Cultural Geography Curriculum Map
Grade 6 Social Studies Curriculum Map & Pacing Guide
BJU Cultural Geography (4th Edition)
Full-Year Scope & Sequence with 6th Grade Texas TEKS (§113.18) Alignment
Scope: 36 Weeks
August — May
8 Units • 24 Chapters
Quarter 1
Units 1–2 (Ch 1–5)
Foundations & North America
Quarter 2
Units 2–4 (Ch 6–13)
Latin America, Europe, Eurasia
Quarter 3
Units 5–7 (Ch 14–20)
Middle East, Africa, S./E. Asia
Quarter 4
Units 7–8 (Ch 21–24)
SE Asia, Oceania, Antarctica
August • Weeks 1–3: Introduction to Physical Geography
Unit 1: Foundations of Geography
Textbook Chapters
Ch 1: Earth (His Hands)
Ch 2: Physical Geography
Lessons 1–15
Essential Questions & Core Concepts
"How do physical landforms, climates, and geographic tools shape human life?"
• Globe & map projections, latitude/longitude grids
• Internal forces (tectonics, volcanism) & external weathering
• Earth's climate zones, biomes, and water cycle
6th Grade TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(3)(A-D) Location & Map Skills
113.18(b)(5)(A-C) Physical Processes
113.18(b)(15)(A-C) Geographic Tools
Weekly Pacing: W1: Geographic Tools & Hemispheres • W2: Internal Earth Forces • W3: Climate, Vegetation, Water
Assessments: World Grid Quiz • Ch 1 & 2 Tests
September • Weeks 4–7: Human Culture & North America
Unit 1 & Unit 2: USA & Canada
Textbook Chapters
Ch 3: Cultural Geography
Ch 4: United States
Ch 5: Canada
Lessons 16–35
Essential Questions & Core Concepts
"How do culture, government systems, and resource distribution define a nation?"
• Elements of culture: language, religion, institutions
• US physical subregions, economy, demographic shifts
• Canada's provinces/territories, bilingual heritage, arctic ecology
6th Grade TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(4)(A-B) Settlement Patterns
113.18(b)(7)(A-B) Economic Systems
113.18(b)(9)(A-B) Limited Government
113.18(b)(11)(A-C) Culture Traits
Weekly Pacing: W4: Culture Traits & Worldviews • W5: US Eastern & Central Regions • W6: US West & Economy • W7: Canadian Provinces
Assessments: US/Canada Map Quiz • Q1 Project Kickoff
BJU Press Cultural Geography 4th Ed. • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Alignment
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Quarter 1 (Cont.) & Quarter 2 Pacing
Latin America & European Regions
Weeks 8–15
October • Weeks 8–11: Latin America (Middle & South)
Unit 2: Latin America
Textbook Chapters
Ch 6: Middle America
Ch 7: South America
Lessons 36–55
Essential Questions & Core Concepts
"How have colonial history and geographic barriers influenced modern Latin America?"
• Mexico, Central America isthmus, & West Indies islands
• Andes Mountains, Amazon Basin, Pampas agriculture
• Mestizo culture, Catholic heritage, economic development
6th Grade TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(1)(A-B) Historical Impact
113.18(b)(6)(A-C) Human-Environment
113.18(b)(8)(A-B) Economic Development
113.18(b)(12)(A) Culture & Religion
Weekly Pacing: W8: Mexico & Central America • W9: Caribbean Nations • W10: Northern & Andean S. America • W11: Brazil & Southern Cone
Assessments: Latin America Map Quiz • Ch 6 & 7 Tests • Q1 Project Due
November • Weeks 12–15: Western, Southern, Northern, & Eastern Europe
Unit 3: Europe
Textbook Chapters
Ch 8: Western Europe
Ch 9: Southern Europe
Ch 10: Northern Europe
Ch 11: Eastern Europe
Lessons 56–75
Essential Questions & Core Concepts
"How has Europe's diverse geography fostered nation-states, European integration, and global influence?"
