Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Sixth Grade

Other Tennessee Social Studies sets

Social Studies Practices

  • 1

    Collect data and information from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including:SSP.01

    1. 1

      Printed materialsSSP.01.1

    2. 2

      Graphic representationsSSP.01.2

    3. 3

      ArtifactsSSP.01.3

    4. 4

      Media and technology sourcesSSP.01.4

    5. 5

      Oral HistorySSP.01.5

  • 2

    Critically examine a primary or secondary source in order to:SSP.02

    1. 1

      Extract, summarize, and paraphrase significant ideas and relevant informationSSP.02.1

    2. 2

      Distinguish the difference between fact and opinionSSP.02.2

    3. 3

      Recognize author’s purpose and point of view, and potential biasSSP.02.3

    4. 4

      Draw logical inferences and conclusionsSSP.02.4

    5. 5

      Assess the strengths and limitations of argumentsSSP.02.5

  • 3

    Synthesize data from multiple sources in order to:SSP.03

    1. 1

      Recognize differences among multiple accountsSSP.03.1

    2. 2

      Establish validity by comparing and contrasting multiple sourcesSSP.03.2

    3. 3

      Frame appropriate questions for further investigationSSP.03.3

  • 4

    Construct and communicate arguments by citing supporting evidence to:SSP.04

    1. 1

      Demonstrate and defend an understanding of ideasSSP.04.1

    2. 2

      Compare and contrast viewpointsSSP.04.2

    3. 3

      Illustrate cause and effectSSP.04.3

    4. 4

      Predict likely outcomesSSP.04.4

    5. 5

      Devise new outcomes or solutionsSSP.04.5

    6. 6

      Engage in appropriate civic discourseSSP.04.6

  • 5

    Develop historical awareness by:SSP.05

    1. 1

      Recognizing how and why historical accounts change over timeSSP.05.1

    2. 2

      Perceiving and presenting past events and issues as they might have been experienced by the people of the time, with historical empathy vs. present mindednessSSP.05.2

    3. 3

      Evaluating how unique circumstances of time and place create context and contribute to action and reactionSSP.05.3

    4. 4

      Identifying patters of continuity and change over time, making connections to the presentSSP.05.4

  • 6

    Develop geographic awareness by:SSP.06

    1. 1

      Using the geographic perspective to determine relationships, patterns, and diffusion across space at multiple scalesSSP.06.1

    2. 2

      Determining the use of diverse types of maps based on their origin, structure, context, and validitySSP.06.2

    3. 3

      Analyzing locations, conditions, and connections of places and use maps to investigate spatial relationshipsSSP.06.3

    4. 4

      Analyzing interaction between humans and the physical environmentSSP.06.4

    5. 5

      Examining how geographic regions and perceptions of the regions are fluid across time and spaceSSP.06.5

Foundations of Human Civilization: c. 10,000-3500 BC: Students will learn time designations, and analyze the development and characteristics of civilizations, including the effects of the Neolithic Revolution.

  • 1

    Interpret a timeline using time designations and abbreviations, including:6.01

    1. 1

      BC/BCE6.01.1

    2. 2

      AD/CE6.01.2

    3. 3

      Circa (i.e., c. or ca), decades, centuries6.01.3

  • 2

    Describe the characteristics of Paleolithic societies, including:6.02

    1. 1

      Basic hunting weapons6.02.1

    2. 2

      Fire6.02.2

    3. 3

      Nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles6.02.3

    4. 4

      Shelter6.02.4

    5. 5

      Tools6.02.5

  • 3

    Explain the impact of the Neolithic Revolution, including:6.03

    1. 1

      Agriculture6.03.1

    2. 2

      Domestication of plants and animals6.03.2

    3. 3

      Emergence of permanent settlements6.03.3

    4. 4

      Food surpluses6.03.4

    5. 5

      Increased Barter economy6.03.5

    6. 6

      Labor specialization6.03.6

    7. 7

      New sources of clothing and shelter6.03.7

  • 4

    Identify and explain the importance of the following key characteristics of civilizations:6.04

    1. 1

      Culture6.04.1

    2. 2

      Government6.04.2

    3. 3

      Religion6.04.3

    4. 4

      Social structure6.04.4

    5. 5

      Stable food supply6.04.5

    6. 6

      Technology6.04.6

    7. 7

      Writing6.04.7

  • 5

    Identify and locate on a map geographical features of ancient Mesopotamia, including: 6.05

