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 * 6th Grade Social Studies with Ancient Times **

__**Theme 1:**__ //Happy Days...or are they?: Social Stratification.// Feudalism was prominent during the European Middle Ages, which gave each citizen a ranking within the social class structure. It is important for students to understand how this hierarchy system worked so that they may make educated decisions in the future regarding their own class ranking here in America. This unit will cover topics such as power, obligation, and goods & services. We will also evaluate the Roman social hierarchy of the plebeian and patrician classes that led to an increasingly unequal distribution of wealth and economic choice for citizens. Essential or Highlighted Individuals: Core Texts:
 * 1) Socrates- was a greek philosopher whose ideologies and approach have proven as a strong foundation for much of Western philosophy. He was also the first to try and to answer some difficult questions such as, "What is wisdom?" and "What is beauty?" and "What is the right thing to do?" He knew that these questions were hard to answer, and he thought it would be better to have a lot of people from different social classes discuss the answers together, so that they might come up with more ideas, thus socratic seminar. Students would be interested to learn how one person incorporated people from many social classes into his studies.
 * 2)  Noam Chomsky- is an American [|linguist], [|philosopher] , [|cognitive scientist] , [|historian] , [|logician] , [|social critic] , and [|political activist] . Sometimes described as "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is also a major figure in [|analytic philosophy] , and one of the founders of the field of [|cognitive science] . In his youth, Chomsky developed a dislike of [|capitalism] and the [|selfish] pursuit of material advancement. He also has a documentary on Netflix called “Requiem for the American Dream” where he reveals the unfortunate cycle of social class, and how hard it is to break the cycle. Students would be interested to learn how the American hierarchy system works, and if there is a way to break the cycle.
 * 3) Plebians- in ancient Rome this class was known as being members of the lower social class. Plebeians were average working citizens of Rome – farmers, bakers, builders or craftsmen – who worked hard to support their families and pay their taxes. Over the course of this period, early forms of public welfare were established and in difficult times, plebeians could ask Roman administrators for help. Although they were comprised of the working class, they were fairly organized, holding their own meetings and electing their own officials to try and combat unfairness from the Roman Empire. Students would be interested to know how the lower class just the power of numbers to get what they wanted.
 * 1) This Is Where It Ends, by Marieke Nijkamp- This book is about a school shooting in an Alabama High School. It tells the story of a young boy, angered by the unfair world he lives in, who locks the doors to the auditorium while everyone is there for an assembly and threatens to shoot those who do not cooperate. The students can relate to this story because of its realistic features, and gain insight on the anger that is built up in someone from consistently being put down.
 * 2)  [|__Noam Chomsky Info__] - This website will provide students with a look into the life of Noam Chomsky. Here they will have access to books he has written, interviews he has participated in, lectures and seminars he has spoken at, and debates that he has lead. His insight on the social class issues found on this website will provide students with a deepen understanding on how he has come to certain conclusions regarding the hierarchy in America.
 * 3)  [|__Plebs info__] - This article explains what a pleb was, their role in the ancient greek society, and how they overcame many of the stereotypes placed upon them. Students will find this website useful when understanding the life of a plebeian, their political beliefs, as well as learning about some of the challenges that they faced.

Essential or Highlighted Individuals: Core Texts:
 * __Theme 2:__ ** //Game of Thrones: Empires and Political Power.// The word power is thrown around a lot these days, especially when it comes to politics. In this unit we will explore topics such as invasions, conquests, migrations, and the evolution of laws and legal systems in various civilizations. Analyze the aristocracies, oligarchies, and democracies of ancient Greece and the reasons for their use.
 * 1) Adolf Hitler- Students will learn about how Hitler created his massive empire rule over the Jewish community in Europe.
 * 2) Martin Luther King Jr.- Students will learn about how he inspired the nation to end racism and risked his life for his beliefs.
 * 3) Hillary Rodham Clinton- Students will learn of her role as first lady, U.S. senator, Secretary of State, and current Presidential candidate.
 * 1)  The Greek City States, by P.J. Rhodes- This book will give insight on how political activity and political thinking began in the cities and other states of ancient Greece.
 * 2)  [|__Political Parties Cartoon__] - This cartoon showcases a young boy telling his father what he learned in school about the election. It emphasizes that the media is as much a part of the election as any other political party.
 * 3) Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer- This novel intrigues young readers by exposing them to a young girl's journey and battle against a corrupt mayor, while trying to ensure that good prevails over evil.

