Social Studies Curriculum Unit One s1

SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM UNIT ONE

Name: Fairfield Township School District Date: Lesson Title: Early Life Forms-Prehistory Subject: SOCIAL STUDIES Grade Level/Course: Sixth Grade Overview of Unit: Early Life Forms-Prehistory unit will provide a foundation upon for Social Studies. The challenge of understanding the formation of civilization ties to students understanding that in the earliest part of human history, early peoples’ primary goal was survival. Developing a global perspective of how humans came to domesticate plants and animals in specific geographic locations is key to understanding world history. Viewing materials of ancient significance will lead to insight into how simple needs were not as easily accessible as they are today. Interdisciplinary Connections: X Language Arts X Social Studies X Science PE X Art X Technology Music _X Math Other ______Learning Targets

BIG IDEA(S): Early humans and their history of communication, migration, and way of life had an important impact on the history and development of future man and society.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS (Overview)  How were hunters and gatherers able to shift from nomadic cultures to stationary civilizations?  What advancements were developed that permitted the creation of functioning agrarian societies?  Standards: SS6.2,; 6.RH.1; 6.RH.5; 6.RH.7; 6.WHST.1.b; 6.WHST.2.b; 6.WHST.4; 6.WHST.5; S5.4  CPI: 6.2.8.A.1.a; 6.2.8.B.1.a; 6.28.B.1.b; 6.2.8.C.1.a; 6.2.8.c.1.B; 6.2.8.d.1.a; 6.2.8.D.1.b; 6.2.8.D..c (Lesson 1)  What is archaeology and how is it helpful in learning about the past?  What strategies did hunters and gatherers use for survival?  What challenges were faced by hunters and gatherers in relation to climate changes? (Lesson 2)  What tools were used by early man and how useful were the tools?  What typical tools were used during the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras? (Lesson 3)  How did early man communicate prior to the written alphabet?  How are early cave paintings important to interpreting communication amongst early humans?  What coded messages did cave paintings convey? (Lesson 4)  What were the migratory patterns of hunters and gatherers?  What impact did the migratory patterns have on the formation of society?  Why did early humans migrate and where? ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS (Overview)  Early peoples’ discovery of technology, including tools, weapons, domestication of plants and animals, and irrigation, enabled them to establish communities as the foundation of their societies.  By gaining agricultural skills, these peoples increase their ability to maintain food surplus thus redirecting their existence to a broader focus on their civilization. (Lesson 1)  Archaeology is the scientific recovery and study of remains of past human activities, such as burials, fossils, buildings, tools, and pottery.  Hunters and gatherers used different strategies to survive based upon their ways of life.  Hunters and gatherers were faced by challenges in relation to climate changes. (Lesson 2)  Early man developed and used tools to enhance daily life.  Tools developed by early man were useful.  Neolithic and Paleolithic man developed and used different tools typical to their society based upon their place in evolution. (Lesson 3)  Communication prior to a written alphabet was done in a variety of forms.  Ancient cave paintings were used as a communication tool amongst early man. (Lesson 4)  Early humans migrated as a form of survival, to gather food and other needs.  Early humans migrated to various sites in order to sustain life.

UNIT LEARNING TARGETS: Students will be able to… (Overview)  Describe the challenges hunters/gatherers faced by not having an accumulation of food.  Relate technological advancements to agricultural improvements in early civilizations.  Interpret early written communication as it relates to the formation of record keeping.  Demonstrate an understanding of the impact migratory patterns had on the formation of society. (Lesson 1)  Explain what archaeology is and how it is helpful in learning about the past.  Analyze ways that hunters and gatherers survived.  Diagram the challenges faced by hunters and gatherers in relation to climate changes. (Lesson 2)  Identify tools used by early man, and appraise the usefulness of the tools.  Illustrate typical tools that were used during the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras.  Construct a timeline of technology advancements during the beginning of early humans.  Establish understanding that technology is defined as the way humans make the items they use. (Lesson 3)  Recognize that written communication that we know today was not utilized by early peoples.  Identify how and why the remnants of cave paintings are important to understanding early peoples.  Analyze cave paintings and interpret messages conveyed.  Create a story about an event using only student-generated cave paintings. (Lesson 4)  Examine the migratory patterns of hunters and gatherers and the impact they had on the ASSESSMENT PERFORMANCE TASKS:

 Written assessment  Project / Presentation  Teacher created Web Quests  Power Point presentation  Slideshow presentation  Concept Maps  Posters  Writing Prompts  Digital Graphic Organizer

 Migratory Map OTHER EVIDENCE:

 Small group of discussion  Whole group discussion  Student observation  Journal entries  Timelines  Graphs and Tables  Cooperative Groups

LEARNING PLAN Activities Resources (Lesson 1)  Textbooks  Students will complete a writing  Smart board Activities prompt based on information from a  Internet Research website.  Study Guides  Students will research ways hunters  Journals and gatherers were able to find food  Maps and shelter.  Web quests  Students will discuss climate  Project Based Learning changes during the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages.  Digital Graphic Organizers  Students will create a concept map  Educational Videos with information about the challenges  Video Clips / Virtual Tours faced by hunters and gatherers  Netbooks caused by climate change. (Lesson 2)  Students will comprehend why homo- sapiens survived while other forms of early humans did not.  Students will define technology as known to early man and compare this to modern day technology.  Students will conduct an internet search of various common tools used by early humans and discuss their findings.  Students will create a timeline of tools used by early humans. (Lesson 3)  Students will take a virtual tour of ancient caves.  Students will interpret meanings of