6th Grade
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
12.8.25
Dear students and families,
Our Mesopotamia Test will take place on Monday, December 15th. To help everyone stay organized, I have created a new section in Google Classroom titled “Mesopotamia Review Materials.” Inside this section, students will find:
The study guide
Two sets of slides (4.1 and 4.2)
The hardcopy/ electronic Mesopotamia Empires packet
The Doodle Notes Narrative Summary
The Brisk AI Chatbot tool, which is overlayed on the slides for guided review and support
Students should also review all previous Mesopotamia quizzes to check their understanding and identify areas they may still need to study.
Please note: We will still be learning some new material this week, so students should continue to stay engaged, take notes, and ask questions.
Thank you for your support at home as we prepare for the test!
12.3.25 Our 6th graders are working through our Mesopotamian Empires and Civilizations unit, studying the Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Neo-Babylonians, Hittites, and Phoenicians. Students are learning about key developments such as law codes, military innovations, trade networks, and advancements in writing and technology.
We anticipate a test toward the end of next week, and we will share the exact date as we get closer and wrap up the final lessons. Students will review vocabulary, guided readings, and notes in class to prepare. Thank you for your continued support at home as they build strong study habits!
11.19.25 This week, students explored daily life in Ancient Mesopotamia. They participated in a hands-on simulation game where they took on the roles of early city-state leaders—balancing their surplus of food and money with their authority and influence. The kids really seemed to enjoy the challenge and strategy involved.
Students also created their own cuneiform tablets to represent early forms of writing. These will be coming home next week.
Next week, we’ll continue our study by examining additional Mesopotamian achievements before moving into the major Mesopotamian empires. Throughout the unit, students may have occasional pop quizzes to check for understanding and reinforce the material taught over several days.
As always, thank you for your support at home!
11.10.25 This week, students are digging into life in Mesopotamia, the world’s first civilization! We’ve explored the geography of the region and how it shaped daily life along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Next, students will examine Mesopotamian religion, study real artifacts from the period, and learn about the structure of their government and society.
11.6.25 Students did very well on their recent unit test! I’ll return and review the tests in class once all absent students have had a chance to make them up.
We are now beginning Chapter 4: Ancient Mesopotamia. Students will be using the online textbook as supplemental material for this unit. All information, assignments, and links are posted in Google Classroom.
I’ve asked all students to try logging in from home to ensure there are no technical difficulties accessing the online textbook or class materials.
10.29.25 Stone Age Comic Book Update
Students have completed their Stone Age Comic Book project, and grades are currently being entered in PowerSchool. You may see a score of “0” for your child at this time — please note that, in most cases, this is only a temporary placeholder. I am currently experiencing technical issues accessing some students’ digital work and have already asked those students to come see me on Monday so I can verify or retrieve their submissions.
This does not necessarily mean your child did not complete the assignment.
It simply indicates that I need to review their work in person to accurately update their grade.
Thank you for your patience as I work through this technical issue, and please encourage your student to see me if they have not already done so.
10.22.25 Due to the school’s new academic grading system, all students are now required to complete a unit test at the end of each major content area. This ensures that students are assessed on overall understanding, not just individual assignments.
📌 For 6th Grade, the upcoming unit test will be on Tuesday, November 4th. I have posted a Unit Study Guide in Google Classroom.
Introduction to Social Studies
Social Studies Skills & Processes
The Stone Age
The GRAPES of Civilization framework
TBD: Mesopotamia
This assessment will help measure students’ mastery of key concepts and skills from our first units of study. A study guide will be provided in advance to support student preparation.
Thank you for your continued support at home!
10.20.25 Students are creating a comic book that illustrates the transition from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age, focusing on how early humans changed through new tools, farming, and permanent settlements.
Students have been given a graphic organizer to guide their planning, and they have ample classroom resources to support their research and accuracy. They will have class time on Monday and Tuesday to work on the project. Any remaining work must be completed at home, and the final comic book is tentatively due on Friday.
Please remind your child to carefully compare each page of their comic to the rubric’s criteria. The rubric clearly outlines what is required for full credit, including accurate historical content, clear comparisons between the two eras, and creative presentation.
Students may complete their comic using StoryBoardThat, Canva, or Google Slides.
10.15.2025 Students should be prepared for a possible Pop Quiz this Friday on Chapter 3.
10.08.25 This week, students are diving into Early Humans (the Stone Age) and the Agricultural Revolution. We are focusing on how humans lived during the Stone Age, the major changes that came with farming, and the vocabulary that helps us understand this important transition in history.
Looking ahead to next week, students will put their learning into action by creating a comic book project. The assignment will challenge them to show the transformation from hunting and gathering to farming communities in a creative and visual way.
10.1.25 Students Chapter 1 Test will be on Monday, October 6th. It is multiple choice and will cover the following topics:
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Calendars
Time: BC, AD, CE, and CE
Archaeology, Anthropology, Paleontology
Artifacts
9.30.25 We are wrapping up Chapter 1. Students should be prepared for an upcoming multiple choice test on the following topics:
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Calendars
Time: BC, AD, CE, and CE
Archaeology, Anthropology, Paleontology
Artifacts
I will let students know the date ASAP.
9.16.25 We recently took a deep dive into what social studies is and its many components. Students have been practicing skills such as analyzing perspective, point of view, bias, reliable vs. unreliable sources, and fact vs. opinion. Next, we will be discussing primary and secondary sources. A quiz will be announced soon (date TBD).
Welcome,
I’m so glad you’re here. This website will be our main hub for communication throughout the year in Social Studies. Here you’ll find updates about what we’re learning in class, important announcements, resources, and reminders. My hope is that this space helps keep you connected to your child’s learning journey and makes it easy for us to stay in touch.
This year 6th grade students will be learning about Ancient Civilizations. Students will have access to an online textbook.
Please note that due to the AOB's Social Studies curriculum change, both 5th & 6th grade students this year will be learning about Ancient Civilizations.
Homework Connection
Homework Connection is offered for both Elementary students (Gr 1-4) and Middle School students (Gr 5-8). Students may work on homework with the help of teachers on duty, if needed. A snack is provided. Interest forms are being sent home with students. If you are interested in Friday sessions, please indicate this on the form.
Download the form for Gr 1-4 HERE. Questions about Elementary Homework Connection? Email Mrs. Bennett or Mrs. Meyer.
Download the form for Gr 5-8 HERE. Questions about Middle School Homework Connection? Email Ms. Westfall.