Connections to Massachusetts Frameworks:

Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age

7.1 Describe the great climatic and environmental changes that shaped the earth and eventually permitted the growth of human life. (H)

7.2 Identify sites in Africa where archaeologists have found evidence of the origins of modern human beings and describe what the archaeologists found. (G, H)

7.3 Describe the characteristics of the hunter-gatherer societies of the Paleolithic Age (their

use of tools and fire, basic hunting weapons, beads and other jewelry). (H)

7.4 Explain the importance of the invention of metallurgy and agriculture (the growing of crops and the domestication of animals). (H)

7.5 Describe how the invention of agriculture related to settlement, population growth, and the emergence of civilization. (H)

7.6 Identify the characteristics of civilizations. (H, G, E)

A. the presence of geographic boundaries and political institutions

B. an economy that produces food surpluses

C. a concentration of population in distinct areas or cities

D. the existence of social classes

E. developed systems of religion, learning, art, and architecture

F. a system of record keeping

Essential Question (s):

How do we learn about people we cannot meet?
How do we figure out who they are/were?

Learning Objectives:

To introduce methods archaeologists/historians use to study the past

● To begin to analyze artifacts

● To learn the difference between different types of sources

To be able to distinguish the difference in time between B.C./B.C.E. and A.D./C.E.
To learn about what life was like for the earliest humans

● To be able to distinguish between different types of early humans

● To be able to identify the technologies and resources used by the earliest people.

Skills focus for this unit:

1. To introduce strategies for reading and determining the meaning of a text.

2. To introduce organizational skills

a. Tables of Contents

3. To begin writing paragraphs with a purpose

4. To introduce note-taking skills

a. Organizers

b. Objective notes

5. To establish positive classroom environment by enforcing classroom rules and guidelines

6. To create opportunities for students to interact with various members of classroom community

Indicator Skills that we assess in 6^th Grade Social Studies:

Demonstrate values of respect, responsibility, honesty and effort.
Maintain an organized approach to learning: taking notes, completing homework and classwork, and being prepared.
Identify and utilize a variety of strategies to determine the meaning and usefulness of a source.
Effectively identify and express the important contributions of the societies we study, both verbally and in writing.
Apply facts learned to answer unit questions.
Reflect on learning and community progress.

Instructional Strategies & Activities:

Introduce Objective Notes- Sweatnotes

● Graphic Organizers for Early Humans

● Highlighting a text

Introduce the Textbooks

● Strategies for using the textbook effectively

Introduce object observations and determining the meaning of various sources
Introduce the concept of B.C./B.C.E. and A.D./C.E.

Materials Utilized:

Maroo of the Winter Caves

Ancient Civilizations

Kid-Friendly Readings from other sources, i.e.- Eyewitness Books

Videos from National Geographic and United Streaming websites

Assessment Strategies:

Nightly homeworks

Reading check-in’s

Maroo paragraph and artifact creation

Binder checks

Quizzes

End of unit reflection for social studies portfolio