Subject: Social Science (History and Geography)
Class: VI (Age group: 10-12 years)
Board: CBSE/NCERT-aligned (Suitable for schools following NCERT textbooks, including the updated 2025-26 integrated book Exploring Society: India and Beyond or classic separate books Our Pasts – I and The Earth: Our Habitat)
Duration: 4-5 periods (40-45 minutes each) – Can be spread over 2-3 days
Theme: Introductory session to build curiosity about "What is History?" and "What is Geography?" and why they matter.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain what History is, why we study the past, and how historians find out about it.
- Differentiate between primary and secondary sources of History.
- Understand basic concepts of Geography – Earth as our home in space, maps, and environment.
- Locate India on a world map/globe and identify basic geographical features (continents, oceans).
- Appreciate the interconnection between History and Geography (people's lives shaped by time and place).
- Develop skills like observation, questioning, map reading, and timeline creation.
Key Concepts Covered
- History: Past is different for different people; Sources (manuscripts, inscriptions, archaeology); BC/AD; One past or many pasts?
- Geography: Celestial bodies, Solar System, Earth’s position, Globe vs Map, Continents & Oceans, Domains of Earth (brief intro).
Teaching Aids/Materials Required
- Globe and political world map
- Physical map of India
- Projector/TV for short videos (2-3 min clips on Solar System and Archaeological digs)
- Chart paper, markers, sticky notes
- Pictures/printouts: Old manuscripts, coins, Harappan seal, satellite image of Earth
- Timeline strip (long paper roll)
- Worksheets (printed)
- NCERT textbook (relevant pages)
Period-wise Breakup
Period 1: Engagement + What Can We Know About the Past? (History Introduction)
| Time | Activity | Description | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Hook/Engagement | Ask: "If you found an old box in your grandfather’s house with letters, photos, and coins from 50 years ago, what would you do?" Show a real/old object (coin/photo). | Whole class discussion |
| 10 min | What is History? | Explain: History is the study of change over time. The past was different for kings, farmers, women, traders, etc. (One past? Many pasts!). Read Rasheeda’s story from NCERT Ch 1 (History). | Teacher narration + textbook reading |
| 15 min | How do we know about the past? | Discuss sources: • Manuscripts (hand-written books on palm leaf/bark) • Inscriptions (writing on stone/metal) • Archaeology (tools, pots, buildings) Show pictures. |
Group activity: Students sort picture cards into “Manuscript/Inscription/Archaeology” |
| 10 min | Dates in History | Quick intro to BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini). Simple timeline on board (e.g., your birth → today → future). | Demonstration on blackboard |
Homework: Bring one old family photo/object and be ready to tell “its story”.
Period 2: Where Did People Live? + Names of the Land (Linking History & Geography)
| Time | Activity | Description | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Recap | Quick quiz (oral): What are three ways we know the past? | Whole class |
| 10 min | People and Places | People lived near rivers (Narmada, Ganga, Indus). Show on map why (water, food, travel). Names of our land: Bharat, India, Hindustan. | Map pointing + discussion |
| 15 min | Travelling to the Past (Activity) | Students imagine travelling 2000 years back along the Indus. In groups, list 3 things they might see (different clothes, no cars, etc.). | Group work → Share |
| 10 min | Ordinary People in History | Emphasise: History is not only about kings; also hunters, farmers, craftspeople. | Story telling (short example of a potter from Harappa) |
Period 3: Introduction to Geography – Our Home in Space
| Time | Activity | Description | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Transition | “History tells us when and how people lived. Geography tells us where and why there.” | Teacher explanation |
| 10 min | The Earth in the Solar System | Show video/globe: Sun (star), 8 planets, Earth is the only planet with life. Moon is Earth’s satellite. Asteroids, meteoroids. | Video + globe demo |
| 15 min | Galaxy → Solar System → Earth | Full moon to new moon phases (demo with ball & torch). Why Earth is special (air, water, right temperature). | Hands-on demo |
| 10 min | Continents and Oceans | Locate 7 continents & 5 oceans on globe. Find Asia → India. | Pair work: “Find and show” on globe |
Period 4: Globe, Maps, and Domains of the Earth + Integration
| Time | Activity | Description | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 min | Globe is a small Earth | Difference between globe and map. Latitudes & longitudes (basic). | Globe vs flat map demo |
| 15 min | Four Domains of Earth | Brief intro: Lithosphere (land), Hydrosphere (water), Atmosphere (air), Biosphere (life). | Chart + simple drawing |
| 10 min | Activity: My Place on Earth | Students draw a simple map from home → school → India → Earth in space. | Individual drawing |
| 5 min | Link History-Geography | Example: Early humans chose river valleys (Geography) → led to settlements and cities (History). | Discussion |
Period 5 (if needed): Assessment + Consolidation
| Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 20 min | Worksheet/Quiz | MCQs, Match the following, Label map, Short answers (What is a manuscript? Name 3 continents, etc.) |
| 15 min | Class Timeline Project | Students add their family object/photo to a class timeline on the wall (grandparents → parents → me). |
| 5 min | Takeaway | “History helps us learn from the past; Geography helps us understand our present world and take care of it.” |
Assessment (Formative)
- Participation in discussions and activities (30%)
- Worksheet/Quiz (40%)
- Timeline contribution + drawing (30%)
Rubric: Clear explanation, neatness, correct labelling, creativity.
Differentiated Instruction / Inclusive Strategies
- Visual learners: Maps, videos, pictures
- Kinesthetic: Globe handling, drawing
- Slow learners: Peer pairing, simplified questions
- Advanced learners: Extra task – Research one historical source (e.g., Ashoka’s inscription)
Extension / Home Assignment
- Draw the Solar System and label planets.
- Interview a family elder: “What was life like when you were my age?” Write 4-5 points.
- Locate your state on the map of India and mark the nearest river.
This lesson plan creates excitement, connects the two subjects right fro