Mapping the world
Students start the year with maps and globes. They locate places, describe landforms and climates, and notice how where people live shapes how they live.
What does a student learn in
This is the year social studies zooms out to the whole world. Students read maps to compare regions, climates, and how people live in each place. They look at how governments are built, how money and trade shape daily choices, and how big events in Pennsylvania connect to the country and the world. By spring, students can pick a region on a map and explain its land, people, and history.
- World geography
- Maps and regions
- Government basics
- Economics and money
- World history
- Pennsylvania history
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
People and their places
Students look at how culture, cities, and work differ from one region to another. They also study how people change the land around them and what happens as a result.
- 3
Ancient and world history
Students dig into key events and people from world history. They learn to weigh sources, sort fact from opinion, and explain why something mattered then and now.
- 4
Government and citizens
Students learn how local, state, and federal governments are set up and what each one does. They read founding documents and talk through the rights and duties that come with citizenship.
- 5
Money and choices
Students see how scarcity forces trade-offs and how prices and competition shape what gets made and sold. They practice everyday money decisions about saving, spending, and credit.
- 6
Pennsylvania and the nation
Students close the year with Pennsylvania's story and how it fits into United States history. They also look at how countries deal with each other through trade, treaties, and conflict.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 6.
Civics and Government
Civics and Government
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Principles and Documents
Students read and explain the core ideas behind founding documents like the Constitution, learning what rules and values the U.S. and Pennsylvania governments are built on.
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Rights and Responsibilities
Citizens have rights the government must respect and responsibilities they are expected to meet. Students examine what those rights look like in real life and why following shared laws matters for everyone in a community.
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Government Structure
Students learn how governments are organized at the city, state, and national level, including who holds power, how decisions get made, and how the different levels relate to each other.
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International Relations
Nations solve problems and do business with each other through diplomacy, trade agreements, and treaties. Students learn why those tools sometimes work, and why countries still end up in conflict.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Principles and Documents | Students read and explain the core ideas behind founding documents like the Constitution, learning what rules and values the U.S. and Pennsylvania governments are built on. | PA-SS.CIV.6.1 |
| Rights and Responsibilities | Citizens have rights the government must respect and responsibilities they are expected to meet. Students examine what those rights look like in real life and why following shared laws matters for everyone in a community. | PA-SS.CIV.6.2 |
| Government Structure | Students learn how governments are organized at the city, state, and national level, including who holds power, how decisions get made, and how the different levels relate to each other. | PA-SS.CIV.6.3 |
| International Relations | Nations solve problems and do business with each other through diplomacy, trade agreements, and treaties. Students learn why those tools sometimes work, and why countries still end up in conflict. | PA-SS.CIV.6.4 |
Economics
Economics
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Scarcity and Choice
Scarcity means there is never enough of everything people want, so individuals and societies have to choose what to get and what to give up. Students learn why every choice has a cost.
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Markets and Economic Systems
Markets are places where buyers and sellers set prices together. Students learn how competition and pricing shape what gets made, who gets it, and how different economies decide who controls those decisions.
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Money and Banking
Money, credit, and banks shape everyday decisions about spending and saving. Students learn how these systems work together and what they mean for personal finances and the broader economy.
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Economic Decision Making
Students practice thinking like an economist: weighing costs, trade-offs, and benefits before making a personal money decision or deciding what they think a government policy should do.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Scarcity and Choice | Scarcity means there is never enough of everything people want, so individuals and societies have to choose what to get and what to give up. Students learn why every choice has a cost. | PA-SS.ECON.6.1 |
| Markets and Economic Systems | Markets are places where buyers and sellers set prices together. Students learn how competition and pricing shape what gets made, who gets it, and how different economies decide who controls those decisions. | PA-SS.ECON.6.2 |
| Money and Banking | Money, credit, and banks shape everyday decisions about spending and saving. Students learn how these systems work together and what they mean for personal finances and the broader economy. | PA-SS.ECON.6.3 |
| Economic Decision Making | Students practice thinking like an economist: weighing costs, trade-offs, and benefits before making a personal money decision or deciding what they think a government policy should do. | PA-SS.ECON.6.4 |
Geography
Geography
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Geographic Tools and Spatial Concepts
Students read maps and globes to describe where places are, how regions are shaped, and how they relate to one another. Think latitude lines, compass directions, and how to spot a mountain range or river basin on a map.
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Physical Characteristics
Students describe what makes a place look and feel the way it does: its mountains, plains, or coastlines, the weather patterns that shape daily life there, and the plants and animals that live in that environment.