    1. 1

      Euphrates River6.05.1

    2. 2

      Mediterranean Sea6.05.2

    3. 3

      Persian Gulf6.05.3

    4. 4

      Tigris River6.05.4

    5. 5

      Zagros Mountains6.05.5

  • 6

    Analyze how geographic (e.g., rivers, mountains) and climatic features (e.g., heavy rains, flooding) led to the region being known as the Fertile Crescent. 6.06

  • 7

    Explain how irrigation, metallurgy, use of animals, and inventions such as the wheel, sail, and plow led to advancements in agriculture.6.07

  • 8

    Analyze how advancements in agriculture led to economic growth, expansion of trade and transportation, and the emergence of independent city-states (e.g., Ur of the Chaldees).6.08

  • 9

    Explain the basic concepts of monarchy and empire, and identify Mesopotamia as the world’s first empire.6.09

  • 10

    Describe the social hierarchy of ancient Mesopotamian society.6.10

  • 11

    Explain the concept of polytheism in Mesopotamia, with respect to beliefs about the relationship of deities to the natural world and their importance in everyday life.6.11

  • 12

    Identify important achievements of the Mesopotamian civilization, including cuneiform, clay tablets, and ziggurats, and identify the Epic of Gilgamesh as the oldest written epic.6.12

  • 13

    Analyze the impact of the Code of Hammurabi, including the introduction of written law and basic principles of justice.6.13

Ancient Egypt: c. 3000-700 BC: Students will analyze the geographic, political, economic, and cultural structures of ancient Egypt.

  • 14

    Identify and locate on a map geographical and political features of ancient Egypt, including:6.14

    1. 1

      Mediterranean Sea6.14.1

    2. 2

      Nile Delta6.14.2

    3. 3

      Nile River6.14.3

    4. 4

      Nubia6.14.4

    5. 5

      Red Sea6.14.5

    6. 6

      The regions of Upper and Lower Egypt6.14.6

    7. 7

      The Sahara6.14.7

  • 15

    Explain how agricultural practices impacted life in ancient Egypt, including the use of irrigation and development of a calendar.6.15

  • 16

    Describe the social structure of ancient Egyptian society, including: 6.16

    1. 1

      How social classes were organized by occupation6.16.1

    2. 2

      Role of enslaved people6.16.2

    3. 3

      Position of pharaoh as a god-king6.16.3

  • 17

    Explain the concept of polytheistic religion in ancient Egypt, with respect to the beliefs about the afterlife and reasons for mummification. 6.17

  • 18

    Analyze the impact of key figures from ancient Egypt, including:6.18

    1. 1

      Growth under the leadership of Queen Hatshepsut and her economic policies6.18.1

    2. 2

      Significance of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb on the understanding of ancient Egypt6.18.2

    3. 3

      Ramses the Great’s military conquests leading to growth of the kingdom6.18.3

  • 19

    Analyze the achievements of ancient Egypt, including hieroglyphics, papyrus, and structures at Giza (i.e., the pyramids and Sphinx). 6.19

  • 20

    Examine the relationship between ancient Egypt and Nubia, including cultural diffusion through trade and conflict.6.20

Ancient Israel: c. 2000-500 BC: Students will analyze the geographic, political, economic, and cultural structures of ancient Israel.

  • 21

    Identify and locate on a map geographical and political features of ancient Israel, including:6.21

    1. 1

      Dead Sea6.21.1

    2. 2

      Jerusalem6.21.2

    3. 3

      Jordan River6.21.3

    4. 4

      Mediterranean Sea6.21.4

    5. 5

      Red Sea6.21.5

    6. 6

      Sinai Peninsula6.21.6

  • 22

    Analyze the development of the ancient Israelites, and explain the reasons for their movements from Mesopotamia (i.e., Ur of the Chaldees) to Canaan (later called Israel), from Canaan to Egypt, and from Egypt back to Canaan.6.22

  • 23

    Describe the origins and central features of Judaism:6.23

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): Abraham, Moses6.23.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: The Tanakh (i.e., Hebrew Bible, including the Torah)6.23.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: monotheism, Ten Commandments, emphasis on individual worth and personal responsibility6.23.3

  • 24

    Identify the importance of Saul as the first king of Israel, David as the second king who founded Jerusalem as the capital, and Solomon as the third king who built the first temple.6.24

  • 25

    Explain the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities and exiles after the breakup of the Kingdom of Israel, and the return of the Jews to their homeland under the Persian Empire.6.25

Ancient India: c. 2500-400 BC: Students will analyze the geographic, political, economic, and cultural structures of ancient India.

