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Standard 2 : Understand physical and cultural characteristics of places.
Cluster Standards

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Visit the specific benchmark webpage to find related instructional resources.

  • SS.6.G.2.1 : Explain how major physical characteristics, natural resources, climate, and absolute and relative locations have influenced settlement, interactions, and the economies of ancient civilizations of the world.
  • SS.6.G.2.2 : Differentiate between continents, regions, countries, and cities in order to understand the complexities of regions created by civilizations.
  • SS.6.G.2.3 : Analyze the relationship of physical geography to the development of ancient river valley civilizations.
  • SS.6.G.2.4 : Explain how the geographical location of ancient civilizations contributed to the culture and politics of those societies.
  • SS.6.G.2.5 : Interpret how geographic boundaries invite or limit interaction with other regions and cultures.
  • SS.6.G.2.6 : Explain the concept of cultural diffusion, and identify the influences of different ancient cultures on one another.
  • SS.6.G.2.7 : Interpret choropleths or dot-density maps to explain the distribution of population in the ancient world.
Cluster Information
Number:
SS.6.G.2
Title:
Understand physical and cultural characteristics of places.
Type:
Standard
Subject:
Social Studies
Grade:
6
Strand
Geography
Cluster Access Points

This cluster includes the following Access Points.

  • SS.6.G.2.AP.1 : Identify the impact of physical characteristics, climate, or natural resources upon the settlement and economies of ancient civilizations.
  • SS.6.G.2.AP.2 : Identify different ways civilizations defined their territory, such as countries, city-states, provinces, kingdoms, and empires.
  • SS.6.G.2.AP.3 : Identify how the development of ancient river valley civilizations was shaped by the geography and proximity of the river.
  • SS.6.G.2.AP.4 : Identify ways the geographical location of ancient civilizations contributed to the culture, economy, and politics.
  • SS.6.G.2.AP.5 : Explain how geographic boundaries such as rivers, deserts, and mountains invite or limit interactions with other regions and cultures.
  • SS.6.G.2.AP.6 : Define cultural diffusion and identify the influences of different ancient cultures on one another.
  • SS.6.G.2.AP.7 : Identify distribution of population in the ancient world on a map.
Cluster Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Lesson Plans
  • The Influence of Ancient Greece: In this lesson plan, students will analyze the influences of democratic concepts developed in ancient Greece on America’s modern constitutional republic while completing guided notes that accompany a teacher-presented slideshow. A worksheet and assessment quiz give students opportunities to show what they have learned.

  • Two Faces of Greece: Athens and Sparta: During the 5th century BC, Greece was dominated by two main powers: democratic Athens and the military oligarchy of Sparta. Using comparative tables of data, students investigate the differences and similarities between democratic Athens and the military aristocracy of Sparta.