Grade 6 Social Studies Syllabus 

2024-2025

Academic standards, chosen by the Tennessee State Board of Education, provide a common set of expectations for what students should know and be able to do at the end of a specific grade or course.  Local school districts determine the order in which these state-mandated standards are addressed in their schools.  For a breakdown of standard pacing and course objectives for 6th grade Social Studies students in the Clarksville Montgomery County School System, please visit the Academic link under the Students & Parents tab on the CMCSS homepage.

It is the policy of the Clarksville Montgomery County School System to follow the dictates of state statutes in the selection and use of all instructional materials.  Parents or legal guardians may request to review any instructional materials used in the classroom of the parent or legal guardian’s child following the guideline set forth in Instructional Policy INS-A073 found at https://employees.cmcss.net/misc/ViewISO?filename=INS-A073.pdf

The chart below outlines the units of study for 6th grade Social Studies, topics covered, and possible major assignments or field trips that could be used to enhance student learning or solidify mastery of standards in each unit.  This chart is not inclusive of every assignment for 6th grade Social Studies, as additional or different assignments may be created based on the needs of students.  Specific details for major assignments will be shared with students and parents or legal guardians as the standards related to the assignments are addressed in class.

Unit 

Topic

Areas of Focus and Possible Major Assignments

Possible Field Trips

1

Foundations of Human Civilization

Standards: 6.01-6.04

Dates of Instruction:

Aug. 7 - Aug. 21

Study artifacts such as tools, weapons, cave paintings

Describe characteristics of nomadic hunter-gatherer societies

Explain the importance of the Agricultural Revolution: Graphic Organizer – impact of agriculture and domestication of plants and animals

Practice with dating time – BCE/BC and AD/CE, Circa, decade, century

Analyze key characteristics of Civilization (writing, gov., technology, etc.)

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

None

2

Ancient Mesopotamia

Standards: 6.05-6.12

Dates of Instruction:

Aug. 22-Sept. 13

Mapping the Fertile Crescent and geographical features of the area

Explain the components of civilization and inventions of Mesopotamia

Describe religion (polytheism) and its importance

Creating messages using cuneiform

Graphic organizer on Division of Labor

Close read selections from Hammurabi’s Code; Sargon’s accomplishments; Epic of Gilgamesh

Writing assignment on major accomplishments of Mesopotamian civilizations, first Empires

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

None

3

Ancient Egypt

Standards: 6.13-6.19

Dates of Instruction:

Sept. 17 - Oct. 11

Mapping Upper and Lower Egypt and Nubia

Video clips on the pharaohs, pyramids, and other accomplishments

Graphic organizer and compare/contrast key figures: Queen Hatshepsut, Ramses, Tutankhamun

Creating hieroglyphic messages

Explain the structure of society in Egypt

Close reading of texts about the impact of Ancient Egypt on emerging civilizations

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

None

4

Ancient Israel

Standards: 6.20-6.24

Dates of Instruction:

Oct. 21 - Nov. 7

Mapping ancient Israel and the exodus of the Jews from Egypt to Canaan

Graphic organizer of major figures

Close reading of Ten Commandments

Explain the rise of the first Kings: Saul, David, Solomon

Sequence the events leading to the Babylonian captivity and the return under the Persian Empire

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

None

5

Ancient India

Standards: 6.25-6.30

Dates of Instruction:

Nov. 8 - Dec. 6

Mapping the Indus Valley Civilization

Graphic organizer of major innovations

Graphic organizer of the caste system

Basic principles of Hinduism

Close reading on Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Basic principles of Buddhism – mapping spread to China

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

None

6

Ancient China

Standards: 6.31-6.38

Dates of Instruction:

Dec. 9 - Jan. 16

Mapping China – location of major geographical features

Graphic organizers on Chinese dynasties and social hierarchy

Close reading of Confucius excerpts

Comparison of different philosophical influences like Confucianism and Legalism

Major accomplishment – particularly of Han Dynasty

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

None

7

Ancient Greece

Standards 6.39-6.50

Dates of Instruction:

Jan. 17 - Feb. 21

Mapping Ancient Greece – special emphasis on physical geography leading to formation of city-states

Comparison of Athens and Sparta

Graphic organizer of Greek pantheon

Stories/Myths of the Greeks

Explain the Greek polytheistic religion

Accomplishments of the civilization

Close reading of documents pertaining to the development of democracy

Rise of Alexander the Great – his conquests – spread of Hellenistic culture

Major philosophers (Aristotle, Plato, Socrates), scientists, writers of the Greeks

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

Possible trip to the Parthenon in Nashville

8

Ancient Rome

Standards 6.51-6.62

Dates of Instruction:

Feb. 24 - April. 11

Mapping Ancient Rome – continue mapping the spread of the Empire over time

Reading texts on the origins of Rome and early kings

Rise of the Roman Republic – comparison of Roman government to modern U.S. government

Reading and video about Julius Caesar and his impact and assassination

Explain the importance of Augustus Caesar, the establishment of the Empire, and the Pax Roman

Split of the Roman Empire into East and West and the establishment of Constantinople by Constantine

Rise of Christianity and its effect on the Roman Empire

Major accomplishments – art, architecture, language, government

Overview of Roman pantheon and myths/stories of important gods

Map out and explain the Jewish diaspora

Analyze the fall of the Roman Empire (reasons) and know the establishment and continuation of the Byzantine Empire

Text dependent writing assignments on various topics

Common Unit Assessment

None

9

Post TCAP Unit

April 15-May 21

Review desired standards covered throughout the year

Do a special project/report covering one of the standards or civilizations

Preview of next year’s beginning standards 

None