Essential Question: What are the themes of Social Studies and how are they interrelated?

Focus of the Unit:

The focus of this important first unit is on the themes and enduring understandings rather than specific standards. These connecting themes will be integrated in multiple units throughout the sixth and seventh grade social studies curriculum. Understanding of these themes will be linked to students’ own experience and knowledge as well as lay the foundation for the rest of the sixth and seventh grade social studies courses. At the conclusion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate an  effective use of the enduring understandings and can apply them to their daily lives. 

Conflict and change- The student will understand that when there is conflict between or within societies, change is the result.

Culture-The student will understand that the culture of a society is the product of the religion, beliefs, customs, traditions, and government of that society. 

Governance- The student will understand that as a society increases in complexity and interacts with other societies, the complexity of the government also increases.

Human environmental interactions- The student will understand that humans, their society, and the environment affect each other.

Location- The student will understand that location affects a society’s economy, culture, and development. 

Movement and Migration- The student will understand that the movement or migration of people and ideas affects all societies.

Production, Distribution and consumption- The student will understand that the production, distribution, and consumption of goods/services produced by the society are affected by the location, customs, beliefs, and laws of the society.​

​Time, change and continuity-The student will understand that while change occurs over time, there is continuity to the basic structure of that society. 

Gain from trade- The student will understand that parties trade voluntarily when they expect to gain.

Scarcity- The student will understand that scarcity of all resources forces parties to make choices and these choices always incur a cost 

How does this video help explain the themes of culture as well as movement and migration?

References:

BBC Country Profiles Information and maps of countries of the world http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/default.stm

National Geographic Maps, Interactive political, physical, and thematic maps http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids-world-atlas/maps.html

https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/Social-Studies-Grade-6.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvFl6UBZLv4&feature=youtu.be 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yBzxC9eoog&feature=youtu.be 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh_x5nUkhUo&feature=youtu.be 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJdT6QcSbQ0&feature=youtu.be