COURSE TITLE: 2024-2025 6th Grade Social Studies - World History

PROJECT MANAGER: Curtis Strong

PHONE: 505-891-0757 x 605           

EMAIL: [email protected] 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  (Link to course descriptions)  Welcome to 6th Grade Social Studies at the ASK Academy! This course will take you on an exploration of human history from prehistoric times to the medieval period. We will delve into various civilizations, understand their cultures, technological advancements, and their influence on our present world. This course will help you develop critical thinking, research, and presentation skills through various projects and inquiries.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:  

• Participation: Engage actively in all class activities and discussions.

• Respect: Show respect for classmates' ideas and cultural perspectives.

• Collaboration: Work effectively in groups, sharing tasks and supporting each other.

• Responsibility: Complete assignments on time and take initiative in your learning.

STANDARDS:  This course is aligned with the New Mexico Public Education Standards. The New Mexico Standards for the Teaching of 6th Grade Social Studies can be found on pages 37-43 of the following document: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NM-Standards-508.pdf 

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION: 

Quarter Grades: 

Classwork/Quizzes - 40%    Homework -  30%    Projects and Tests - 30%

Semester Grades - Scholar’s semester grades will be calculated as follows:

Quarter 1 – 40%      Quarter 2 – 40%      Semester Final – 20%

Quarter 3 - 40% Quarter 4 - 40% Semester Final - 20%

 GRADING SCALE:   The grading scale will follow the ASK Academy standards:

A+ = 96-100 % 

A = 90-95 %

B = 80-89 %

C = 70-79 %

N/C (No credit) = Below 70 %

HOMEWORK POLICY: Complete assignments on time and take initiative in your learning process.

LATE WORK POLICY: Scholars will be given an automatic deduction of 10% for any assignment turned in after the assigned due date. A “0” will be given on the due date and will be replaced with the score received after submission of the assignment. Any late work must be submitted by the following dates in accordance with progress reports and report cards being finalized. 

• • August 27th (All work prior to this date is due)

  • October 2nd (All work prior to this date is due)

  • November 5th (All work prior to this date is due)

  • December 13th (All work prior to this date is due)

  • January 28th (All work prior to this date is due)

  • February 28th (All work prior to this date is due)

  • April 1st (All work prior to this date is due)

  • May 16th (All work prior to this date is due)

ATTENDANCE: Scholars are expected to arrive on time (8:00AM) and properly prepared for their day. Please contact The ASK Academy on the website at: https://www.theaskacademy.org and click the Attendance link on the home page or call 505-891-0757 to notify us of your scholar’s absence.

ABSENCES: Notify the project manager by email. Assignments and due dates will be agreed upon by the scholar and the project manager. Agreed upon due dates must be met or zeros will result. 

PROJECT EXPECTATIONS:

• Participation: Engage actively in all class projects and group discussions.

• Respect: Show respect for classmates' ideas and cultural perspectives.

• Collaboration: Work effectively in groups, sharing tasks, completing assigned work, and supporting each other.

• Responsibility: Complete assignments on time and take initiative in your learning process.

2024-2025 SEMESTER 1*:  

Unit 1: Prehistoric Period (August - October)

Period Time Frame: Earliest human existence to 3000 BCE

Key Characteristics:

• Lack of Written Records
• Hunter-Gatherer Societies
• Development of Agriculture
• Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages

Instructional Time Frame:

• Week 1-2: Introduction to Prehistoric Period
• Week 3-4: Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages

• Week 5-6: Development of Agriculture and Early Civilizations

Key Activities and Resources:

• Compelling and Supporting Questions: Develop questions about early human survival using the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's resources.

• Gather and Evaluate Sources: Distinguish fact from opinion using articles from Archaeology Magazine.

• Geography and Historical Thinking: Study how natural forces shaped early human environments using National Geographic resources.

• Diversity and Identity: Compare lifestyles of different hunter-gatherer groups using BBC Bitesize.

Example Project: Create a digital timeline illustrating the technological advancements from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.

