Unit Plan 9 (Grade 7 Social Studies): Midyear Project—Empires and Exchange Atlas
Create thematic maps and evidence-based mini-essays to show how faith, geography, and power shaped Afro-Eurasian empires.
Focus: Create an atlas of thematic maps and short evidence-cited essays that show connections between faith, geography, and power across Afro-Eurasian empires.
Grade Level: 7
Subject Area: Social Studies (World History • Geography • Inquiry)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students synthesize first-semester learning by designing a concise Empires & Exchange Atlas. Working in teams, they select empires/regions (e.g., Ghana–Mali–Songhai, Abbasid Caliphate, Byzantine, Tang/Song, Delhi Sultanate, Mamluk, Mongol networks), then build layered maps (trade/faith/power) and write paired mini-essays explaining how belief systems, landforms/climate, and resources shaped governance and exchange.
Essential Questions
- How do faith traditions and political power interact with geography and resources?
- Where do we see diffusion and interdependence among empires—and who benefits or loses?
- What map layers and evidence best support a historical claim?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Frame compelling/supporting questions to guide atlas choices (Inq.1).
- Gather, organize, and evaluate sources (maps, texts, data) for credibility and bias (Inq.2–3).
- Create thematic maps using scale, symbols, and layers to show routes, resources, regions, and diffusion (Geo.1–5).
- Explain causes/effects and multiple perspectives across empires in short, cited essays (Hist.2–4; Inq.4).
- Communicate conclusions in an atlas/presentation with clear visuals and references (Inq.5).
Standards Alignment — 7th Grade (C3-based custom)
- 7.C3.Inq.1–5 — Questions, sources, evaluation, claims/citations, communication.
- 7.C3.Geo.1–5 — Regions; thematic mapping; environment/resources; HEI and diffusion.
- 7.C3.Hist.2–4 — Causes/effects; perspectives; turning points/ideas and legacies.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can design a map layer that accurately shows routes/regions/resources and label it clearly.
- I can write a claim about faith–power–geography and support it with 2+ cited sources.
- I can explain how diffusion or interdependence connects at least two empires/regions.