Modern World Cultures Mrs. Rogers Class

6th Grade Social Studies Newsletter

Modern World Cultures – Mrs. Rogers’ class.

This is a newsletter to update you on what we have been doing for the first part of the school year and what is to come ahead. At the beginning of the year, we discovered the world around us – oceans and continents and then narrowed our sights on our differing neighborhoods and immediate surroundings. It was interesting to discover the pros and cons of living in rural and urban areas.

We formed our own globes and analyzed different maps around our room and on Google maps while getting to know the world. Finally we dove into the study of India and China with the focus on “economic powerhouses.” Some of our enduring understanding and essential questions during our studies were/are: Governance – There are many different forms of government. Who has the power, how did they get it, and what form does it take?

Interdependence and Sustainability – The exchange of goods and services between people and nations creates interdependence. Countries gain power and wealth by supplying the demands of other countries. Tensions exist between economic development and environmental concerns. What are the opportunities and challenges of trading with other countries? How does a country become a force in the global economy? How does a country sustain its needs and grow without harming the environment or well-being of its citizens? Environment and Health – The topography, climate, and natural resources of a region influence the culture, economy, and lifestyles of the inhabitants. How does where you live affect how you live?

Cultures and Societies – People in societies behave differently based on the traditions and beliefs. Diversity of population influences a society’s politics, economy, and culture. What happens when vastly different cultures interact? How does my nationality, ethnicity, or belief system influence my life?

In India, students will: Create a timeline of the events leading to India’s independence to now; Label a map of the independence and partition period with India, East Pakistan and West Pakistan; Explain the importance of Gandhi to Indian Independence; Evaluate the British plan for partition and independence of the Indian colony; Compare and contrast major religions of the subcontinent; Describe the population dynamic in India; Explain India’s role in the global economy (IT); Explain why India is emerging as an important country to the US and the world.

In China, students will: Compare and contrast China’s one child policy with population issues in other countries; Examine the restrictions placed on Chinese citizens by their government in relation to cultural/religious expression; Compare and contrast forms of government in the U.S. and China; Compare and contrast free market and planned economic systems; Explain the relationship between industrialization in China and growing environmental concerns for Chinese citizens and the larger global environment; Analyze China’s population dynamic.

After our studies of India and China, students will take assessments that test their skills and knowledge. Vocabulary words and maps should be memorized. Students will write short answer essays using detailed answers. Study guides will be given a week in advance and completely discussed before the tests. Answers to the study guides can be found on the homework page after the study guides are due. Students are required to keep their Social Studies sections in numerical order – neat and organized. Students SHOULD NOT throw anything away until I tell them to do so. They will refer to their handouts to complete their study guides.

At the end of our study of China, students will apply their writing skills and use facts from China to write an essay. Students will be scored twice – once for writing skills and once for facts used about China. All prep work and writing will take place in school.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me!

Mrs. Rogers

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