6th Grade Geography and World Cultures

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Course Overview

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

Table of State Social Studies Standards


Discipline	Standard
Standard 1.0 Civics	Students will understand the historical development and current status of the fundamental concepts and processes of authority, power, and influence, with particular emphasis on the democratic skills and attitudes necessary to become responsible citizens.
Standard 2.0 Peoples of the Nations and World	Students will understand the diversity and commonality, human interdependence, and global cooperation of the people of Maryland, the United States, and the World through both a multicultural and historic perspective.
Standard 3.0 Geography	Students will use geographic concepts and processes to examine the role of culture, technology, and the environment in the location and distribution of human activities and spatial connections throughout time.
Standard 4.0 Economics	Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.
Standard 5.0 History	Students will examine specific ideas, beliefs, and themes; organize patterns and events; and analyze how individuals and societies have changed over time in Maryland, the United States, and around the world.
Standard 6.0 Skills and Processes	Students shall use reading, writing, and thinking processes and skills to gain knowledge and understanding of political, historical, and current events using disciplinary and inquiry literacies.

Unit I

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

Geography

GWC 6.1.1: Define the term geography and give examples how it is used to understand the world around us.
- What Geography Is - National Geographic
GWC 6.1.2: Develop and use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.
- What is Mental Mapping?
GWC 6.1.3: Define, locate, and compare major landforms and water bodies on the earth.
- Exploring Landforms and Bodies of Water for Kids
- Matter Compilation: Crash Course Kids
GWC 6.1.4: Identify the purposes of maps and their key components.
- Why Are All the World's Maps Wrong?
GWC 6.1.5: (GT) Describe how Maryland’s place names for cultural features, its political boundaries, and the location of industry are related to its geographic features.
GWC 6.1.6: Describe how the Earth’s rotation causes night and day and the Earth’s revolution causes the change in seasons.
- Why Do We Have Different Seasons?
GWC 6.1.7: Identify the purpose of the Global Grid and determine how this helps humans make sense of location on the Earth’s surface.
- How to Read Latitude and Longitude Coordinates
GWC 6.1.8: (GT) Determine various ways that maps can be used to solve problems in society.
GWC 6.1.9: Explain why there are 24 time zones, give examples why time zones are useful, and be able to calculate time differences.
- Geography Lessons: Time Zones Explained
GWC 6.1.10: Identify and describe the factors that affect climate.
- Basics of Geography: Climate
- Secrets of World Climate

Culture

GWC 6.1.11: Identify and analyze elements of culture such as religion, language, arts, food/diet, clothing and others.
- Culture and Society

Unit II

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

The Geography of the Middle East

GWC 6.2.1: Identify the relative location of the Middle East in the world, and describe the characteristics that make it a region.
GWC 6.2.2: Describe the major geographic and climatic features of the Middle East
GWC 6.2.3: Identify selected countries and major cities of the Middle East

Introduction to Historiography and the History of the Middle East

GWC 6.2.4: Interpret, organize, and evaluate primary and secondary sources of information.
GWC 6.2.5: Identify the author’s position on a historical event and evaluate the author’s purpose for creating the document.
GWC 6.2.6: Identify the author’s position on a historical event and evaluate the author’s purpose for creating the document.
GWC 6.2.7: Identify the author’s position on a historical event and evaluate the author’s purpose for creating the document.
GWC 6.2.8: Use context/background information to draw more meaning from the document.
GWC 6.2.9: Identify and evaluate the author’s claims about an event.
GWC 6.2.10: Corroborate the claims with other pieces of evidence.
GWC 6.2.11: Identify the kinds of evidence that allows us to learn about the past, including primary and secondary sources, government documents, artifacts and pictures.
GWC 6.2.12: Distinguish between past, present, and future time and explain how major events are inter-related through the use of timelines.
GWC 6.2.13: Explain how geographic factors influence the development of civilizations in the Nile River Valley, along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and the eastern region of the Mediterranean Sea.
GWC 6.2.14: Recognize the chief characteristics of a civilization.
GWC 6.2.15: Describe and analyze the cultural development and the major achievements of the ancient civilizations of this region.
GWC 6.2.16: (GT) Relate the religious beliefs of ancient Mesopotamia to elements of the natural environment.

The Cultural Heritage of the Middle East

GWC 6.2.17: Compare and contrast the three monotheistic religions that developed in the Middle Eastern region.
GWC 6.2.18: Compare the patterns of life of various groups of people in this region.
GWC 6.2.19: Describe ways in which people of this region have adapted to varied environmental conditions.

Contemporary Issues of The Middle East

GWC 6.2.20: Analyze the relationship between modern conflicts and the history of this region of the world
GWC 6.2.21: Identify a selected contemporary issue and predict possible future trends in the Middle East and North Africa
GWC 6.2.22: (GT) Examine the economic future of nations in the regions who rely on the export of non-renewable resources.

