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Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

For Teachers 5th Standards
A 10-lesson unit explores the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. Over the course of two weeks, scholars read nonfiction excerpts, discuss their findings, and complete activities. An assessment equipped with multiple choice and matching...
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Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

For Teachers 5th
Here are a series of lessons on the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations. This incredible, 15-lesson unit would be perfect for any fifth grade study on these important civilizations. Learners focus on the complex nature of the cultures,...
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Being an Archeologist: Chuck Spencer

For Students 6th - 12th
Meet Chuck Spencer, an archeologist who studies the Zapotec people who lived in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico over 2000 years ago. Spencer shares in print his response to questions posed by kids.
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Workbook
Smithsonian Institution

Ceramica de los Ancestros

For Students 3rd - 6th
Scholars join a field expedition team to unearth a plethora of treasures from Central America. Artifacts listed in alphabetical order come with an informational blurb and a picture designed for participants to color. Activity pages...
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Activity
Big Kid Science

Eclipse Classroom Activities: Cultural Significance Project

For Teachers 1st - 12th Standards
What better way to celebrate eclipses than across cultures? Explore myths of solar and lunar eclipses from ancient cultures like the Chinese, Ancient Greek, Mesoamerican, Incan, Egyptian, Ancient Babylonian, and Middle Eastern. Learners...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Aztec and Mayan Mythology

For Teachers 6th
Here's a fresh take on a mythology unit. Use the myths of the Mayan and Aztec peoples of Mesoamerica instead of the more traditional Greek and Roman stories. This abstract suggests possible approaches and resources that can be used to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesoamerica: The History of Central America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the life of a powerful woman of the Maya Empire. They analyze the role of women in Maya society and compare them to powerful women of today in an essay.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Writing Exercise: Mesoamerica

For Students 7th - 10th
Use writing to examine Mesoamerica with this short-answer exercise. Informational text isn't provided to help scholars answer these three questions, so you could either provide it or make it an individual research project. Learners...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesoamerica: The History of Central America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the role of women in Mesoamerica. They watch segments of the Discovery video "Mesoamerica: The History of Central America". After conducting further research pertaining to specific Mayan women, they write essays...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesoamerican Codex Books

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders recreate Mesoamerican Codex Books using brown paper bags, paints, glue, an iron, and books on Mesoamerican Glyphs in this 5th grade activity in the Art classroom. Resource links and book references are provided for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mesoamerican Mystique

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students gain a better understanding of the cultural diversity in the northern region of Central America. They engage in a lesson which focuses on research, archaeology, historical videos, and travel highlights.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE MESOAMERICAN MYSTIQUE

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners research, archeology, historical videos, and travel highlights in the northern region of Central America. They identify the various archaeological / historical sites along with a date of probable existence and the title of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

East to West: Africa's Influence on Mexico

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Your historians and social anthropologists study the relationship between peoples of ancient Africa and ancient Mesoamerica. They relate in written or verbal form the African presence in the ancient Americas. They create their own...
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Art Works in Time

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site is a curriculum unit on the Maya culture for elementary students. Provides a lot of background information, five lesson plans, a bibliography, and other resources.
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Website
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Chaco Canyon: A Virtual Conference

For Students 9th - 10th
The Anasazi ruins of the Chaco Canyon are profiled as well as the Native American civilization that flourished there.
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Graphic
Other

Mesoweb: Mesoamerican Art and Sculpture

For Students 9th - 10th
This website contains over 100 images of Mesoamerican art categorized by culture. Includes brief explanations of each item.
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale the Maya Culture of Mesoamerica

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This lesson unit on Mayan culture focuses on Mayan art. It can be adapted to various grades and features classroom activities, student resources, a bibliography, and the like.
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Website
The Field Museum

Field Museum: Chocolate

For Students 3rd - 8th
An online exhibit that explores all aspects of chocolate from its history to its manufacture to recipes. Included are teacher resources to add enrichment to this study.
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Lesson Plan
Science Museum of Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota: Maya Adventure

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This museum site brings you lessons having to do with Mayan culture.
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: The Influence of Mesoamerica on Mexican Art

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A unit on Mexican art, Frida Kahlo, Native Civilizations in Mesoamerica, and Mayan culture. The site includes lesson plans, bibliographies, and much more.
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Handout
Mex Connect

Mexico Connect: Pre Classic Period of the Olmecs

For Students 9th - 10th
The Formative Period (1500 BCE-300 CE) of Mesoamerican culture is surveyed with an overview of the Olmec culture. Includes discussion of Olmec stone head sculpture, art, building, writing, and other achievements.
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Graphic
Other

Architectonic Research: Meso American Architecture

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives a brief outline of the Meso-american time periods. The major architectural sites are shown from the time periods.
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Website
Other

Maya Ruins

For Students 9th - 10th
Based on a location map, this site gives you information and images of Mayan archaeological sites. There is also a time line of architectural styles that links to the sites of each style.
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Website
Other

Ancient American Civilizations: Mesoamerica

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource gives an overview of the beginnings of Mesoamerican civilization. The sections about the Olmec are "Early Preclassic" and "Middle Preclassic." Includes information about the raw materials and the luxury items used by the...