Social Studies Grade Six

Themes and Concepts

The majority of the concepts identified for Unit 1 are introduced and/or further developed at other grade levels, where they will be dealt with within the contexts of the respective themes.

Major/minor Concepts Grade Levels
4 5 6 7 8 9 Themes for Grades 4 to 9
Gr.4: Saskatchewan Communities Gr.5: The Canadian Identity Gr.6: Canada/Atlantic Neighbors Gr.7: Canada/World Community Gr.8: Individual in Society Gr.9: Roots of Society The themes for Grades 6 and 7 is Canada's relationship with the world. The countries suggested for study include the following: Grade 6: Atlantic Region
Canada (eastern)
U.S.A. (eastern)
Mexico
Jamaica
Nicaragua
Brazil
Argentina
Great Britain
France
Spain
Morocco
Nigeria (West Africa)
Grade 7: Pacific Rim
Canada (western)
U.S.A. (western)
Mexico
Peru
Australia
China
Japan
C.I.S.*
*Commonwealth of Independent States

Location
x

x

x

x

x

x

Earth

x

x

Globe/Map
x

x

x

x

x

Sphere/hemisphere

x

x

axis

x

x

direction

x

x

x

x

rotation/revolution

x

x

x

projection

x

x

Atlases
x

x

x

x

Natural Geography
x

x

x

x

continents

x

x

oceans

x

x

x

geographic features

x

x

x

x

Grid
x

x

x

x

x

Boundaries
x

x

x

x

x

countries

x

x

x

x

province,state

x

x

x

x

Weather/Climate
x

x

x

x

x

temperature

x

x

x

x

precipitation

x

x

x

x

Optional Concepts

Elevation

x

x

x

Longitude/Latitude

x

x

time zones

x

x

Vegetation

x

x

x

desert

x

x

x

grasslands

x

x

x

x

forest

x

x

x

x

rainforest

x

x

tundra

x

x

x

Synopsis

Major/minor Concepts	Grade Levels
4	5	6	7	8	9	Themes for Grades 4 to 9 Gr.4: Saskatchewan Communities Gr.5: The Canadian Identity Gr.6: Canada/Atlantic Neighbors Gr.7: Canada/World Community Gr.8: Individual in Society Gr.9: Roots of Society The themes for Grades 6 and 7 is Canada's relationship with the world. The countries suggested for study include the following: Grade 6: Atlantic Region Canada (eastern) U.S.A. (eastern) Mexico Jamaica Nicaragua Brazil Argentina Great Britain France Spain Morocco Nigeria (West Africa) Grade 7: Pacific Rim Canada (western) U.S.A. (western) Mexico Peru Australia China Japan C.I.S.* *Commonwealth of Independent States
Location	x	x	x	x	x	x
Earth			x	x
Globe/Map	x	x	x	x	x
Sphere/hemisphere			x	x
axis			x	x
direction	x	x	x	x
rotation/revolution			x	x		x
projection			x	x
Atlases	x	x	x	x
Natural Geography	x	x	x	x
continents			x	x
oceans		x	x	x
geographic features	x	x	x	x
Grid	x	x	x	x	x
Boundaries	x	x	x	x	x
countries		x	x	x	x
province,state	x	x	x	x
Weather/Climate	x	x	x	x	x
temperature	x	x	x	x
precipitation	x	x	x	x
Optional Concepts
Elevation		x	x	x
Longitude/Latitude			x	x
time zones			x	x
Vegetation		x	x	x
desert		x	x	x
grasslands	x	x	x	x
forest	x	x	x	x
rainforest			x	x
tundra		x	x	x

This unit introduces the students to some basic skills/abilities in reading maps and globes. With a focus on Atlantic region countries, students will study natural geography, cartographic systems, and political divisions as shown on various types of globes and maps. They will learn the relative location of the countries listed above, and will understand how location, climate, geographical features, and vegetation are interrelated.

Skills/Strategies

Opportunities for Integration

Discuss, describe
Participate
(independent/group)
Compare, interpret
(ideas/information)
Brainstorm
Locate (globes, maps)
Locate, gather, organize,
present (information)
Imagine, predict
Read
Link (relationships) Skills and strategies may be supported in all subjects.
Language Arts:Readings that describe environment in countries under study. Related writing projects, opportunity for resource-based projects.
Science: Units that support the concepts include Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Exploring Space, Ecosystems, Earth's Climate.
Math: Spatial/numerical relationships - scale, direction, Approximate numbers, graphs, timelines, temperature, precipitation.
Arts Ed: Opportunities for expressive and responsive art activities related to the concepts in this unit.