  • 26

    Identify and locate on a map geographical and climatic features of ancient India, including:6.26

    1. 1

      Ganges River6.26.1

    2. 2

      Himalayan Mountains6.26.2

    3. 3

      Indian Ocean6.26.3

    4. 4

      Indus River6.26.4

    5. 5

      Monsoon winds6.26.5

    6. 6

      Subcontinent of India6.26.6

  • 27

    Analyze the Indus River Valley civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro as early agricultural civilizations, and describe their achievements, including: 6.27

    1. 1

      Architecture built with bricks6.27.1

    2. 2

      Well planned grid system of roads6.27.2

    3. 3

      Sanitation and sewer systems6.27.3

  • 28

    Describe the effects of the Aryan migration into India, including changes to religion, social structure, and language.6.28

  • 29

    Describe the social structure of the caste system, and explain its effect on everyday life in ancient India.6.29

  • 30

    Describe the origins and central features of Hinduism:6.30

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): origins in Aryan traditions6.30.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: The Vedas6.30.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: dharma, karma, reincarnation, and moksha6.30.3

  • 31

    Describe the origins and central features of Buddhism:6.31

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)6.31.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: Tripitaka6.31.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Nirvana6.31.3

  • 32

    Analyze the achievements of ancient India, including medical education, medical techniques, yoga as a Hindu practice, and mathematics (e.g., Hindu-Arabic numerals).6.32

Ancient China: c. 2500 BC-200 AD: Students will analyze the geographic, political, economic, and cultural structures of ancient China.

  • 33

    Identify and locate on a map geographical features of ancient China, including:6.33

    1. 1

      Gobi Desert6.33.1

    2. 2

      Himalayan Mountains6.33.2

    3. 3

      Pacific Ocean6.33.3

    4. 4

      Plateau of Tibet6.33.4

    5. 5

      Yangtze River6.33.5

    6. 6

      Yellow River6.33.6

  • 34

    Explain the origin of ancient China's civilizations in the Yellow River Valley (e.g., Xia and Shang Dynasty).6.34

  • 35

    Analyze how China's geography made governing difficult and influenced isolation from the rest of the world. 6.35

  • 36

    Describe the concepts of the Mandate of Heaven, it's origin in the Zhou Dynasty, and how Legalism emerged as a solution to cultural, geographic, and political challenges. 6.36

  • 37

    Explain the significance of the unification of ancient China into the first Chinese empire by Qin Shi Huangdi, beginning the Qin Dynasty, including building projects (e.g., the Great Wall, roads and canals), and a standardized writing system.6.37

  • 38

    Identify the political and cultural problems prevalent in the time of Confucius, and how the philosophy of Confucianism and The Analects emphasized the concepts of kinship, order, and hierarchy to address these problems.6.38

  • 39

    Explain how the Han Dynasty's political success was influenced by Confucianism, and describe major accomplishments such as the magnetic compass, paper making, porcelain, silk, seismograph and woodblock printing.6.39

  • 40

    Explain how the development of the Silk Road led to cultural diffusion between China and Eurasia, including traded goods and the spread of Buddhism into ancient China.6.40

Ancient Greece: c. 800-300 BC: Students will analyze the geographic, political, economic, and cultural structures of ancient Greece.

