Indiana Social Studies 6.H.1

Social Studies6th GradeHistory

The Standard

Summarize the rise, decline, and cultural achievements of ancient civilizations in Europe and Mesoamerica.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students put key events in order for ancient Greece, Rome, and the Classic Maya. They explain what helped each society grow, what changed when major centers lost power, and what people built or developed.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain how Roman roads supported expansion, how western Roman rule ended, and how aqueducts brought water to cities. They can give a similar account of Greece and the Classic Maya using evidence specific to each.
Common Misconceptions: Students may say the Maya vanished when Classic Maya cities declined. Others mix up Greek and Roman achievements or assume Rome and the Classic Maya did not overlap in time.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Choose Rome and the Classic Maya. For each, use the class fact cards to name one reason it grew, one change during its decline, and one cultural achievement.

Lesson moves

Sort twelve fact cards for Greece, Rome, and the Classic Maya into growth, decline, and achievement columns on a paper chart.
Using a present-day map of Maya-speaking communities, have students explain why the decline of cities did not mean Maya people disappeared.
Play timeline relay with dated event cards from Greece, Rome, and the Classic Maya; teams order the cards and label each event.
Compare photos of a Roman aqueduct and local water pipes; students write how each system moves water to a city.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 6.H.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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