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While thousands of curriculum resources can be found on the Internet, teachers have little time to explore them and determine which ones are worth using.
On the following pages are several Internet sites, each with a fully developed lesson plan and/or activity that focuses on a topic of the Sixth Grade Social Studies Core.
Course Description: Students will focus on time, people, and places along a historical continuum from the rise of civilization to the modern day. One-third of the year should be spent in the study of ancient cultures, one-third in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and one-third in the study of modern Europe. The influence of ancient cultures and European ideas on western civilization makes the sixth grade world connection. Using life, process, and character skills, sixth graders will gain a comprehensive awareness of the changes in our world throughout time. They will explore the beginnings of our governance system and practice the democratic process.
Archeology
STANDARD: 6060 – 01. Students identify the sequence of events that led to the establishment of ancient civilizations.
Ancient Egypt
STANDARD: 6060 – 01: Identify the sequence of history in the Fertile Crescent and ancient Egypt.
STANDARD: 6060 – 04: Students explore the cultures of ancient civilizations.
Egypt Webquest
This is an extensive site where students complete 6 missions dealing with Ancient Egypt. This could be used as it is presented as a large unit or students could use the site to gather information. Students complete 6 missions that will lead them to the answers to these questions:
- What was daily life like for the people of Ancient Egypt?
- Why did the people of Ancient Egypt make mummies?
- What were Ancient Egyptian tombs built for?
- How did Ancient Egyptians communicate with each other in writing?
- Why is King Tut so crucial to our modern understanding of Ancient Egyptians?
Ancient Egypt
Information is presented in several categories: Egyptian life, geography, gods and goddesses, mummification, pharaohs, pyramids, temples, time, and trades. Each category includes background information, a story, an exploration activity, and a challenge. (The challenge requires Shockwave.) This would be a good site for students to work in expert groups to gather information.
Explore the Pyramids
What can be more fascinating than exploring the mystery
and ruins of Ancient Egypt? National Geographic offers
this online activity to learn about the pyramids--who
built them and how? Who were these kings? Step inside
the Pyramid of Djoser, the Maidum Pyramid, the Bent and
Red Pyramids of Snefru, or the Great Pyramid for an in-
teractive reconstruction, map, and timeline in this won-
derful online journey.
Virtual Ancient Egypt Tours
Tours of King Tut's tomb, the Great Pyraminds, and Mummies.
Empires: A Study of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome
You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy
Get ready...as a wealthy ancient Egyptian, you are about to drop dead! To enter the afterlife, your body must go through extraordinary processes
to become a MUMMY.
Just for fun, your class can find out how to mummify a chicken.
Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome
6060-0103: Trace the development of ancient Greece and Rome.
- Examine the sequence of events that led to the development of democracy in ancient Greece.
- Analyze the events that led to the rise and fall of ancient Rome.
6060-0402: Explore the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome.
- Compare life in Athens and Sparta; e.g., government, recreation, religion, arts, theatre, science.
- Describe life in ancient Rome; e.g., government, religion, recreation, art.
- Examine man-made structures of Rome; e.g., aqueducts, roads, Coliseum.
Ancient Greece
This is an east-to-read page that is broken into categories. Students can gather information for a poster or other project. Have students gather information on a graphic organizer.
Archaeological Adventures in Greece
On this adventure students will discover some interesting background information on archaeology and on the ancient civilization of Greece. They will learn what archaeology is, howarchaeologists go about their work, and what they uncover on their digs. In addition, they will learn what ancient Greece was like thousands of years ago. Students will work in groups. Each individual group member will explore web sites chosen to provide them with information on archeology or ancient Greece. Because these are real web sites, not pages designed just for this adventure, the reading level might be challenging.
Odyssey Online
Odyssey Online is a journey to explore the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Winged Sandles
Take the tour with Hermes the messenger god, through a magical place
filled with awesome gods, daring heroes and fabulous monsters.
This site was designed to take advantage of the latest technologies and "inspire a thirst for the classics in a new generation." Of particular interest is the Who's Who in Classical Mythology which was created to complement this site. There are interactive activities, games, and goodies.
