Sixth Grade World Cultures

Unit I
My World, My Country, My Home

Unit Overview:
Students will master basic map skills and learn to create charts, graphs and maps to
organize and analyze data. Students will learn to draw conclusions about societies based
upon geographic knowledge about a region. Also, students will understand how physical
processes affect humans and the earth. Lastly, students will analyze why humans modify
the earth to suit their needs.

Enduring Understandings Essential Questions

• Geography helps us understand the
way people live and can influence
how people behave.
• People constantly change the
environment to meet their needs and
desires.
• Physical processes can harm the
earth and can destroy lives.
• Solutions to environmental concerns
can often be tedious and take time to
implement but can offer a better
environment for future generations.
• What is geography?
• Why do people modify their
environment and how does the
environment change people?
• What are some solutions to problems
caused by human interaction with the
Earth?
• How do physical processes such as
hurricanes affect people and the
earth?
• Are human beings more satisfied with
their lives when they modify the
environment to suit their needs?
Why/not?

Assessments:
Transfer Task:
Computer skills, Publisher, ELA, Math

Formative Assessments: Bi-Weekly

• Short answer, multiple choice formats; essay;

differentiated projects

Summative Assessment: End of Quarter

See below description
Key Terms:
• Continent • Rivers • Physical
• Ocean • Valleys maps
• Political maps • Legend • Latitude
• Borders • Islands • Equator
• Hemispheres • scale • Prime
• Mountains • compass meridian
• Physical Maps • cardinal
• Political Maps directions
• Lakes (N,S,E,W)
• Rivers • Longitude
• Latitude
WEEK 1-3: 6.3B: Pose and answer questions about geographic patterns shown on maps; 6.3C:
Compare and contrast regions using maps; 6.7B Identify ways people have modified
environment; 6.5A Explain factors such as location physical features, etc on development (Use
WORLD textbook and Teachers Domain video)

SWBAT:
Design a park to show understanding of regions (World Adventures in Time and Place Book)
Identify and describe the five themes of geography (World Regions book and lesson plan)
Identify and create maps of longitude and latitude (WORLD book)
Create a list of ten cities they would like to visit and locate lat/long of each
Create a brochure and map of their region (home city) and describe its physical and political
characteristics, benefits of region and ethnic group’s prominent

WEEK 4-6: 6.6A: Describe and explain how physical processes such as erosion, ocean
circulation, and earthquakes have resulted in physical patterns on Earth's surface; 6.6C Analyze
effects of physical processes on humans

6.7A: Identify and analyze ways people have adapted to the physical environment in selected
places and regions; 6.7B: Identify and analyze ways which people have modified their
environment; 6.7C: Describe how technology helps to modify environment

SWBAT
(Watch New Orleans Under Threat and Katrina video and oil videos)
(World Regions page 22-25)
Create a poem, song etc that describes a natural disaster and it’s affect on the people and the earth
Survey at least 10 people to see where they are originally from. Graph. Pick one to interview to discover
reasons for migrating.(Tie into migrating form N.O after hurricane)
Identify and analyze ways people modify environment using EXPLORING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
VIDEO and Arctic Climate Perspectives (teachers’ domain)
Diagram connections between environment and inhabitants
Create a technological presentation about an environmental change in your city

SWBAT
WEEK 7-8
Summative Project: Microsoft Publisher
Students will create a region that has been gently modified to assist
humans and nature. Their region will need a name, identify and
analyze how they modified the environment, what they are doing to
protect themselves from physical processes such as hurricanes,
tornados, etc.
Also, students will draw conclusions and make predictions about how
these modifications will affect the future and the world.

The format varies. Along with this, a persuasive essay is written in

order to persuade people to modify their region as well. Students
present at ELA/SS exhibition.
Differentiated Assignments:
Week #1-3
Choose One: 6.3B
Within a group, design your own
region. Decide what landforms you
want to include (valleys, streams,
mountains, etc.) Draw a sketch of
what you want the region to look like
and then create that region out of
molding clay or on a computer.
Include all 5 themes of geography.
Create a brochure (publisher) that
includes a map of your neighborhood.
This map should show where you
house is located and neighborhood
buildings. Next, describe its physical
characteristics that make people
want to live there. What is your
region like?
Choose one: 6.3C
Choose two regions (can be
cities/countries you have visited) and
compare and contrast each region.
This comparison must include
physical characteristics (landforms)
and climate characteristics (hot, cold,
rainy), and cultural characteristics
(languages spoken, traditions, etc).
Use a graphic organizer for your
comparison. Next, write a paragraph
about which region you find most
appealing and why.
List ten cities you would like to visit
and locate the longitude and latitude
of each. Next, choose your favorite
city and write a 250 word essay
describing it, explaining why you
want to visit and how it compares to
where you live now.
Week #4-6
Choose One: 6.6 A Choose One: 6.7 A-C, 6.23A, 6.22d
Compose a poem, song, Student creates a t-chart of at least 10
etc that describes a cause and effects of humans modifying
natural disaster and it’s their environment. The chart is easy to
affect on people and the read and accurate. Next, write an essay
earth. Your poem/song that describes how human activity has
must be at least 10 caused climate changes in great detail
lines and have at least 3 and give a realistic solution to help better
cause/effect examples. our world.
After watching the Students create a photography exhibit
videos about human that shows areas of town that are being
induced climate changes modified by humans. You have at least 7
create a chart on the photographs that show human
computer that describes modification.
5 cause/effect Students explain in writing how the
relationships. Then, modifications have helped and harmed
type a short paper (200 the environment and how they have
words) about how these affected the people who live in the area.
natural disasters could
affect our future and
give a solution to how
to better our world.

Week 7-8: Summative Project!