1. Six Themes of Social Studies

2. Geography Characteristics of a physical place
location physical features (rivers, mountains, etc.) and empire boundaries
Ways that environment affects human life
Ways that humans change the environment
Movement of people, goods & ideas from place to place

3. Society & Culture Way of life that a society or group shares
the way people act
the way people express themselves
the way they are organized into social classes (hierarchy)

4. Economics
Ways that people use limited resources to satisfy needs and desires
Ways that societies produce wealth and organize labor
how people earned money (trading, industry, merchants)

5. Government
System of laws and authority that a society uses to guide or control its members
rules and laws
rulers and ruling families

6. Belief Systems Often religions Systems of ethics shaping daily life
belief in a god or gods
Systems of ethics shaping daily life
principles of right and wrong

7. Science & Technology Improved methods of doing things
Discoveries and inventions
architecture, engineering, art, literature, language