I teach sixth-grade history/language arts core curriculum, which in California covers the ancient
civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Kush, Ancient Hebrews, India, China, and Japan. The last
three include the medieval period. Primary sources are used and students look for similarities and differences in history themes, technology, writing, everyday life, burial practices, rituals, and the concepts of cultural diffusion versus independent invention. The role geography plays in the development of each civilization is also considered. 

In Language Arts, students are introduced to paragraph writing using a formulaic pattern of thesis statement, reason, examples, and conclusion. Once this is in place, students are introduced to their first of five contemporary rite of passage novels and most of the expository writing is in response to literature. The literature program also includes the reading and analysis of myths, folktales, and poems of the individual civilizations including the creation and flood myths. I have included samples of my story analysis,  journal assignments, and student work. 

Since the world history curriculum is vast and the objective of any program is to provide depth and complexity, I have woven thematic strands through the year which enable students and teachers to focus on certain areas which are integral components of human experience. The linchpin of these strands is the role myths play in the particular culture. Students learn that for an overwhelming time in the past there was no distinction between literature and history. They must also look for similarities and universal patterns in these stories across cultures, what role traditions play and how they are passed on through time. Finally, I stress that history is a reflection of a culture and that it has been an exclusive process where much has been omitted purposely. 

The charts I have provided below (1) gives an overview of the materials I use and (2) the themes and topics revolving around the role myth and heroic stories which enable me to maintain a focus throughout the year. (Michele Delattre has added suggestions for extending this approach in the 7th grade area studies.)