Warwick School District

Curriculum❯Social Studies 06

Social Studies 06

Grade Levels: 06 |

Course Description

Social studies instruction is tied directly to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards related to History, Geography, Civics & Government, and Economics. The curriculum focuses on the 4 standard areas as it builds and broadens in scope from grade to grade. Sixth grade students will learn about relevant map skills, the five themes of geography, and regions of the word to include Asia and Africa.

Core Curriculum Content Standards

PA Common Core: Mathematics (2013)

  • Algebraic Concepts

    • GRADE 6

      • Understand the process of solving a one-variable equation or inequality and apply to real-world and mathematical problems.(2.2.6.B2)

PA Common Core: History and Social Studies (2012)

  • Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with focus on textual evidence.

    • GRADES 6-8

      • Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.(8.5.6-8.D)

Civics and Government (2009-2012)

  • Principles and Documents of Government

    • GRADE 6

      • Explain the effect of the rule of law in protecting property rights, individual rights, and the common good.(5.1.6.A)
      • Compare and contrast a direct democracy with a republican form of government.(5.1.6.B)
      • Explain how the principles and ideals shape local, state, and national government. -Liberty / Freedom -Democracy -Justice -Equality(5.1.6.C)
      • Explain the basic principles and ideals within documents and the roles played by the framers as found in significant documents: -Declaration of Independence -United States Constitution -Bill of Rights -Pennsylvania Constitution(5.1.6.D)
      • Summarize individual rights guaranteed by the PA Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.(5.1.6.E)

  • Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

    • GRADE 6

      • Compare and contrast rights and responsibilites of citizenship in the community, state, and nation.(5.2.6.A)

  • How Government Works

    • GRADE 6

      • Describe the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government.(5.3.6.A)
      • Define and compare the role and structure of local, state, and national governments.(5.3.6.B)
      • Describe the voting process, including registration, primaries, and general elections.(5.3.6.E)
      • Describe the influence of mass media on society.(5.3.6.H)
      • Explain what taxes are and why they are necessary.(5.3.6.I)

  • How International Relationships Function

    • GRADE 6

      • Identify how countries have varying interests.(5.4.6.A)

Economics (2009-2012)

  • Scarcity and Choice

    • GRADE 6

      • Explain how limited resources and unlimited wants cause scarcity.(6.1.6.A)
      • Compare ways that people meet their needs with how they meet their wants. Describe how resources are combined to produce different goods and services(6.1.6.B)
      • Define opportunity cost and describe the opportunity cost of personal choice.(6.1.6.C)
      • Identify incentives that affect personal choices.(6.1.6.D)

  • Markets and Economic Systems

    • GRADE 6

      • Describe the interaction of consumers and producers of goods and services in the state and national economy.(6.2.6.A)
      • Explain how advertising influences economic decisions.(6.2.6.C)
      • Describe how prices influence both buyers and sellers and explain why prices may vary for similar products.(6.2.6.D)
      • Explain the influence of private economic institutions on the local and state economy.(6.2.6.F)
      • Examine how various economic systems address the three basic questions. - What to produce? - How? - For whom?(6.2.6.G)

  • Functions of Government

    • GRADE 6

      • Examine government's role in providing public goods and services.(6.3.6.A)
      • Explain the cost and benefits of taxation.(6.3.6.C)

  • Income, Profit, and Wealth

    • GRADE 6

      • Describe how the availability of goods and services is made possible by the work of members of the society.(6.5.6.A)
      • Explain the concept of labor productivity.(6.5.6.B)
      • Explain how profits and losses serve as incentives.(6.5.6.D)
      • Describe how people accumulate tangible and intangible assets.(6.5.6.E)
      • Explain the role of the entrepreneur in Pennsylvania.(6.5.6.F)
      • Identify the costs and benefits of saving.(6.5.6.G)
      • Explain the differences between interest rates for saving and borrowing.(6.5.6.H)

Geography (2009-2012)

