Ms. Knoles, Social Studies, 6th

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Geography Unit Social Studies

Dear Families, 

 We are excited to begin our Social Studies unit! Here is a quick look at what your child will be learning and how you can support their learning at home. 

Dates of Unit:
August 17 - September 11

A study of human and physical geography in the Western Hemisphere. 

 

Standards We Are Learning 
  • This unit is guided by Geography Standards 1 and 2.  Economics Standard 1b is also integrated as it connects to how resources impact interdependence between regions/countries.  The connected literacy standard for this unit is RH.7- as it asks students to integrate graphs, maps and charts with written information to increase understanding.  

Students will learn to: 
  • use a map to identify absolute location (longitude and latitude) and relative location
  • describe how people adapt to their physical environment.
  • analyze connections between human and physical systems.
  • analyze maps to describe physical characteristics of a place, and issues endemic to that place.
  • identify and explain why certain jobs are located where they are. 
 
Essential Questions 
  • How does where you live affect how you live?
Throughout this unit, students will think about: 
  • examples of geographic problems. 
  • there are different types of maps that provide different information. 
  • the Five Themes of Geography
    • Location
    • Place 
    • Region 
    • Human Environment Interaction
    • Movement 
 
 
Unit Overview 
 
In this unit, students will learn about Geography: 
 

The focus of this unit is to build basic geographic skills that can be carried throughout the subsequent units.  Students will be exposed to various types of maps that will help them describe the physical place and the impacts the physical environment has on life.

 
Key Vocabulary:
Please encourage your child to use these words when talking about geography
  • latitude/longitude
  • absolute and relative location
  • 5 Themes of Geography
    • movement
    • location
    • region
    • place
    • human/environment interaction
How Will We Know What Students Understand? 
  • Students understanding be done through getting the information down by taking notes.
  • Then using that information by showing their learning through a project.  The project may be individual, partner or with a group. 
 Students will demonstrate their learning through: 
 
☐ Class discussions  
☐ Hands-on activities and models 
☐ Independent practice 
☐ Quick checks/exit tickets 
☐ Written explanations 
 
Try It at Home! 
 
Here are a few simple ways you can reinforce this unit at home: 
 
Ask your child:
“What is the difference between Latitude and Longitude?” 
"Describe where our house is using absolute and then relative location."
"Give me an example of each of the 5 Themes of Geography for Colorado."
 
 
 
Thank You for Partnering With Us! 
 
Your encouragement and conversations at home make a difference. Thank you for supporting your child's learning! 

August 3-7

Welcome to 6th grade Social Studies. 
 
This week we will be talking about expectations and the four structures of SS; Geography, History, Economics and Civics which will be the focus this year. 
 
We start the year with Geography and having a foundation of how Geography helped in shaping our world. 
 
The students will create a space showing me what they know about Geography while using a map.