• Industrial heartlands: UK, France, Germany, Low Countries
• Mediterranean peninsulas: Spain, Italy, Greece
• Nordic welfare models & Baltic/Balkan post-Soviet transitions
• European Union (EU) integration vs national sovereignty
6th Grade TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(2)(A-B) Contemporary Societies
113.18(b)(7)(B) Market vs Socialist Econ
113.18(b)(9)(C) Rule of Law / Dem. Gov
113.18(b)(13)(A-B) Tech & Industrial Dev
Weekly Pacing: W12: British Isles & W. Europe • W13: Mediterranean/S. Europe • W14: Scandinavia/N. Europe • W15: Eastern Europe & Balkans
Assessments: Europe Political Map Quiz • Unit 3 Comprehensive Test
Q2 MILESTONE
Quarter 2 Project: European Country Comparative Profile
Students research one Western European and one Eastern European nation, comparing government models (TEKS 9), economic structures (TEKS 7), and cultural institutions (TEKS 11).
BJU Press Cultural Geography 4th Ed. • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Alignment
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Quarter 2 (Cont.) & Quarter 3 Pacing
Eurasia, Middle East & Africa
Weeks 16–25
December • Weeks 16–18: Russia & Central Asia + Midterms
Unit 4: Russia & Central Asia
Textbook Chapters
Ch 12: Russia
Ch 13: Central Asia & Transcaucasia
Lessons 76–90
Essential Questions & Concepts
"How do vast geography and authoritarian history shape Russia and the 'Stans'?"
• Russian landforms (Urals, Siberia, Taiga), natural resources
• Soviet legacy vs unlimited governance, Silk Road trade routes
TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(9)(B) Unlimited Gov
113.18(b)(8)(A) Resource Scarcity
Weekly: W16: Russia Land & History • W17: Central Asia & Caucasus • W18: Semester 1 Review & Midterm Exam
Assessments: Eurasia Map Quiz • Midterm Exam
January • Weeks 19–22: Middle East & North Africa
Unit 5: The Middle East & North Africa
Textbook Chapters
Ch 14: Near East (Levant)
Ch 15: Arabian Peninsula
Ch 16: North Africa (Maghreb)
Lessons 91–110
Essential Questions & Concepts
"How does scarcity of water and abundance of petroleum shape regional conflicts and economies?"
• Deserts, oases, Nile River, Tigris-Euphrates, Suez Canal
• Birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, Islam; OPEC petroleum
TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(6)(B) Water Scarcity Adapt.
113.18(b)(12)(B) World Religions
113.18(b)(8)(C) Global Trade / OPEC
Weekly: W19: Eastern Mediterranean • W20: Arabian Peninsula & Oil • W21: Maghreb & Sahara • W22: Egypt & Nile River
Assessments: Middle East/N. Africa Map Quiz • Unit 5 Test
February • Weeks 23–25: Sub-Saharan Africa
Unit 6: Sub-Saharan Africa
Textbook Chapters
Ch 17: West & Central Africa
Ch 18: South & East Africa
Lessons 111–125
Essential Questions & Concepts
"How do diverse physical environments and tribal heritages shape modern African nations?"
• Sahel, savannahs, Congo rainforest, Great Rift Valley
• Tribal diversity, post-colonial borders, mineral wealth
TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(4)(B) Rural vs Urban Shift
113.18(b)(11)(A) Cultural Traditions
113.18(b)(8)(B) Developing Economies
Weekly: W23: Sahel & West African Coast • W24: Central Basin & Great Rift • W25: Southern Africa & Mineral Resources
Assessments: Africa Map Quiz • Unit 6 Test • Q3 Project Kickoff
BJU Press Cultural Geography 4th Ed. • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Alignment
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Quarter 3 (Cont.) & Quarter 4 Pacing
Asia, Oceania, Antarctica & Year-End Review
Weeks 26–36
March • Weeks 26–29: South Asia & East Asia
Unit 7: South & East Asia
Textbook Chapters
Ch 19: South Asia (India)
Ch 20: East Asia (China/Japan)
Lessons 126–145
Essential Questions & Concepts
"How do monsoons, massive populations, and industrial innovations drive Asian societies?"