  • Basic Geographic Literacy

    • GRADE 6

      • Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environment.(7.1.6.A)
      • Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.(7.1.6.B)

  • Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

    • GRADE 6

      • Describe the characteristics of places and regions.(7.2.6.A)
      • Describe the physical processes that shape patterns on Earth’s surface.(7.2.6.B)

  • Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

    • GRADE 6

      • Describe the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria: -Population -Culture -Settlement -Economic activities -Political activities(7.3.6.A)

  • Interactions Between People and the Environment

    • GRADE 6

      • Describe and explain the effects of the physical systems on people within regions.(7.4.6.A)
      • Describe and explain the effects of people on the physical systems within regions.(7.4.6.B)

History (2009-2012)

  • Historical Analysis and Skills Development

    • GRADE 6

      • Explain continuity and change over time using sequential order and context of events.(8.1.6.A)
      • Differentiate between fact and opinion, multiple points of view, and primary and secondary sources to explain historical events.(8.1.6.B)

  • United States History

    • GRADE 6

      • Explain the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups to United States history.(8.3.6.A)
      • Explain the importance of significant historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.(8.3.6.B)
      • Explain how continuity and change have impacted U.S. history. - Belief systems and religions - Commerce and industry - Technology - Politics and government - Physical and human geography - Social organizations(8.3.6.C)
      • Explain how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the history and development of the U.S. - Ethnicity and race - Working conditions - Immigration - Military conflict - Economic stability(8.3.6.D)

  • World History

    • GRADE 6

      • Explain the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups to world history.(8.4.6.A)
      • Identify and explain the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and sites which are critical to world history.(8.4.6.B)
      • Explain how continuity and change have impacted world history. - Belief systems and religions - Commerce and industry - Technology - Politics and government - Physical and human geography - Social organizations(8.4.6.C)
      • Examine patterns of conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations that impacted the development of the history of the world.(8.4.6.D)

Career Education and Work (2002)

  • Career Awareness and Preparation

    • GRADE 8

      • Relate careers to individual interests, abilities, and aptitudes.(13.1.8.A)
      • Relate careers to personal interests, abilities and aptitudes.(13.1.8.B)
      • Analyze the relationship of school subjects, extracurricular activities, and community experiences to career preparation.(13.1.8.F)

  • Career Acquisition (Getting a Job)

    • GRADE 8

      • Identify effective speaking and listening skills used in a job interview.(13.2.8.A)
      • Prepare a draft of career acquisition documents, such as, but not limited to: -Job application -Letter of appreciation following an interview -Letter of introduction -Request for letter of recommendation -Resume(13.2.8.C)
      • Explain, in the career acquisition process, the importance of the essential workplace skills/knowledge, such as, but not limited to: -Commitment -Communication -Dependability -Health/safety -Laws and regulations (that is Americans With Disabilities Act, child labor laws, Fair Labor Standards Act, OSHA, Material Safety Data Sheets) -Personal initiative -Self-advocacy -Scheduling/time management -Team building -Technical literacy -Technology(13.2.8.E)

  • Career Retention and Advancement

    • GRADE 8

      • Determine attitudes and work habits that support career retention and advancement.(13.3.8.A)
      • Analyze the role of each participant’s contribution in a team setting(13.3.8.B)
      • Explain and demonstrate conflict resolution skills: -Constructive criticism -Group dynamics -Managing/leadership -Mediation -Negotiation -Problem solving(13.3.8.C)
      • Analyze budgets and pay statements, such as, but not limited to: -Charitable contributions -Expenses -Gross pay -Net pay -Other income -Savings -Taxes(13.3.8.D)
      • Identify and apply time management strategies as they relate to both personal and work situations.(13.3.8.E)

Economics (2026)