__**Theme 3:**__ //But first, let me take a selfie: Ancient culture & identity.// Students will analyze how cultural expressions reflect the values of civilizations, societies and regions. Core Texts:
 * 1)  Michelangelo- one of the greatest artistic geniuses who ever lived. His works are numerous, and include The David, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the Pieta.
 * 2) Leonardo DaVinci- He was a leading artist and intellectual of the Italian Renaissance becoming a painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, military engineer and draftsman.
 * 3)  William Shakespeare- often called the English national poet, is widely considered the greatest dramatist of all time.
 * 1)  The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson- The students will read about America’s biggest migration, along with the struggles of daily life that formed the culture of many African Americans.
 * 2)  [|__Culture Cartoon__] - This cartoon displays the differences between two different cultures, exposing what each one considers acceptable.
 * 3) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert- This will take the students on a journey across the world seen through the eyes of a recently divorced woman who has been re-invigorated by experiencing different cultures.

__**Theme 4:**__ //Back to the Future: Industrial technology & innovation.// Student will learn how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time. Essential or Highlighted Individuals: Core Texts:
 * 1) Steve Jobs- He changed the way Americans live their lives by introducing the iphone and it’s advanced offerings.
 * 2) Isaac Newton- English physicist and mathematician who was a key figure in the scientific revolution and who is most famous for formulating laws of gravity.
 * 3) Reed Hastings- Co-founder of Netflix, which has changed the way we watch movies and T.V shows.
 * 1)  Creating the Twentieth Century: Technical Innovations of 1867-1914 and Their Lasting Impact, by [|Vaclav Smil-] This book highlights the beginnings of the inventions we love most of the twentieth century.
 * 2)  [|__How Apple Makes Their Products__] - This is an article about how/where Apple makes their products and why.
 * 3)  [|__Facebook Article__] - This article explains the reasons why Mark Zuckerberg created the social media site we all know as Facebook.

__**Theme 5:**__ //A world of law, order, and religion: Christianity, Mythology, Islam, Budhism & 5 Pillars.// Students will learn of the impact the size and structure of the Roman Empire had on the global spread of the Christian religion. Essential or Highlighted Individuals: Core Texts:
 * 1) Jesus- The son of God, who walked the Earth and died for our sins.
 * 2) Romulus & Remus- Romulus and Remus were twin brothers. Romulus is given the credit for founding Ancient Rome.
 * 3) Mother Teresa- the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor.
 * 1)  [|__Mother Teresa Website__] - This website will give students an overview of the life and workings of Mother Teresa.
 * 2)  [|__History of Christianity__] - This website gives an overview of the Christian faith.
 * 3)  [|__Romulus & Remus__] - This site contains a magnitude of information regarding the identity, life, and power of these twin brothers.

Essential or Highlighted Individuals: Core Texts:
 * __Theme 6__ ** **:** //Oh the places you will go: Geography.// This unit will help students determine the geographic advantages of the Western and Eastern worlds and their impact on the exchange of people, goods, and ideas.
 * 1) John Smith- a British soldier who was a founder of the American colony of Jamestown in the early 1600s.
 * 2) Alexander the Great- served as king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 B.C. During his time of leadership, he united Greece, reestablished the Corinthian League and conquered the Persian Empire.
 * 3) Christopher Columbus- Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the "New World" of the Americas on an expedition sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492.
 * 1)  [|__American Exploration Cartoon__] - gives a fun look at how America was discovered.
 * 2)  [|The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome] by S. Wise Bauer- A narrative history showing common threads in many different cultures.
 * 3)  [|The Fourth Part of the World] by Toby Lester- A fun book filled with an old map that leads you to strange places and tells the history of migrations.