Unit 2: Ancient Period (October-December)

Period Time Frame: 3000 BCE to 500 CE

Key Characteristics:

• Emergence of Writing
• First Civilizations
• Early Empires
• Political and Social Systems
• Religious and Philosophical Systems

Instructional Time Frame:

• Week 1-2: Emergence of Writing and First Civilizations
• Week 3-4: Early Empires and Religious Systems
• Week 5-6: Decline of Ancient Civilizations
• Week 7: Midterm Preparation and Midterm Exam

Key Activities and Resources:

• Construct Questions: Generate questions about ancient Egyptian civilization using Stanford History Education Group resources.

• Locate Sources: Research ancient Greek history using The British Museum's online collection.

• Geography and Historical Thinking: Create maps of ancient trade routes using Google Earth.

• Diversity and Identity: Explore the cultural impact of ancient river valley civilizations using Khan Academy.

Example Project: Compare and contrast the agricultural practices of the Maya and the Inca civilizations.

2024-2025 SEMESTER 2*:

Unit 3: Classical Period (January-March)

Time Frame: 8th century BCE to 476 CE

Key Characteristics:

• Classical Civilizations
• Philosophy and Science
• Art and Architecture
• Political Systems

Instructional Time Frame:

• Week 1-2: Classical Civilizations and Exchange of Ideas
• Week 3-4: Political Systems and Religious Perspectives
• Week 5-6: Cultural Consequences and Declines

Key Activities and Resources:

• Distinguish Sources: Identify primary and secondary sources related to the Persian Wars using the National Archives.

• Develop Claims: Cite evidence to support claims about the Peloponnesian War using Purdue OWL.

• Communicate Conclusions: Create digital presentations on the achievements of the Roman Empire using Google Slides.

• Civic and Political Institutions: Compare political structures of classical eastern and western societies using Oxford Research Encyclopedia and University of Pennsylvania resources.

Example Project: Create an infographic comparing the political structures of Athens and Sparta using Piktochart.

Unit 4: Medieval Period (March-May)

Period Time Frame: 476 CE to 15th century CE

Key Characteristics:

• Feudalism
• Christianity and Islam
• Medieval Kingdoms and Empires
• Medieval Culture and Scholasticism
• Viking Age

Instructional Time Frame:

• Week 1-2: Feudalism and Cultural Interactions
• Week 3-4: Cultural Exchanges and Conflicts
• Week 5-6: Environment and Urbanization
• Week 7-8: Preparation and Final Exam

Key Activities and Resources:

• Communicate Conclusions: Present on the spread of Islam using Google Slides.

• Create Infographics: Design a chart showing the hierarchical structure of feudal societies using Piktochart.

• Informed Action: Research and connect personal family traditions to broader historical practices using FamilySearch.

• Environmental Impact: Investigate how medieval agricultural practices affected the environment using National Geographic.

Example Project: Compare strategies used by medieval civilizations to maintain their empires using resources from Britannica.

*Subject to change

Grades - Scholars will send grade check emails to parents/guardians through their Fundamental Connection class on Tuesdays, but, please, check PowerSchool regularly. If your scholar has C’s or below in Math, English Language Arts, or any other course they should come to Friday support and check in with the appropriate project manager for help.

Late Work - Scholars will be given an automatic deduction of 10% for any assignment turned in after the assigned due date. A “0” will be given on the due date and will be replaced with the score received after submission of the assignment. Any late work must be submitted by the following dates in accordance with progress reports and report cards being finalized. 

