Gr 6 SS Curr 09 - Acton-Boxborough Regional School District

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS TOPICS/THEMES
History/Time
� How do we know about the
past?
� What is a civilization?
� Why do civilizations rise
and fall?
� How do the lives of ancient
peoples affect us today?
Geography
� How has human history
been shaped by geography
and environment?
Government
� How have structured forms
of government evolved over
time?
Economics
� How did ancient societies
meet the wants and needs of
their peoples?
Civics
� How have structured forms
of government evolved over
time?
� History is reconstructed using a variety of
tools and the knowledge and point of view
of those who interpret the artifacts and the
written word of peoples, cultures and
civilizations.
�
� Ancient civilizations have influenced
modern civilizations in their art,
architecture, tools, technology, language
and belief systems.
� Differences in resources (e.g., natural
resources, climate, geography, flora,
fauna) led societies to develop differently
� Societies can be organized in many
different ways. Different forms of
government have varied strengths and
weaknesses and provide different groups
with advantages and disadvantages.
�
� Democratic and republican forms of
government evolved over time.
� The emergence of surplus led to
specialization of tasks that made the
emergence of civilization possible.
Specialization led to technological and
social change that transformed what was
produced and how it was distributed.
� Before the emergence of civilizations,
small societies had little or no hierarchy
and government. Civilizations evolved
governmental systems including theocracy,
kingdoms, empires and various forms of
democracy. Each form of governmental
organization has strengths and weaknesses.
� Archaeology
� Neolithic Period
� Mesopotamia
� Egypt
� Greece
� Rome
� Indus River Valley
APS History and Social Science: Grade 6 2008-2009 page 4