Indiana 6th Grade Social Studies Standards

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History

• 1 Students explore the key historic movements, events and figures that contributed to the development of modern Europe and America from early civilizations through modern times by examining religious institutions, trade and cultural interactions, political institutions, and technological developments.
  • Early and Classical Civilizations: 1900 BCE to 700 CE
    • 6.1.1 Summarize the rise, decline, and cultural achievements of ancient civilizations in Europe and Mesoamerica.
    • 6.1.2 Describe and compare the beliefs, the spread and the influence of religions throughout Europe and Mesoamerica.
  • Medieval Period: 400 AD/CE to 1500 AD/CE
    • 6.1.3 Explain the continuation and contributions of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
    • 6.1.4 Identify and explain the development and organization of political, cultural, social and economic systems in Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.1.5 Analyze the diverse points of view and interests of those involved in the Crusades and give examples of the changes brought about by the Crusades.
    • 6.1.6 Identify trade routes and discuss their impact on the rise of cultural centers and trade cities in Europe and Mesoamerica.
    • 6.1.7 Describe how the Black Death, along with economic, environmental and social factors led to the decline of medieval society.
    • 6.1.8 Compare the diverse perspectives, ideas, interests and people that brought about the Renaissance in Europe.
    • 6.1.9 Analyze the interconnections of people, places and events in the economic, scientific and cultural exchanges of the European Renaissance that led to the Scientific Revolution, voyages of discovery and imperial conquest.
  • Early Modern Era: 1500 CE to 1800 CE
    • 6.1.10 Examine and explain the outcomes of European colonization as it impacted the Americas including the cultural exchange between Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.1.11 Compare and contrast Spanish, Portuguese, French, and British colonies in the Americas.
    • 6.1.12 Describe the Reformations and their effects on European and American society.
    • 6.1.13 Explain the origin and spread of scientific, political, and social ideals associated with the Age of Enlightenment/Age of Reason.
    • 6.1.14 Describe the origins, developments and innovations of the Industrial Revolution and explain the impact these changes brought about.
  • Modern Era: 1700 AD to Present
    • 6.1.15 Describe the impact of industrialization and urbanization on the lives of individuals and on trade and cultural exchange between Europe and the Americas and the rest of the world.
    • 6.1.16 Discuss the benefits and challenges related to the development of a highly technological society.
  • Chronological Thinking, Historical Comprehension, Analysis and Interpretation, and Research
    • 6.1.17 Create and compare timelines that identify major people, events and developments in the history of individual civilizations and/or countries that comprise Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.1.18 Define and use the terms decade, century, and millennium, and compare alternative ways that historical periods and eras are designated by identifying the organizing principles upon which each is based.
    • 6.1.19 Analyze cause-and-effect relationships, keeping in mind multiple causations, including the importance of individuals, ideas, human interests, beliefs and chance in history.
    • 6.1.20 Differentiate between fact and interpretation in historical accounts and explain the meaning of historical passages by identifying who was involved, what happened, where it happened, and relating them to outcomes that followed and gaps in the historical record.
    • 6.1.21 Form research questions and use a variety of information resources to obtain, evaluate and present data on people, cultures and developments in Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.1.22 Identify issues related to an historical event in Europe or the Americas and give basic arguments for and against that issue utilizing the perspectives, interests and values of those involved.
    • 6.1.23 Using primary and secondary sources to examine an historical account about an issue of the time, reconstruct the literal meaning of the passages by identifying who was involved, what happened, where it happened, what events led to these developments, and what consequences or outcomes followed.
    • 6.1.24 Identify individuals, beliefs, and events that represent various political ideologies during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and explain their significance.