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Human Characteristics
Students look at what makes a place distinctly human: who lives there, how they settled, what work they do, and what cultural traditions they practice. The focus is on how people shape a region as much as geography shapes them.
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Human-Environment Interaction
Students examine why people build levees, clear forests, or irrigate deserts, then trace what happens to the land, water, and communities around them as a result.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Tools and Spatial Concepts | Students read maps and globes to describe where places are, how regions are shaped, and how they relate to one another. Think latitude lines, compass directions, and how to spot a mountain range or river basin on a map. | PA-SS.GEO.6.1 |
| Physical Characteristics | Students describe what makes a place look and feel the way it does: its mountains, plains, or coastlines, the weather patterns that shape daily life there, and the plants and animals that live in that environment. | PA-SS.GEO.6.2 |
| Human Characteristics | Students look at what makes a place distinctly human: who lives there, how they settled, what work they do, and what cultural traditions they practice. The focus is on how people shape a region as much as geography shapes them. | PA-SS.GEO.6.3 |
| Human-Environment Interaction | Students examine why people build levees, clear forests, or irrigate deserts, then trace what happens to the land, water, and communities around them as a result. | PA-SS.GEO.6.4 |
History
History
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Historical Analysis
Historical analysis means looking at why events happened, not just when. Students read about real people, decisions, and turning points, then explain what caused them and what changed as a result.
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Pennsylvania History
Students learn about the people, events, and movements that shaped Pennsylvania and trace how those local stories connect to what was happening across the country at the same time.
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United States History
Students learn the major turning points in American history that belong at this grade level, such as wars, political shifts, or social movements. The focus is on understanding why these events happened and what changed as a result.
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World History
Students study the major turning points, people, and movements that shaped civilizations around the world, from ancient empires to more recent global changes. The focus is on understanding why those events happened and what they set in motion.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Analysis | Historical analysis means looking at why events happened, not just when. Students read about real people, decisions, and turning points, then explain what caused them and what changed as a result. | PA-SS.HIST.6.1 |
| Pennsylvania History | Students learn about the people, events, and movements that shaped Pennsylvania and trace how those local stories connect to what was happening across the country at the same time. | PA-SS.HIST.6.2 |
| United States History | Students learn the major turning points in American history that belong at this grade level, such as wars, political shifts, or social movements. The focus is on understanding why these events happened and what changed as a result. | PA-SS.HIST.6.3 |
| World History | Students study the major turning points, people, and movements that shaped civilizations around the world, from ancient empires to more recent global changes. The focus is on understanding why those events happened and what they set in motion. | PA-SS.HIST.6.4 |
No state assessments at this grade
Students take their next one in Grade 8.
NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
Federally administered sample-based assessment in reading, mathematics, science, and writing. NAEP results inform state-by-state comparisons rather than individual student or school accountability.
- When given:
- biennial in winter
- Frequency:
- every two years
Common Questions
What does social studies look like this year?
Students study four big areas: how governments work, how money and trade shape choices, how to read maps and understand places, and how past events connect to today. The year covers Pennsylvania, the United States, and the wider world.
How can I help with social studies at home?
Talk about the news at dinner and ask why people disagree. Pull up a map when a country comes up in conversation. When students get an allowance or save for something, walk through the trade-off out loud.
What should students be able to do by the end of the year?
Students should read a map and explain what a region is like, describe how local, state, and federal government each do different jobs, and use evidence from a source to explain a historical event. They should also be able to talk through a simple money decision and the trade-offs involved.
How should I sequence the four strands across the year?
Many teachers anchor the year in geography first so students have a mental map, then layer history onto those places. Civics and economics work well as recurring threads tied to current events rather than isolated units.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Reading a primary source for what it actually says, and separating a fact from an opinion or a claim from evidence. Map skills also slip without regular practice, so a quick map warm-up once a week pays off later.
My child says social studies is boring. What can I do?
Tie it to something concrete. Watch a short documentary about a place in the news, visit a local historic site, or look up where a favorite food or sport came from. Curiosity about one real story usually opens the door to the rest.
How much memorizing of dates and capitals is expected?
Some core facts matter, but the bigger goal is explaining why events happened and how places and people connect. If students can tell the story behind a date, the date tends to stick.
How do I know students are ready for next year?
By spring, students should be able to write a short paragraph that makes a claim about a historical or current event and back it up with evidence from a source. They should also handle a map question and a basic economics question with confidence.