  • Fundamentals of Economics

    • Grades 6 to 8

      • Describe and identify the characteristics of traditional, command, and market systems.(6.1.6-8.A)
      • Explain how traditional, command, and market economies answer the basic economic questions: What goods and services should be produced? How will goods and services be produced? Who will consume goods and services?(6.1.6-8.B)
      • Describe ways to deal with scarcity within various communities.(6.1.6-8.C)
      • Explain that scarcity is the condition of not having all the goods and services wanted because resources are limited.(6.1.6-8.D)
      • Explain how resources can be used in different ways to produce different goods and services.(6.1.6-8.E)
      • Describe how specialization may lead to increased production and consumption.(6.1.6-8.I)

  • Microeconomics

    • Grades 6 to 8

      • Explain the flow of goods, services, and resources in an economy.(6.2.6-8.A)
      • Describe the advantages and disadvantages of competition for consumers in markets.(6.2.6-8.B)
      • Identify historical examples of monopolies in the United States.(6.2.6-8.C)
      • Explain how supply and demand affect the prices of goods and services.(6.2.6-8.D)
      • Explain how the location of resources, transportation, and technology have affected United States economic patterns.(6.2.6-8.E)
      • Define wages and explain how wages are determined by the supply of and demand for workers.(6.2.6-8.F)
      • Describe how productivity is measured and identify ways in which a person can improve his or her productivity.(6.2.6-8.G)
      • Explain how profits and losses serve as incentives.(6.2.6-8.I)
      • Investigate leading entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania and the United States and describe the characteristics of successful entrepreneurship (including risks and rewards).(6.2.6-8.J)

  • Macroeconomics

    • Grades 6 to 8

      • Define macroeconomic indicators such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), gross domestic product (GDP), and unemployment rate.(6.3.6-8.A)
      • Describe historical examples of expansion, recession, and depression in the United States.(6.3.6-8.B)
      • Define the three different types of tax structures (progressive, proportional, and regressive) and different tax bases, such as income, wealth, property, etc.(6.3.6-8.E)
      • Analyze the economic roles of governments in market economies in promoting growth and stability and providing legal frameworks (laws and regulations).(6.3.6-8.G)
      • Identify policies governments can use to address unintended consequences (i.e., externalities) of market activities.(6.3.6-8.H)
      • Explain why the government provides public goods and services (e.g., education, infrastructure, national defense, safety and health).(6.3.6-8.I)

  • Money & Economic Institutions

    • Grades 6 to 8

      • Identify and explain various forms of payments used in markets.(6.4.6-8.A)
      • Explain why you have to exchange currencies to purchase goods when you visit another country.(6.4.6-8.B)
      • Explain how banks and other financial institutions channel funds from savers to borrowers and investors.(6.4.6-8.D)
      • Explain the history, structure, and purposes of the Federal Reserve System.(6.4.6-8.E)
      • Explain the impact of higher or lower interest rates for savers, borrowers, consumers, and producers.(6.4.6-8.G)

Units

Unit #1 - Geographer's World

Unit #2 - Canada and the United States

Unit #3 - Economics

Unit #4 - Africa

Unit #5 - Southwest and Central Asia

Course Resources

JA BizTown- Economics All Lessons- Resources provided from Junior Achievement of SCPA
TCI Unit 1: Geographer's World Lessons 1-3
TCI Unit 2: Canada and the United States 4-11
TCI Unit 5: Africa Lessons 25-30
TCI Unit 6: Southwest and Central Asia Lessons 30-34
Discovery Ed (Optional)
PBS- clips and information on National Parks https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-national-parks/
A Long Walk to Water (optional ELA tie in)
When Stars are Scattered (optional ELA tie in)
Britannica (optional)
Culture Grams
US & Canada The Wild Robot (2024) Explores the description of physical geography and the impact of human-made technology on natural ecosystems.
Africa Queen of Katwe Provides a portrait of human geography and the impact of environmental factors on standard of living in Uganda.
Africa The Color of Friendship Provides a portrait of Aparthaid
East Asia The Way Home (2002) Illustrates how population density and physical processes impact human characteristics and standard of living.