  • 41

    Identify and locate on a map geographical and political features of ancient Greece, including:6.41

    1. 1

      Aegean Sea6.41.1

    2. 2

      Asia Minor6.41.2

    3. 3

      Athens6.41.3

    4. 4

      Macedonia6.41.4

    5. 5

      Mediterranean Sea6.41.5

    6. 6

      Peloponnesian peninsula6.41.6

    7. 7

      Sparta6.41.7

  • 42

    Analyze how the geographic features of ancient Greece, including its mountainous terrain and access to the Mediterranean Sea, contributed to its organization into city-states, role in maritime trade, and colonies in the Mediterranean. 6.42

  • 43

    Examine the concept of the polis in Greek city-states, including the ideas of citizenship, civic participation, and the rule of law.6.43

  • 44

    Contrast the characteristics of the major Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta, including:6.44

    1. 1

      Approaches to education6.44.1

    2. 2

      Geographic locations6.44.2

    3. 3

      Role of enslaved persons6.44.3

    4. 4

      Status of women6.44.4

    5. 5

      Styles of government (i.e., direct democracy and oligarchy)6.44.5

  • 45

    Analyze the causes and consequences of the Persian Wars, including the role of Athens and its cooperation with Sparta to defend the Greek city-states.6.45

  • 46

    Analyze the causes and consequences of the Peloponnesian Wars, including how the growing political conflict between Athens and Sparta led to war and weakened the city-states.6.46

  • 47

    Explain the polytheistic religion of ancient Greece, with respect to beliefs about the humanlike qualities of the deities, their importance in everyday life, and the emergence of the Olympic Games to honor Zeus.6.47

  • 48

    Examine the influence of major ancient Greek philosophers (i.e., Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle) and their impact on education and society in ancient Greece.6.48

  • 49

    Describe the purposes of major Greek architecture (e.g., columns), including the Parthenon and the Acropolis.6.49

  • 50

    Explain the unification of the Greek city-states by Macedonia, and analyze the impact of Alexander the Great and the diffusion of Hellenistic culture.6.50

Ancient Rome: c. 500 BC-500 AD: Students will analyze the geographic, political, economic, and cultural structures of ancient Rome.

  • 51

    Identify and locate on a map the geographical and political features of ancient Rome, including:6.51

    1. 1

      Constantinople6.51.1

    2. 2

      Italian Alps6.51.2

    3. 3

      Italian Peninsula6.51.3

    4. 4

      Mediterranean Sea6.51.4

    5. 5

      Rome6.51.5

    6. 6

      Tiber River6.51.6

  • 52

    Analyze how the geographical location of ancient Rome contributed to its political and economic growth in the Mediterranean region and beyond.6.52

  • 53

    Describe the class system of ancient Rome, including the role of patricians, plebeians, and enslaved people in Roman society.6.53

  • 54

    Describe the government of the Roman Republic, including:6.54

    1. 1

      Branches of government6.54.1

    2. 2

      Checks and balances6.54.2

    3. 3

      Civic participation6.54.3

    4. 4

      Representative democracy6.54.4

    5. 5

      The rule of law and the Twelve Tables6.54.5

  • 55

    Describe the characteristics of Julius Caesar’s rule, including:6.55

    1. 1

      Leadership in the military6.55.1

    2. 2

      Popularity amongst plebeians6.55.2

    3. 3

      Role as dictator for life6.55.3

    4. 4

      Assassination6.55.4

  • 56

    Analyze the influence of Augustus Caesar, including the establishment of the Roman Empire and its political, geographic, and economic expansion during the Pax Romana.6.56

  • 57

    Determine how the engineering and architectural achievements of Ancient Rome influenced daily life, including the role of:6.57

    1. 1

      Aqueducts6.57.1

    2. 2

      Arches6.57.2

    3. 3

      Bridges6.57.3

    4. 4

      Domes6.57.4

    5. 5

      Roads6.57.5

    6. 6

      Sanitation6.57.6

    7. 7

      The Colosseum6.57.7

  • 58

    Explain the polytheistic religion of ancient Rome, with respect to beliefs about the humanlike qualities of the deities and their importance in everyday life.6.58

  • 59

    Describe the origins and central features of Christianity:6.59

    1. 1

      Key Person(s) Jesus, Paul6.59.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: The Bible6.59.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: monotheism, sin and forgiveness, eternal life, Jesus as the Messiah6.59.3

  • 60

    Explain the reasons for the expulsion of the Jews from their homeland by the Romans (i.e., the Jewish diaspora).6.60

  • 61

    Explain the division of the Roman Empire into East and West, and identify why Constantinople was established as the capital by Constantine. 6.61

  • 62

    Analyze the fall of the Western Roman Empire, including difficulty governing its large territory, political corruption, economic instability, and attacks by Germanic tribes, and identify the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire as the Byzantine Empire.6.62

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 6
Where can I read the official document?
Tennessee Social Studies Standards

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