The Romans
This is an easy-to-read page that is broken into categories. Students can gather information for a poster or other project. Have students gather information on a graphic organizer.
Journey Back in Time to Ancient Rome
In this WebQuest students will work in groups to create a Travel Log
about their trip back in time to Ancient Rome to share with the whole class.
Also, ach group member will take notes on individual tablets during the journey back in time to Ancient Rome. Once that task is completed, each member will share their discoveries with the other group members.
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator
Watch out...as a barbarian fighting against the Romans you are about to be captured, sold as a slave and trained to become a ROMAN GLADIATOR.
Trading Card Ideas: Determine important components of ancient civilization such as language, government, dress, culture, and religion. Research ancient Greece and ancient Rome to learn about each of these categories. Create a set of trading cards for each civilization. Use this information to identify similarities and differences between these ancient civilizations.
Post Card Ideas: Develop a postcard that highlights one item that is used in daily life in either ancient Greece or ancient Rome. Describe how this item is used while writing to someone in a different culture and ask how the item might be used by them.
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The Middle Ages
6060-0501: Describe life under the feudal system.
6060-0502: Explore the impact of inventions and new knowledge leading to and during the Renaissance.
6060-0503: Examine social and economic issues of Europe from 1700-1900.
The Middle Ages
In film and in literature, medieval life seems heroic, entertaining, and romantic. In reality, life in the Middle Ages, a period that extended from approximately the fifth century to the fifteenth century in Western Europe, was sometimes all these things, as well as harsh, uncertain, and often dangerous. Through this Annenberg/CPB site, students work in groups to explore and gather information on Feudal Life, Religion, Homes, Clothing, Health, Arts & Entertainment, and Town Life.
Castle Builder
The purpose of this lesson is to enable students to gain insight into the daily life of the a Medieval Welsh society. Through the overall task of building a castle according to a medieval lord's specifications, students will gain a superficial understanding of Monarchy, Feudalism, serfdom. (Teacher notes are extensive)
Creating a Medieval Village
In this webquest, students work as a team to research and develop a model for
a medieval village, create a brochure, and present their ideas in a slide show. Students assume the roles of architect, costume designer, anthropologist 1, and anthropologist 2.
Medieval Madness
In this webquest, five adventurers teleported through time will work in a group to produce anj original newspaper for Medieval England. Each adventurerer will need to contribute a specified number of researched articles to the newspaper. Using their knowledge of newspaper tyle and technology, they will inform, advertise, and entertain the masses.
The Renaissance
6060-0502: Explore the impact of inventions and new knowledge leading to and during the Renaissance.
The Renaissance
During the Renaissance, Europe emerged from the economic stagnation of the Middle Ages and experienced a time of financial growth. Also, and perhaps more importantly, the Renaissance was an age in which artistic, social, scientific, and political thought turned in new directions. At this Annenberg/CPB site students will work in groups as they explore and gather information about the transition from the Middle Ages, Exploration and Trade, Printing and Thinking, Symetry, Shape and Size, with a particular Focus on Florence.
Virtual Renaissance
This is an extensive site where students take on the role of apprentice then master for one of the various guilds that existed during the Renaissance period. This could be developed into a larger unit or used as a resource for gathering information.
Additional Resources
Start out at the Jordan District Social Studies Page.
Additional resources can be found on the USOE Social Studies Home Page, including a list of children's literature appropriate for 6th grade studies.
UEN has a wealth of matrials linked directly to 6th Grade Social StudiesCore Curriculum. Here you will find USOE Approved Lesson Plans, MarcoPolo Lesson Plans, Educational Links, and Videos. Log on to www.uen.org, and do a search for Social Studies and 6th Grade.
Visit the Weber American History Alliance, a smorgasboard of history sites.
Surf the Ages
Use this special feature from the World Book Encyclopedia to dip into imaginary news sites from Ancient Times, The Middle Ages, or Modern Times. Then, link to dozens of e-zines, want ads, bookstores, and other types of simulated Web sites, written from the perspective of the time. Each site presents real history, mixed with imagination. Click on View from Today for a current perspective.
Two other must-visit sites are history and social studies at Edsitement: The National Endowment for the Humanities, and Expeditions, the geography site from National Geographic.
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