1. Unit 1 Connecting Themes Used in 6th Grade Social Studies
Lesson 1

2. What is the purpose of this unit?
Introduce the 8 themes covered this year.
Conflict & Change
Culture
Governance
Human Environmental Interaction
Location
Movement & Migration
Production, Distribution, & Consumption
Time, Change, & Continuity
Investigate the structures of the basic forms of government.
Explain the three major economic systems and factors that influence economic growth.

3. Student Learning Map (SLM)
What is this?
Your guide to the entire unit
Learning targets
Vocabulary terms
Word wall graphic organizer
THIS IS YOUR STUDY GUIDE
Each map is a divider for your notebook
Each map is color-coded
Everything goes behind the SLM
KEEP EVERYTHING IN YOUR NOTEBOOK

4. Let’s Get Started! – Today’s Agenda
Opening
First 4 themes
Whole class discussion (defining the themes)
Work Session
Small group rotation (discussing the themes)
How do the themes relate to you? (group response)
Making it personal
Closing
Share your work – support each other

5. Today’s Themes Conflict & Change Governance Culture
Human / Environmental Interaction

6. Conflict & Change
When there is conflict between or within societies, change is the result.

7. 10 minutes With your group … Select your role time keeper writer
Discuss and record your responses to the following:
How does conflict with your friends change your friendship?
What conflict have you experienced in your life and what change occurred?
Why is there change when have have conflict between or within societies?
Why does change always follow conflict?
Select your role
time keeper
writer
director
speaker
If you are working on your own please post your response to these on KidBlog

8. Culture
The culture of a society is the product of the religion, beliefs, customs, traditions, and government of that society.

9. With Your Group … You have 10 minutes
What are the elements of culture?
What are the characteristics of your society’s culture?
How does religion affect culture?
Why do societies have cultural conflict?
What cultural conflicts have you seen within your school and in the united states?
How can government actions (like laws) affect the culture of a society?
Discuss / write / prepare to share
You have 10 minutes
If you are working on your own please post your response to these on KidBlog

10. Governance
As a society increases in complexity and interacts with other societies, the complexity of the government also increases.

11. Take 10 minutes to discuss, write, and prepare to share.
With Your Group …
Take 10 minutes to discuss, write, and prepare to share.
In what way do the rules in sports get more complex at different levels (from midget football to the NFL)?
How has your school responded to your growth as an individual society?
Why do you think society has changed as government has become more complex?
How does government react when complex societies interact or combine?
If you are working on your own please post your response to these on KidBlog

12. Human / Environmental Interaction
Humans, their society, and the environment affect each other.
How cool are these manmade islands!

13. With your group …
Discuss / Write / Share
10 minutes
How does a society adapt to its environment? (i.e. foods you eat, clothes you wear, jobs, etc.)
Why would a society change its environment?
What are the consequences (positive and negative) of human environment interactions?
How have you experienced human environmental interactions?
If you are working on your own please post your response to these on KidBlog

14. Think about what you have discussed.
Select ONE writing prompt and explain ...
How conflict and change relates to my life.
How culture relates to my life.
How governance relates to my life.
How human / environmental interaction relates to my life.
If you are working on your own please post your response on KidBlog

15. Options to keep the momentum going!
Don’t let your hard work go to waste! Be sure to let me know what you did by posting on Edmodo or KidBlog!
You earn rewards for your initiative, but your ultimate reward is gaining a greater depth of knowledge.
Talk about what we did today when you get home! This is your chance to brag about your knowledge. 
Check out Edmodo … tomorrow’s lesson is available today and instructions have been posted!
Watch a video to reinforce today’s lesson. (it’s on Livebinders - check your technology sheet for access directions)