In this module, we will highlight interrelated Essential Disciplinary Practices with a focus on standards related to civilizations, empires and colonialism. Our learning will explore two essential questions:

Guiding Questions

How did global empires acquire power?
What were the consequences for and reactions of colonized communities?

As you continue through this module about civilizations, empires and colonialism, follow along as we connect these concepts to the Essential Disciplinary Practices, the standards and these essential questions.

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Teaching with the Essential Disciplinary Practices in grades 6–12 can support the development of students’ critical thinking skills as they learn about power dynamics and cultural exchange within different civilizations and empires. Teaching using the Essential Disciplinary Practices can also create opportunities for students to learn about how colonialism and the legacies of global civilizations and empires have shaped the modern world, and therefore, students’ lived experiences. An overview of the instructional concepts can be found in the Instructional Elements for Teaching Oregon's 2024 Social Science Standards powerpoint below. To learn more about the Essential Disciplinary Practices, review the factsheet below. As you review, consider how the teaching of Essential Disciplinary Practices will be particularly relevant for teaching about civilizations, empires and colonialism.

Select the link to view the PPT or PDF in the previewer, or download the PPT or PDF by selecting the download button.

This section models activities related to the following Essential Disciplinary Practices (EDPs):

EDP 1: Develop questions for social science inquiry.
EDP 3: Collect, interpret, evaluate and apply information from primary and secondary sources to better understand and create historical narratives, distinguishing between fact and opinion.
EDP 4: Seek and analyze diverse perspectives to develop a more complete understanding of past and current events. Evaluate and assess how discrimination, racism and inequality shape historical narratives, individual perspectives, intersecting identities and diverse understandings of the past and present.
EDP 10: Apply the practices and knowledge of social science to determine the most effective ways to take informed civic action.

You will see these Essential Disciplinary Practices modeled throughout the module. Throughout the module, you will have an opportunity to reflect on using them to inform your instruction.