Sixth grade social studies is a year-long course in which students study the people and places of the contemporary world. Societies are chosen for study from the following regions of the world: Europe, Russia and the Eurasian republics, North America, Middle America, South America, Southwest Asia-North Africa, Sub-Sahara Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Rim. Students study the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events in those societies and identify the locations and geographic characteristics of selected societies. Students examine the different ways of organizing economic and governmental systems. Students describe the nature of citizenship in the various societies as they examine the concepts of limited and unlimited governments; and compare institutions common to all societies such as government, education, and religious institutions. Students explore how the level of technology affects the development of selected societies and identify different points of view about selected events.