Civics

Grade Level: 6th Grade

Subject: Social Studies 

Time Frame: 5 weeks (February/March)

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Big Understandings

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- investigate how societies create different economic systems in the Western Hemisphere
- analyze the relationship of different nations in the Western Hemisphere
- systems of government in the Western Hemisphere

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Essential Questions

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- how do different systems address the production of goods?
- how are scarce resources distributed in different types of economic systems?
- how do different economies control the means of production and distribution of goods and services?
- what does it mean to live in an interconnected world?
- how can you be a productive member of the global community and a contributing citizen of the United States?
- why are there greater challenges and opportunities when multiple groups interact?
- why do national and global viewpoints sometimes differ?
- how do you define good government?
- what evidence can you find of effective and ineffective governments in the past and the present?
- what would a government look like if you created it?
- what are the consequences if a government does not provide for the common good?

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By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

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- describe how economic systems in the Western Hemisphere (such as traditional, command, market, and mixed) allocate resources
- use economic reasoning to explain how specialization of production can result in more interdependence (international trade patterns)
- discuss advantages and disadvantages of living in an interconnected world
- examine changes and connections in ideas about citizenship in different times and places in the Western Hemisphere
- describe how groups and individuals influence governments within the Western Hemisphere
- explain how political ideas and significant people have interacted, are interconnected, and have influenced nations
- analyze political issues from national and global perspectives over time
- identify historical examples illustrating how people from diverse backgrounds in the Western Hemisphere perceived and reacted to various global issues
- describe different systems of government in the Western Hemisphere
- identify how different systems of government relate to their citizens in the Western Hemisphere
- compare the economic components of the different systems of government in the Western Hemisphere
- compare the various governments and citizens' liberties in the Western Hemisphere

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Topics:

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◦ Connections between the United States and other countries in the Western Hemisphere- governmental and economic 
◦ exploring multiple governmental systems- democracy, monarchy, and authoritarian 
◦ economic implications of different forms of government 
◦ liberties of citizens in different governmental systems 
◦ examine how political issues look from different perspectives- both national and global 
◦ exploring the global consequences of personal choices and national actions  
rights, roles, and responsibilities of citizens 
◦ explore how what it means to be a citizen changes over time and in different areas/regions

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Standards

SS.6..3.2
SS.6.4.1
SS.6.4.2