• Himalayas, Ganges River Basin, Monsoon weather cycles
• China's command/market hybrid economy, Japan & Korea tech
TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(4)(A) Population Density
113.18(b)(7)(A) Command Economies
113.18(b)(13)(B) Technological Boom
Weekly: W26: Indian Subcontinent • W27: Himalayan Kingdoms • W28: China & Taiwan • W29: Japan & Korean Peninsula
Assessments: East/South Asia Map Quiz • Ch 19 & 20 Tests
April • Weeks 30–33: Southeast Asia, Australia & Oceania
Units 7 & 8: Southeast Asia & Pacific
Textbook Chapters
Ch 21: Southeast Asia
Ch 22: Australia & NZ
Ch 23: Oceania
Lessons 146–165
Essential Questions & Concepts
"How have isolation and island geography fostered unique biodiversity and cultures?"
• Ring of Fire, Indochina peninsula, Indonesian archipelago
• Australian Outback, Great Barrier Reef, Pacific Island regions
TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(3)(C) Physical Landforms
113.18(b)(6)(A) Island Adaptation
113.18(b)(11)(B) Aboriginal / Maori
Weekly: W30: Mainland & Insular SE Asia • W31: Australia Outback & Cities • W32: New Zealand • W33: Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Assessments: Oceania Map Quiz • Ch 21–23 Tests
May • Weeks 34–36: Antarctica, Capstone & Final Review
Unit 8 & Course Capstone
Textbook Chapters
Ch 24: Antarctica
Course Synthesis
Lessons 166–180
Essential Questions & Concepts
"How do international treaties and scientific stewardship protect global commons?"
• Polar desert climate, Antarctic Treaty System, scientific research
• Global cultural stewardship, human geography year-end synthesis
TEKS Alignment
113.18(b)(9)(D) Treaties & Treaties
113.18(b)(15)(D) Synthesis Skills
Weekly: W34: Antarctica & Treaty • W35: Capstone Global Geo-Summit • W36: Comprehensive Review & Final Exam
Assessments: Capstone Exhibition • Comprehensive Final Exam
BJU Press Cultural Geography 4th Ed. • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Alignment
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Teacher Implementation Reference
TEKS Master Crosswalk & Assessment Schedule
Texas TEKS §113.18
6th Grade Social Studies TEKS Strand Breakdown
| TEKS Strand & Code | State Standard Description | BJU Geography Unit |
|---|
| 113.18(b)(3) Geography | Location, characteristics of places/regions, physical patterns | Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| 113.18(b)(4) Geography | Factors influencing settlement patterns and population density | Units 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 |
| 113.18(b)(5) Geography | Physical processes shaping landforms, climate, and ecosystems | Unit 1 (Ch 1–2), Unit 8 |
| 113.18(b)(6) Geography | Human-environment interaction, modification, and adaptation | Units 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| 113.18(b)(7) Economics | Free enterprise, socialist, and command economic systems | Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 |
| 113.18(b)(8) Economics | Global trade, resource distribution, economic indicators | Units 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| 113.18(b)(9) Government | Limited vs unlimited governments, rule of law, civic rights | Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 |
| 113.18(b)(11-12) Culture | Cultural diffusion, world religions, traditions, and arts | Units 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| 113.18(b)(15-17) Skills | Geographic tools, charts, primary sources, spatial analysis | Embedded across all units |
Quarterly Capstones & Regional Map Quizzes
Quarter 1 Capstone October • Due Wk 10
North & Latin America Regional Atlas
Students construct a hand-drawn or digital atlas profiling physical geography, natural resources, and cultural traits of 3 distinct nations.
Quarter 2 Capstone December • Due Wk 17
European & Eurasian Comparative Essay
Comparative study contrasting limited democracy (Western Europe) with post-Soviet governance models (Russia/Central Asia).
Quarter 3 Capstone March • Due Wk 28
Middle East & Africa Resource Summit
Model delegation presentation evaluating water scarcity solutions (desalination) and oil economics across the Arab world and Africa.
Quarter 4 Capstone May • Due Wk 35
Global Geo-Summit Portfolio & Expo
Comprehensive year-end digital portfolio and interactive booth exhibition representing a country from Asia, Oceania, or Polar realms.
Recommended Weighting
Tests & Capstones (40%) • Regional Map Quizzes (25%) • Daily Work/Activities (25%) • Participation (10%)
Total Map Quizzes
8 Major Regional Map Assessments
BJU Press Cultural Geography 4th Ed. • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Alignment
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