Phone: (910)592-4547
Email Robert Smith
Degrees and Certifications:
Bachelor of Arts in Secondary and Middle Social Studies- Point Park University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I have been teaching at Union Middle since 1997. I have a bachelor's degree from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am certified to teach social studies from 6-12 grade. Currently I am the UMS sixth grade social studies teacher. My entire family is heavily involved in Sampson County Schools. My wife is the Assistant Principal at Union Intermediate School. I have two daughters who both attended Sampson County Schools. My older daughter graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM) and is in currently in college. My youngest daughter graduated from the Sampson County Early College and is also currently in college. The best way for you to reach me is by email- rsmith@sampson.k12.nc.us. Thanks for all your support!
Curriculum- We will concentrate on these goals via four units-
Unit 1- In this unit students will be introduced to the tools historians use to investigate the past. Students will use primary and secondary sources to engage in inquiry studies of culture and historical events. Students will discuss the similarities and differences between perspectives of various historical events and civilizations across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas based on examination of artifacts. Students will assess the credibility of primary and secondary sources using the origin, authority, structure, credibility, reliability, and context of the sources to guide the selection. Students will analyze details, central ideas, and inferences from sources using discipline-specific strategies related to the social studies. Students will identify evidence that draws from multiple perspectives and construct claims and counter claims using evidence while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both based on multiple sources. Students will utilize their tools as geographers to look at physical features on earth and analyze how those features influence human-environmental interaction over time. Students will explain how movement and settlement patterns affected the development of communities and civilizations by using maps to understand how physical features of a place impact humans.
Unit 2- This unit is an introduction and comparative study of the major ancient civilizations with a focus on the period between 2000 BCE and 1000 BCE. As students compare the growth of major civilizations in Africa, Asia and Europe, they will explain how religion, tradition, and cultural practice influence the development of those civilizations. Explain how artistic expressions reflect the values of civilizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Students will compare systems of social structure within ancient civilizations and how they shaped and were shaped by the governing structures in those civilizations. Students will examine and compare economic systems and technological innovations of ancient civilizations and determine their impact on the development of early civilizations. Students will understand how civilizations develop by comparing factors of civilization from various viewpoints within each civilization.
Unit 3- This unit is an introduction and comparative study of the major classical civilizations in the Mediterranean, Asia and Mesoamerica with a focus on the period between 1000 BCE and 500 CE. As students compare the growth of major civilizations and city-states in the Mediterranean, Asia and Central America, they will explain how religion, tradition, and cultural practice influence the development of those civilizations. Students will explain how artistic expressions reflect the values of civilizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Students will compare systems of social structure within ancient civilizations and how they shaped and were shaped by the governing structures in those civilizations. Students will examine and compare economic systems and technological innovations of ancient civilizations and determine their impact on the development of early civilizations. Students will understand how civilizations develop by comparing factors of civilization from various viewpoints within each civilization.
Unit 4- This unit traces the rise of empires across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and South America and the interconnected web of trade and cultural exchange that emerged between geographic regions from 500 CE through 1300 CE. Students will explain how religion, tradition, and cultural practice influence the development of empires such as the Holy Roman Empire and the Muslim World. Students will compare systems of social structure within ancient civilizations and how they shaped and were shaped by the governing structures in those societies. Students will examine and compare economic systems and technological innovations of the middle ages and determine their impact on the development of trade, movement and conflict during this time period. Students will compare systems of social structure within various civilizations and societies in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas during this time period and be able to discuss differences in structures between societies. Students will analyze belief systems of societies of the middle ages and compare the influence those belief systems had on government, social structures, trade and conquest.