Social Studies

6th grade studies the geography, economics, government, and history of Europe, Canada, Latin America, and Australia.

Georgia Standards of Excellence 6th Grade Standards 

Geography:

In geography the focus is the political and physical maps of the region, environmental issues, and how location and climate affect where people live and how countries trade.

 

Economics:

In economics, students will learn about the types of economic systems, trade barriers, and factors that influence economic growth. 

 

Government:

Government focus on the way citizens participate in different forms of government, and the rights and freedoms given to citizens  in Europe, Canada, Latin America, and Australia.

 

History:

History in Europe will start at the end of WWI and students will learn about the Treaty Of Versailles, Rise of Communism, Rise of Nazism, the Holocaust, and the Cold War.  In our Canada unit, students will learn about the Quebec Independence Movement.  Latin America focuses on how African slavery impacted the Americas, the Cuban Revolution, and the impact of poverty, the war on drugs, and migration.  During the Australia unit, students will learn about the impact of European colonization on the Aboriginal people.

 

STEM:

The 6th grade incorporates STEM into all of our units. We integrate other content areas into our social studies lessons, and focus on real world problems.

 Here are some examples:

 

Europe:

Students construct a Leaning Tower of Pasta that incorporates math and science standards; Students complete a Genius Hour research project on the science and technology of WWII; Students learn about the Holocaust through a survivor guest speaker that makes history come alive.

 

Canada:

Students compare the climate in Canada using integers, a concept students learn in math; Students complete a choice board which included ELA, Art, Science, and Math

 

Latin America:

Students complete an economy and government graphic organizer to help with a science project on creating a home on another planet if earth became uninhabitable; students complete a debate and a mock trial over issues like deforestation of the rainforest and whether or not Columbus was a hero or a villain.

 

Australia:

Students complete a Tic-Tac-Toe choice board which incorporates science, math, art, and ELA standards; students complete a research project which guides them through the engineering design process.

7th grade studies the geography, economics, government, and history of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Georgia Standards of Excellence 7th Grade Standards

Seventh grade students study Southwest Asia (Middle East), Africa, and Southern and Eastern Asia.  The goal of this course is to acquaint middle school students with the world in which they live.  The geography domain includes both physical and human geography.  The intent of the geography domain is for students to begin to grasp the importance geography plays in their everyday lives.  The government/civics domain focuses on selected types of government found in the various areas in order to help students begin to understand the variety of governments in the world.   The economics domain builds on the K-5 economics standards; however, the focus shifts from the United States to how other countries answer the basic questions of economics.  The history domain focuses primarily on significant events in each region from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

STEM lessons are incorporated in each unit of study.   We share common themes and vocabulary across the curriculum.  Examples include:

Middle East:  After creating graphs of literacy rates and GDP, students analyze the data and reported their findings.  They also conduct science experiments as it relates to mass and buoyancy in the Dead Sea.

Novel Study:  We discuss the limitations and physical problems of the characters from the  book, The Breadwinner.  Our science classes created prosthetic legs and hands as it relates to the story.

Asia:  We collaborate with the technology class when studying the Three Gorges Dam.  Their class builds a replica of the Yangtze River with a working dam.   Students are able to and see the positive and negative impact of this man-made project on the environment.

Africa:  In this unit we focus on the causes and effects of contaminated water and the lack of this resource.  Students are given a first hand account of this issue from a guest speaker from the organization,  Just One Africa.  Students can also take the opportunity to join a club that supports the African people with water filters.  Students learn  how they can impact their world by helping others.

8th grade Georgia Studies – The purpose of this course is for students to gain a greater comprehension of the state of Georgia through an examination of its geography, history, government, and economics.  It is through this study that students will grow to understand Georgia’s role in the history of the United States of America and its importance as a state in modern times.
Georgia Standards of Excellence 8th Grade Standards

 

Through analysis of current events chronicled in today’s media, students will make a connection between Georgia Studies and the common themes found in history such as discovery, struggle, and change.  

 

We teach the Georgia Standards of Excellence from the founding of  Georgia through Georgia in the 20thCentury, a geographic overview of the state, Georgia’s economy, and state and local government.  A list of the GSE for each unit can be found at www.georgiastandards.org

 

The Georgia Studies teachers integrate STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)  lessons throughout the year.  We feel this cross curricular integration prepares our students, not only for high school, but for real world experiences.  Examples of STEAM activities students may experience in our classes are:

 

Through a prehistoric archaeology dig, students will investigate artifacts to help determine Georgia's earliest cultures. 

 

Presentation standards ELA  are used to assess presentations of Georgia Studies research topics throughout the year

 

Budgeting and economics opportunity costs during the  Great Depression lesson teaches students real world math and finance lessons.

 

Sharecropping/Tenant Farming simulation illustrating the cycle of debt that kept Georgians stuck  in these labor contracts.

 

Students read current issues of interest to them and tie them to topics in history, such as the debate over removing historical monuments.

 

These activities incorporate the following strategies and skills which span multiple content areas:

Key Ideas and Details, Point of View and Purpose, Sequence, Summarizing, Vocabulary Development, Cites Evidence, Inference and Prediction, Instructional Hook, Key Ideas and Details, Point of View and Purpose, Summarizing: Multiple Perspectives