1. 6th Grade Social Studies
Connecting Themes Enduring Understandings
This ppt is modified from the Georgia Department of Education Enduring Understandings ppt

2. Activator Think, Pair, Share
List every movie that you can think of that has something to do with one of the following topics:
Sports; Fairytales; Superheroes; Monsters; War; Biographies
Instructional Approach(s): The goal of this activator is to engage students and get them thinking about the concept of a theme. Allow students to share responses. Ask questions that focus on similarities and differences between movies. For example, if a students selects sports then the movie could be about baseball, football, soccer, etc. Ask students to identify the “message” of the movie. This should help to identify the appropriate theme of the movie. Point out that some movies may have more than one message or theme!

3. What does the word “theme” mean?
Think, Pair, Share
What does the word “theme” mean?
Instructional Approach(s): Have students turn to a partner and discuss the question on the slide. Partners can be determined by the students or the teacher can provide more specific directions such as turn to the person directly in front/behind you or to the right/left of you, etc. It may be necessary to have a group of three if you have an uneven number of students. Do not allow more than 30 seconds to 1 minute of discussion time. The teacher should be walking around listening and redirecting discussions as needed. The teacher can briefly discuss student responses.

4. In social studies, we will refer to themes as Enduring Understandings.
A “theme” is a big idea.
In social studies, we will refer to themes as Enduring Understandings.
Enduring Understandings are the big ideas that you should be able know and apply to any social studies topic.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should present the information on the slide

5. In 6th grade social studies, there are 8 Enduring Understandings that we will use throughout the year to make connections between topics.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should present the information on the slide

6. Time, Change, Continuity Conflict & Change Governance
6th Grade Enduring Understandings
Production, Distribution, Consumption
Movement/ Migration
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should introduce the eight Enduring Understandings.
Human Environmental Interaction
Culture
Location 6

7. Enduring Understandings Matching Activity
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should facilitate the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity [linked on the resource page] in which students match an Enduring Understanding with its description and images that illustrate the Enduring Understanding.

8. Location affects a society’s economy, culture, and development.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Location. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, WH, USH, WG 8

9. Location
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

10. Human Environmental Interaction
Humans, their society, and the environment affect each other.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Human Environmental Interaction. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: 6, 7, WG 10

11. Human Environmental Interaction
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

12. Culture
The culture of a society is the product of the religion, beliefs, customs, traditions, and government of that society.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Culture. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: K, 1, 6, 7, WH, USH, WG 12

13. Culture
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

14. Movement/ Migration
The movement or migration of people and ideas affects all societies involved.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Movement/Migration. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, WH, USH 14

15. Movement/Migration
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

16. Conflict & Change
When there is conflict between or within societies, change is the result.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Conflict & Change. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, WH, USH, WG 16

17. Conflict & Change
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

18. Governance
As a society increases in complexity and interacts with other societies, the complexity of the government also increases.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Governance. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: 6, 7, WH 18

19. Governance
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

20. Time, Change, Continuity
While change occurs over time, there is continuity to the basic structure of a society.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Time, Change, Continuity. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: K, 1, 2, 6, 7, WH 20

21. Time, Change, Continuity
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

22. Production, Distribution, Consumption
The production, distribution, and consumption of goods/services produced by the society are affected by the location, customs, beliefs, and laws of the society.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the slide to introduce the Enduring Understanding of Production, Distribution, Consumption. The grades or courses where the Enduring Understanding appears: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, USH, WG 22

23. Production, Distribution, Consumption
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the images on the slide [from the Enduring Understandings Matching Activity] to illustrate the Enduring Understanding identified

24. Where do these concepts fit?
Presidential Democracy
Air Pollution
Cold War
Judaism
European Union
Cuba
Deforestation
Nuclear Disaster
Amazon River
Cuban Revolution
Currency Exchange
Great Barrier Reef
Autocratic
Islam
Natural Resources
NAFTA
World War I
Exploration & Colonization
Trade Barriers
Specialization
Instructional Approach(s): Ask students to PREDICT which theme these topics will match.