Six Themes of Social Studies

Geography Characteristics of a physical place location physical features (rivers, mountains, etc.) and empire boundaries Ways that environment affects human life Ways that humans change the environment Movement of people, goods & ideas from place to place

Society & Culture Way of life that a society or group shares the way people act the way people express themselves the way they are organized into social classes (hierarchy)

Economics Ways that people use limited resources to satisfy needs and desires Ways that societies produce wealth and organize labor how people earned money (trading, industry, merchants)

Government System of laws and authority that a society uses to guide or control its members rules and laws rulers and ruling families

Belief Systems Often religions Systems of ethics shaping daily life belief in a god or gods Systems of ethics shaping daily life principles of right and wrong

Science & Technology Improved methods of doing things Discoveries and inventions architecture, engineering, art, literature, language