LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Social Studies — Grade 7

Goal 12: The learner will assess the influence of major religions, ethical beliefs, and values on cultures in Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Objective 12.01. Examine the major belief systems in selected regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia, and analyze their impact on cultural values, practices, and institutions.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Unraveling a cultural mystery: Nepal
In this lesson, students explore two religious festivals in Nepal through audio recordings and photographs. Students begin with a vague knowledge about the festivals and develop a more thorough understanding as more information is revealed through the course of the lesson. The author recommends incorporating these activities into a larger lesson plan of your design.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
By Kristin Post.
Mummy madness
This is a lesson for seventh grade Social Studies students to learn and demonstrate the mummification process used in ancient Egypt.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Social Studies)
By Jo Oliver.
Government "kooshball" debate
Students will be presented with a situation where they will have to list pros and cons of an Islamic government and a democratic government. The students will be assigned one side of the argument and will write statements that support their side to be used in a debate. This lesson should follow a study of Islamic government and culture.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
By Terry Philbeck.

Resources on the web

Why civilizations fall
In this lesson, part of a two-lesson series from Science NetLinks, students find out about the social changes that caused the collapse of important ancient civilizations in Central America, Mesopotamia, the southwestern United States, and western Africa. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
What is Asia?
This Xpeditions lesson introduces students to diversity in Asia. After considering what is meant by the term "Asia," students identify the various regions in Asia and consider factors for determining what is considered a "region". (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Unwrapping mummies
Students become famous archaeologists who specialize in ancient mummies. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Trekking to Timbuktu—student version
In the eight lessons of this EDSITEment curriculum unit, students will learn about the geography of Mali and the cultures and economies along the Niger River, find out about the three kingdoms that evolved in ancient and medieval West Africa, discover how... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
Provided by: EDSITEment
Religion and spirituality in Nepal
Students contemplate the meaning of a statement regarding Nepalese religion and spirituality and look for evidence of religious customs and “spiritual richness” observed during one American's trek through Nepal. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Making a mummy the natural way
This Xpeditions lesson has students examine the relationship between climate and the mummification process in ancient Egypt and other parts of the world. Students will conclude by writing paragraphs suggesting ways archaeologists and climatologists can... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
Provided by: Xpeditions
Interpreting the evidence
This lesson, the second of a two-part series from Science NetLinks, offers useful information and activities to help students understand how scientists learn about civilizations that have disappeared. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Cultural symbols and the characteristics of place
This Xpeditions lesson explores how the cultures of ancient and modern people are reflected in their cultural symbols. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Cities in Asia
In this Xpeditions lesson, students identify the characteristics of cities and analyze the influence of geography on patterns of urban settlement. They explore the role geography plays in the types of cities that develop. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic