NY Social Studies 6.2d
The Standard
Historians use archaeological and other types of evidence to investigate patterns in history and identify turning points. A turning point can be an event, era, and/or development in history that has brought about significant social, cultural, ecological, political, or economic change.
New York State K–12 Social Studies Framework
Key Idea 6.2
THE FIRST HUMANS THROUGH THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION IN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE: The first humans modified their physical environment as well as adapted to their environment.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students examine artifacts, settlement remains, plant evidence, and other sources to find patterns before and after farming began. They use that evidence to decide whether farming caused major, lasting change.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students make a clear claim about the Neolithic Revolution and support it with evidence from several sources. They explain changes in areas such as settlement, work, trade, government, health, and the environment.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think farming began suddenly, spread everywhere at once, or improved life for everyone. They may also treat one artifact as complete proof instead of comparing several sources and possible interpretations.
How to Assess It
- Give students images of a sickle, grain storage pit, permanent house, and human skeleton. Ask them to choose two and explain how each supports or challenges the claim that farming was a turning point.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups artifact and site-image cards to sort into hunter-gatherer or farming communities, then label the evidence behind each choice.
Write: Was farming a turning point for everyone, and which two pieces of evidence best support your answer?
Play Turning Point Test: teams classify evidence cards as social, economic, political, cultural, or ecological change and justify each classification.
Trace one cafeteria food from farm to table, then list the settlements, jobs, trade, and environmental changes farming makes possible.
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