Unit III

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

The Geography of Africa

GWC 6.3.1: Identify Africa’s relative location in the world.
- Geography of Africa
GWC 6.3.2: Identify the various geographic regions within Sub-Saharan Africa and describe the characteristics that make them distinct regions
- Sub-Saharan Africa Geography
GWC 6.3.3: Describe the major geographic and climatic features of Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Sub-Saharan Africa Geography
GWC 6.3.4: Identify selected countries and major cities of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The History & Cultural Heritage of Africa

GWC 6.3.5:Describe and analyze the development of powerful kingdoms in West Africa.
- Africa's Great Civilizations
GWC 6.3.6: (GT) Explain how human settlement patterns in West African Kingdoms related to physical geography and climate of the region.
- Brilliance of African Civilizations
GWC 6.3.7: Describe the kingdoms of East Africa and explain their connection to the Upper Nile River Valley.
- Swahili: The Coastal Civilization
GWC 6.3.8: Describe the impact of the European slave trade on Africa.
- The Atlantic Slave Trade TED-Ed (Parent to preview first)
GWC 6.3.9: Identify the motives of European imperialism in Africa and interpret the impact on culture of Africa.
- Imperialism: Crash Course World History #35
GWC 6.3.10: Describe the process of African independence from European countries.
- Decolonization: Crash Course European History #43
GWC 6.3.11: Identify the characteristics of selected African cultures.
- African Cultures and Women TEDx
GWC 6.3.12: Using Africa as a model, analyze the consequences of changing the physical environment to fulfill human needs.

Modern Africa

GWC 6.3.13: Compare and contrast the characteristics and levels of developing and developed economies.
- The New Scramble for Africa
GWC 6.3.14: Identify a contemporary issue facing Sub-Saharan Africa and predict possible future trends.
- Solving Africa's Youth Unemployment
GWC 6.3.15: (GT) Describe why there are such great economic disparities between various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Income Inequality Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa

Unit IV

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

The Geography of Asia

GWC 6.4.1: Identify Asia’s relative location in the world.
- Asia Continent
- Map of Asia
GWC 6.4.2: Identify the various geographic regions within Asia and describe the characteristics that make them distinct regions.
- Regions of Asia
GWC 6.4.3: Describe the major geographic and climatic characteristics for a selected region in Asia.
- Physical Geography of South East Asia
GWC 6.4.4: Identify selected countries and major cities of Asia.
- Largest Cities in Asia
- Destination Asia
GWC 6.4.5: Describe how geographic location, physical features, and natural resources influence the economic development of Southern, Eastern and Southeastern Asian nations.
- Poorest Asian Countries
- Top Asian Countries by GDP
GWC 6.4.6: (GT) Describe how seasonal monsoons affect the cultures of people in Asia.
- Life of the Monsoon

The History of Asia

GWC 6.4.7: Describe and analyze the cultural characteristics and achievements of the civilizations in South Asia and East Asia.
- Southeast Asia: Origins of Culture
GWC 6.4.8: Describe the effects and influence of empires on culture and development in South Asia and East Asia.
- Southeast Asia: Origins of Culture
- India: Crash Course History of Science #4
GWC 6.4.9: Describe how British colonialism has affected social, economic, and political systems in this region.
- How Did Britain Conquer India?
- Asian Responses to Imperialism: Crash Course World History #213

The Cultural Heritage of Asia

GWC 6.4.10: Examine the religious diversity of the countries of the South Asia.
- Chinese Religions Throughout the Dynasties
- Buddha and Ashoka: Crash Course World History #6
GWC 6.4.11: Determine the influence of the teachings of Confucius on Chinese culture.
- The Mandate of Heaven and Confucius: Crash Course World History #7
GWC 6.4.12: Describe and compare the development of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism on the Indian Sub-Continent.
- Buddha and Ashoka: Crash Course World History #6
- What is the History of Hinduism?

Contemporary Issues in Asia

GWC 6.4.13: Explain and give examples how Asian countries adapt to the high population density of their country.
- Addressing the Challenges of Population Aging in Asia
GWC 6.4.14: Identify a selected contemporary issue and predict possible future trends in East, Southeast, and South Asia.
- Spotlight on Climate Change in Asia
GWC 6.4.15: Compare the characteristics of developing and developed countries in East, Southeast, and South Asia by reading and classifying information from charts and graphs.
- Next Economic Powers of Asia
- Southeast Asia vs. South Asia GDP
GWC 6.4.16: Analyze how the divergent cultures and economies of North and South Korea have developed over time.
- DMZ Separates North and South Korea
- Culture of Jeju Haenyeo Women Divers
GWC 6.4.17: (GT) Explain how mono-culturalism contributes to and detracts from national development and identity in Japan?
- Japan Cultural History: Crash Course World History #227
- What is Mono-culturalism?

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