations To The Middle Ages”
(Mesopotamia to the Medieval Times)
“The 6th grade course of study is an ADVENTURE IN LEARNING
and is designed to provide learning opportunities to study the
world, its people, its culture, and its rich history through a
detailed study of ancient civilizations through the 1500’s time
period. Students learn to develop independent learning skills by
doing active research assignments utilizing a world atlas, a CDROM encyclopedia, and the Internet. Study skills are taught and
reviewed in order for the student to become a better
independent learner. Real-life work skills of responsibility and
accountability are continuously emphasized as the student
applies the many concepts and skills taught. In addition, the
student’s technology skills are further developed by giving a
variety of learning opportunities to use the computer to make
creative products and presentations that enhances student
learning.”
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CONTENT
SKILLS
CHARACTER
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Maps & Geography
Spirituality within
Ancient China
Computer & Internet
Research
Ancient Greece
(using a CD-ROM encyclopedia
and the Internet to find both
answers/information to topics
being researched)
Ancient Rome
Individual Study and
Independent Learning
The Middle Ages
(knowing how to study and to
prepare for quizzes/tests;
knowing how to learn on your
own without always needing
help to do an assignment/
project)
(using an atlas to locate world
cities, countries, & physical
features)
Real-World
Motivation and
Inspiration
Perseverance;
overcoming
hardships
Accepting others’
differences
(using skills to help in real-life
situations that one will face in
the real world---especially that
of responsibility, dependability,
and accountability.)
Computer & Technology
Giving God your
best
(finding ways to let the computer
create professional-looking
products and presentations to
be used as ‘study tools’ for test
review activities)
BEGINNING OF SCHOOL:
*Orientation to Rules-Policies-Procedures (PowerPoint Study)
*Motivation and Introduction to Jr. High (Sister Act 2 & What To Expect In
Jr. High Video Clips--- www.unitedstreaming.com )
*Basic Map Skills (continents, oceans, directions, equator, tropics, etc.)
*Basic Research Skills Introduced (Where Is It?/GeoMystery/PTC Research)
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Ancient Mesopotamia
1.
How did technology change life in
Mesopotamia?
2.
What was the link between agriculture and
religion in Sumer?
3.
How did Sumerian innovations change to
meet the people’s needs?
4.
What were the causes and effects of
conflict in the Fertile Crescent?
5.
How did Hammurabi promote cooperation
within his empire?
6.
How did Hammurabi introduce the idea of equal justice that has
influenced western societies today?
7.
How did the worship of one God represent a change in religious
beliefs in Mesopotamia?
8.
How are the Ten Commandments an important part of three major
religions---Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
9.
How did the Phoenicians change the system of writing?
10.
How did the coined money of the Lydians change trade forever?
Ancient Egypt
1.
How did the Nile River impact life in Ancient Egypt?
2.
What was the relationship between the religion of the ancient
Egyptians and nature?
3.
How were the peoples of the Two Lands of the Nile Valley in
conflict with each other and then become unified?
4.
What were the changes in Egyptian society during the Middle
Kingdom?
5.
Why did the change in religion introduced by Amenhotep IV not
take hold in ancient Egypt?
6.
What was Hatshepsuts’ unique place in early Egyptian history?
7.
Why would the Nubians and Egyptians in the Middle Kingdom
cooperate with each other?
8.
What was the outcome of the conflict between Kush and Egypt?
9.
What was the impact of the Kushite conquest of Egypt?
10.
In what ways did the Nubians and Egyptian civilizations influence
each other?
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Ancient China
1.
How did the Zhou replace the Shang as rulers of China?
2.
What was China’s economic and political system under the Zhou?
3.
Why is the Warring Kingdoms Period known
as a time of conflict?
4.
How could Confucianism be an appropriate
response to disorder?
5.
How did Shi Huangdi unify China?
6.
How would you compare the Legalist ideas
about
leadership
with
those
of
Confucianism?
7.
What were the benefits and costs of
building Shi Huangdi’s Great Wall?
8.
What are the similarities and differences of
the Han government when it is compared with that of the Zhou
and the Qin?
9.
How did Wu Di protect and govern his empire?
10.
What were the important achievements of the Han dynasty and
why were they considered important?
Ancient Greece
1.
How did geography affect the way early people live in ancient
Greece?
2.
What was the effect of trade on the development of Minoan
civilization?
3.
How can the Homeric poems be interpreted as a reflection of
Mycenaean civilization?
4.
What were the similarities and
differences of the Greek city-states?
5.
What was the Spartan way of life?
6.
How did democracy work in ancient
Athens?
7.
How did the Greek city-states
cooperate against a common enemy in the Persian Wars? Why
would they do this?
8.
How did Perecles improve upon Athenian democracy?
9.
What were the causes and effects of the Peloponesian War
between Athens and Sparta?
10.
How was Alexander the Great responsible for the spreading of the
Greek culture throughout the ancient world of his time?
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Ancient Rome
1.
What were the geographic advantages of the site of Rome?
2.
What were some of the characteristics
of the Roman government during the
republic?
3.
What were some of Rome’s conquests
between 500 BC and 146 BC?
4.
Why was the dictatorship of Julius
Caesar a contributing factor to the end
of the Roman Republic?
5.
How did Augustus Caesar help unite
the Roman Empire?
6.
How would a Jewish religious leader named Jesus change the
Roman Empire?
7.
How did Christianity spread after Jesus’ death and why?
8.
What was Rome’s’ reaction to Christianity?
9.
What was the Emperor Constantine’s role in the growth of
Christianity?
10.
What were the contributing factors for the decline of Rome and
the rise of Constantinople as the new leader of the Roman
church?
The Middle Ages
1.
How did Justinian I look to the Roman past to build the Byzantine
Empire?
2.
What were the changes Theodora brought to the Byzantine
Empire?
3.
What were the disagreements that divided
the Christian Church?
4.
How did trade affect the Arab people?
5.
How did Islam spread and develop into the
Muslim Empire in order to become a major
world religion today?
6.
How did Charlemagne use cooperation to
strengthen his empire?
7.
What was the feudal system and how was it impacted by the
Crusades?
8.
What was the bubonic plague and how did it impact life in
Europe?
9.
What was the Magna Carta and how did it influence English
government?
10.
What was the role of a knight in medieval society and how did
individual knights act under the chivalric code?
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*SUBSTANCE ABUSE*
You can succeed in both school and in life without ever using these substances!
*ALCOHOL (illegal underage drinking/drinking & driving/partying/alcoholism)
*DRUGS (marijuana/amphetamines/cocaine/heroine/GHB)
*TOBACCO (cigarettes/chewing/dipping/diseases: lung cancer/emphysema)
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