6th Grade Geography and World Cultures

Course Overview

This is the first part of a two-year program entitled Geography and World Cultures. This program provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of geographic skills and concepts of world cultures in relation to their own. Students also learn about geographic and cultural issues, and of the cultural heritage and history of the various regions of study. Students are encouraged to gain an understanding and appreciation of other cultures, and to use geographic skills to solve problems.

MSDE State Standards for Social Studies Links to an external site.

Table of State Social Studies Standards

Unit I: Our Earth

Unit Overview

Geography is the study of physical and human characteristics and how they impact the relationship between Earth and the people on it. It is essential that students develop the skills that will enable them to observe patterns, associations, and spatial order. Many of the capabilities that students need to develop geographic skills are termed critical thinking skills. These involve inferring, analyzing, judging, hypothesizing, generalizing, predicting and decision-making. These have applications to all levels of geographic inquiry in which students can build competencies in applying geographic skills to geographic inquiry. Culture and experience shape belief systems, which in turn influence people’s perceptions of places and regions throughout their lives. It is essential that students appreciate the diverse values of others in a multicultural world and to engage in accurate and sensitive analysis of people, places, and environments.

Content Standards

Unit II: The Middle East

Unit Overview

The region of  the Middle East is often referred to as the “crossroads of the world” due to its location between the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It has a rich history and was home to many of the earliest civilizations on Earth. This region has had an important influence on other cultures, and is the birthplace of three of the world’s major religions. Although a region that is characterized by a hot and dry climate, it also has rich resources in the form of oil reserves.Studying specific regions allows learners to develop an understanding of spatial perspectives, and examine changes in the relationship between peoples, places, and environments. Through a more formal study of history, students continue to expand their understanding of the past and are increasingly able to apply the research methods associated with historical inquiry and make connections with present and future decisions. The study of people, places, and environments enables us to understand the relationship between human populations and the physical world. Culture and experience shape belief systems, which in turn influence people’s perceptions of places and regions throughout their lives. It is essential that students appreciate the diverse values of others in a multicultural world and to engage in accurate and sensitive analysis of people, places, and environments.

Content Standards

Unit III: Africa

Unit Overview

Studying specific regions allows learners to develop an understanding of spatial perspectives, and examine changes in the relationship between peoples, places, and environments. Through a more formal study of history, students continue to expand their understanding of the past and are increasingly able to apply the research methods associated with historical inquiry and make connections with present and future decisions. The study of people, places, and environments enables us to understand the relationship between human populations and the physical world. Culture and experience shape belief systems, which in turn influence people’s perceptions of places and regions throughout their lives. It is essential that students appreciate the diverse values of others in a multicultural world and to engage in accurate and sensitive analysis of people, places, and environments.

Africa is a large continent with two distinct geographic and cultural regions; the regions of the African continent north and south of the Sahara Desert. Entirely within the tropical regions of the earth, Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by diverse, but mostly very warm environments. It is an area rich in natural resources, but with few natural ports and generally steep coastal areas. Great civilizations flourished in ancient Africa centered around the gold and salt trade routes. Although largely unexplored by outside nations, Africa endured a long and painful period of slave trading through the 18th and 19th centuries, and was heavily colonized by European countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  These events have had a lasting impact on the culture and economies of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Content Standards

Unit IV: Asia 

Unit Overview

Studying specific regions allows learners to develop an understanding of spatial perspectives, and examine changes in the relationship between peoples, places, and environments. Through a more formal study of history, students continue to expand their understanding of the past and are increasingly able to apply the research methods associated with historical inquiry and make connections with present and future decisions. The study of people, places, and environments enables us to understand the relationship between human populations and the physical world. Culture and experience shape belief systems, which in turn influence people’s perceptions of places and regions throughout their lives. It is essential that students appreciate the diverse values of others in a multicultural world and to engage in accurate and sensitive analysis of people, places, and environments.

Asia is the world’s largest continent. From Arctic areas in northern Siberia, to the world’s highest mountains in the Himalayas, to  tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia, it is home to diverse cultures, enormous populations of people, and a wide range of climatic regions. China is the world’s largest nation in terms of population, and has a rich history that is linked to the history of many other nations. India is the world’s second largest nation, and occupies most of the Indian Sub-Continent. Intense conflict over political ideologies, economic interests, and religions continues to present challenges to the nations of Asia. 

Content Standards