Students in sixth grade social studies focus on United States History to 1865. Major topics include the geographic regions, American Indians, European exploration, colonial America, the American Revolution, the early United States, westward expansion, and the Civil War era. Students examine the past through the lenses of  civics, economics, and geography. Students learn about change and continuity in our history by examining a wide variety of primary and secondary sources that lay the foundation of American ideals and institutions. They learn about famous Americans, the daily lives of ordinary citizens in the past, and the causes and consequences of major events by applying the critical thinking skills used by actual historians. This course is based on Standards of Learning from the Virginia Department of Education.