Civics and Government

• 2 Students compare and contrast forms of government in different historical periods with contemporary political structures of Europe and the Americas and examine the rights and responsibilities of individuals in different political systems.
  • Foundations of Government
    • 6.2.1 Compare and contrast major forms of governments in Europe and the Americas throughout history.
    • 6.2.2 Explain how elements of Greek direct democracy can be found in modern systems of government.
    • 6.2.3 Explain how the elements and foundations of Roman representative democracy are present in modern systems of government.
    • 6.2.4 Examine key ideas of Magna Carta (1215), the Petition of Right (1628), and the English Bill of Rights (1689) as documents to place limits on the English monarchy and how they have affected the shaping of other governments.
    • 6.2.5 Define the term nation-state and describe the rise of nation-states headed by monarchs in Europe from 1500 to 1700.
  • Functions of Government
    • 6.2.6 Discuss the impact of major forms of government in Europe and the Americas on civil and human rights.
    • 6.2.7 Identify and describe the functions of international political organizations in the world today.
  • Roles of Citizens
    • 6.2.8 Define and compare citizenship and the citizen’s role throughout history in Europe and the Americas.

Geography

• 3 Students identify the characteristics of climate regions in Europe and the Americas and describe major physical features, countries and cities of Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
  • The World in Spatial Terms
    • 6.3.1 Demonstrate a broad understanding of the countries and capitals of Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.3.2 Identify the four hemispheres of the earth and use latitude and longitude to locate the capital cities of Europe, North America, and South America to show absolute location and relative location to the Earth’s surfaces.
  • Places and Regions
    • 6.3.3 Name and locate the seven continents, the five oceans, and fours hemispheres on a world map. Continents include Africa, Antarctica, Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. Oceans include Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans. Note: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recognizes five Oceans.
    • 6.3.4 Describe and compare major cultural characteristics of regions in Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
  • Physical Systems
    • 6.3.5 Give examples and describe the formation of important river deltas, mountains and bodies of water in Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.3.6 Explain how ocean currents and winds influence climate differences on Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.3.7 Locate and describe the climate regions of Europe and the Americas and explain how and why they differ.
    • 6.3.8 Describe and compare major physical characteristics of regions (biomes) of Europe and the Americas.
  • Human Systems
    • 6.3.9 Identify current patterns of population distribution and growth in Europe and the Americas using a variety of geographic representations such as maps, charts, graphs, and satellite images and aerial photography. Evaluate different push and pull factors that trigger migrations.
    • 6.3.10 Explain the ways cultural diffusion, invention, and innovation change culture.
    • 6.3.11 Differentiate between the terms anthropology, archeology, and artifacts while explaining how these contribute to our understanding of societies in the present and the past.
  • Environment and Society
    • 6.3.12 Compare the distribution and evaluate the importance of natural resources such as natural gas, oil, forests, uranium, minerals, coal, seafood and water in Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.3.13 Explain the impact of humans on the physical environment in Europe and the Americas.
    • 6.3.14 Explain and give examples of how nature has impacted the physical environment and human populations in specific areas of Europe and the Americas.

Economics

• 4 Students examine the influence of physical and cultural factors upon the economic systems of countries in Europe and the Americas.
  • 6.4.1 Give examples of how trade related to key developments in the history of Europe and the Americas.
  • 6.4.2 Analyze how countries of Europe and the Americas have been influenced by trade in different historical periods.
  • 6.4.3 Explain why international trade requires a system for exchanging currency between various countries.
  • 6.4.4 Describe how different economic systems (traditional, command, market and mixed) in Europe and the Americas answer the basic economic questions on what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce.
  • 6.4.5 Compare the standard of living of various countries of Europe and the Americas today using Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita as an indicator.
  • 6.4.6 Analyze current economic issues in the countries of Europe or the Americas using a variety of information resources.
  • 6.4.7 Identify economic connections between the local community and the countries of Europe or the Americas and identify job skills needed to be successful in the workplace.
  • 6.4.8 Define how European and American countries utilize a welfare state system, and then identify ways that societies engage with helpful and harmful externalities in Europe and the Americas.
  • 6.4.9 Explain how saving and investing help increase productivity and economic growth and compare and contrast individual saving and investing options.