Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Grade 7

Dublin City Schools 1

Revised May 2008

History Big Idea: The present is influenced by the past.

Essential Learning: How does knowledge of ancient world civilizations help us understand our world

today?

Target 1

How do you interpret a

multi-tier timeline?

I can…

group and place events by historical era on a timeline.

Target 2

How do early civilizations

influence later

civilizations?

I can …

describe the impact of early civilizations of India, China, Egypt, Greece

and Rome after 1000 B.C.

describe how government and citizenship developed in civilizations.

explain how science and culture developed in civilizations.

explain the spread of religion, slavery and systems of labor.

compare geographic, political, economic and social characteristics of

the river civilizations (Tigris and Euphrates, Indus, Nile, Huang Ho)

before 1000 B.C.

describe the early cultural development of humankind from the

Paleolithic Era to the revolution of agriculture including:

• hunting and gathering

• tool making and use of fire

• domestication of animals

• organizing societies

• governance

Target 3

What are the

characteristics of feudal

society? What caused the

transition (change) from

feudalism to the

Renaissance and

Reformation in Europe?

I can …

describe the causes of feudalism.

describe the characteristics of feudalism (political, economic, and

social.)

explain the causes and effects of the military conquests during the

Middle Ages.

discuss how new ways of thinking led to inventions such as the printing

press.

recognize the achievements and advances in art, literature, and

architecture during the Renaissance and Reformation.

Target 4

How were civilizations

during the 14th –18th

centuries affected by their

interactions?

I can…

explain the characteristics of Mississippian civilizations.

describe the causes and effects of European exploration including

imperialism, colonialism and mercantilism.

Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Grade 7

Dublin City Schools 2

Revised May 2008

Target 5

What were the causes and

consequences (effects) of

the American Revolution

from both the Colonial and

British perspective?

I can…

Target 6

What were the political

and economic challenges

faced by the United States

after the Revolutionary

War? What actions led to

the adoption of the United

States Constitution?

I can…

Target 7

What were the causes and

consequences of the

American Civil War?

I can…

Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Grade 7

Dublin City Schools 3

Revised May 2008

People in Societies Big Idea: Culture shapes how we see the world, others and ourselves.

Essential Learning: How does knowledge of ancient civilizations help us understand others and

ourselves.

Target 1

How are cultures similar

and different?

I can…

analyze the relationships among cultures of early civilizations.

discuss how trade impacted cultures (including the Silk Road and the

Crusades.)

Target 2

Why do some cultural

groups get along while

others do not?

I can …

Target 3

How do interactions

among cultural groups

lead to diffusion

(spreading and changing)

of their culture?

I can…

give examples of contacts between different cultures that changed belief

systems, art, science, technology, language or systems of government.

describe the cultural and scientific importance of African, Greek,

Roman, Chinese, Arab, and European civilizations.

Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Grade 7

Dublin City Schools 4

Revised May 2008

Geography Big Idea: Where people live influences how people live.

Essential Learning: How does knowledge and understanding of ancient civilizations help us understand

how people live?

Target 1

Can you locate human and

physical features on a map

and use those to identify

regions of the world?

I can…

locate important physical and human features of the various regions. identify places of historical importance on a map. explain the importance of historical places. describe physical and human changes of regions over time.

Target 2

How does the environment

influence the way people

live? What are the

consequences of

modifying (changing) the

environment?

I can …

use physical and historical maps to determine reasons civilizations

developed where they did. describe changes in the physical and human characteristics of regions

that occur over time and identify the consequences of these changes.

Target 3

Why do people, products,

and ideas move? How

does the movement affect

geographic patterns?

I can…

identify ways geography affected how people interacted with each other.

• physical features

• cultures

• war and trade

• technology innovations

Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Grade 7

Dublin City Schools 5

Revised May 2008

Economics Big Idea: Scarcity of resources requires people and governments to make choices to

satisfy wants.

Essential Learning: How does knowledge of ancient civilizations help us understand how people

satisfy their wants.

Target 1

How does the availability

(endowment) of resources

affect economic decisions

and global interactions?

I can …

compare resources in world regions.

explain how the amount of resources available contributed to

specialization, trade, and interdependence in ancient times.

Target 2

Why do people trade?

How does trade lead to

global interdependence?

I can …

describe the growth of cities and establishment of trade routes in Asia,

Africa and Europe.

explain the products and inventions along trade routes in Asia, Africa

and Europe.

Target 3

How does government

affect economy? How

does economy affect

government?

I can…

Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Grade 7

Dublin City Schools 6

Revised May 2008

Government and Citizenship Big Idea: People create different forms of government for

various reasons and the role of the citizens varies depending on the form of government.

Essential Learning: How does knowledge of ancient civilizations help us understand how people can

influence their government?

Target 1

Why do we have

government? How can you

influence government?

How do governments get

along?

I can…

Target 2

How does the Magna

Carta, Declaration of

Independence, U.S.

Constitution, and

Northwest Ordinance

protect the rights of the

people and democracy?

I can…

describe the rights found in the Magna Carta

show connections between the rights outlined in the Magna Carta and

the rights of Americans today.

Target 3

What are the similarities

and differences between

monarchies, democracies,

and dictatorships?

I can…

explain how people can participate in their government under a

monarchy, direct democracy, and representative democracy.

Target 4

How do people influence

their government to attain

civic and public goals?

I can…

Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Grade 7

Dublin City Schools 7

Revised May 2008

Skills and Methods Big Idea: Conclusions can be drawn and shared by gathering and

evaluating information.

EEss Essential Learning: How can you gather evidence to form conclusions about ancient civilizations?

Target 1

How do you analyze

different perspectives on

a topic from a variety of

sources?

I can…

Target 2

How can you organize

and analyze historical

information in order to

draw conclusions?

I can…

explain historical events and issues from the perspective of people living in

different time periods.

Target 3

How can you present a

position and support it

with evidence and cite

sources?

I can…

compare and discuss multiple viewpoints and references related to import

events in world history.

Target 4

What skills are needed to

effectively work in a

group?

I can…

establish guidelines, rules and time lines for group work.

reflect on the performance of the group in which I worked.