• August 27th (All work prior to this date is due)
• October 2nd (All work prior to this date is due)
• November 5th (All work prior to this date is due)
• December 13th (All work prior to this date is due)
• January 28th (All work prior to this date is due)
• February 28th (All work prior to this date is due)
• April 1st (All work prior to this date is due)
• May 16th (All work prior to this date is due

Plagiarism - Will not be tolerated. Any assignment with suspected plagiarism will receive a zero.  Plagiarism includes:  to take a test in a dishonest way, copying somebody’s homework, or by improper access to answers on classroom assignments, tests or homework, copying work done by somebody else or artificial intelligence and claiming it to be your own. This includes parents completing assignments for the scholar. Plagiarism also applies when work is taken from another source without acknowledging that it is another person’s work. It applies to documents, excerpts from documents, theories, calculations, drawings or any other creation that is not completely the scholar's original work. If another person’s work is used, it must be cited appropriately (we will go over this in class). Cutting and pasting without citation is plagiarism (especially with the advent of Chat GPT, Google Bard, and many other Artificial Intelligence powered search engines and websites.

Cell Phone Policy - Cell phones are not to be used in class without Project Managers approval. Scholars are expected to keep their cell phone turned off and in their backpack at all times including before school, passing period and at lunch. 

If a Scholar does not follow the 6th grade ASK Academy policy… 

• 1st Offense - Project Manager will keep the cell phone until the end of the class period.
• 2nd Offense - Project Manager will turn the cell phone into the front office and the scholar can pick it up at the end of the school day.
• 3rd Offense - Project Manager will turn the cell phone into the front office and the Scholars parent will have to pick up the cell phone.

**8 to 4 is a long day. Please make sure your scholar is eating a healthy breakfast everyday, either brings lunch money or packs a lunch, and brings a midday snack. Also, hydration is key. Please make sure your scholar brings a refillable water bottle every day.

ASK Academy scholars are expected to arrive on time (8:00AM) and be adequately prepared for their day. All scholars who arrive past 8:03 AM to their first period class must have a pass from the front office. Tardy scholars must be signed in by parents at the front office. Please contact The ASK Academy on the website at: https://www.theaskacademy.org and click the Attendance link on the home page or call 505-891-0757 to notify us of your scholar’s absence. 

The Academy requires that all scholars wear a prescribed uniform. 

Tops (Shirts) – All scholars must wear an ASK polo shirt, with the ASK logo, purchased from an approved ASK vendor. The color of the ASK polo shirt identifies the scholar with their selected career pathway.  Polo shirts will not be overly baggy, nor exceedingly tight. Shoulder seams must be at the shoulders, and shirts cannot hang down below mid-thigh level.  Middle School – Red or Light Blue  High School –  Biomedical Sciences – Dark Green or Purple  Engineering and Design – Royal Blue or Burgundy  Bottoms (Pants) –  Allowable pants/slacks of solid color (khaki or black) and should meet our uniform expectations. They should be of a non-stretch, khaki or similar material.  No shorts, skorts, skirts, cargo pants (pants with many pockets) are allowed.  No excessive “sagging” is allowed. Inseam of pants must be where legs and torso join.  Excessively tight pants such as spandex, yoga pants, leggings, sweat pants or other non-uniform fabrics are not allowed. 

Footwear

 Scholars must wear closed-toe shoes at all times at the Academy (no sandals, flip-flops, crocs, open back shoes, slippers, or shoes made out of foam are allowed). Please remember that our learning spaces have sharps, blades, power tools, solvents, and acids so adherence to this policy is a priority. No head wear Hats, bandanas, beanies, headbands with extraneous distractors, etc. including sweatshirt hoods, are not allowed inside the Academy. Exemptions for headwear that may be required for religious reasons will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Outerwear 

Jackets will not qualify as a replacement to an ASK polo. Jackets may be worn as long as they have a zipper front and are not excessively baggy (shoulder seams are at the shoulders and cannot hang below mid-thigh level). When worn inside, jackets must allow full view of the ASK polo (be worn unzipped indoors). Scholars can wear sweatshirts and hoodies under, but not over the ASK polo. Please remember that the ASK polo is one of our layers of security. Clothing or jewelry that are determined to pose a risk to potential injury while in the learning environment will not be permitted. Attire or accessories which advertise, display or promote any drug, alcohol, tobacco, gang, sexual activity, violence, disrespect or bigotry towards any group, or items that are associated with a gang are not permitted. All attire should be suitable for a professional environment.