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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: Carving Through History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Peek into the art and history of ancient Mexico by analyzing the artifact Stone Serpent Heads. Learners examine images of the piece, discuss its origin, history, and significance. They experience the carving process by creating similar...
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Activity
University of California

Tenochtitlán

For Teachers 7th Standards
Behold, the Great Aztec empire! Scholars use primary sources to understand the impact of the Aztec city Tenochtitlan. Academics complete a worksheet and participate in group discussion to understand how Tenochtitlan was a melting pot for...
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PPT
Curated OER

Aztec Gods

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The Aztec people had  many gods in their pantheon. Your class gets to learn about three of them. They read about each of the three main gods, then create a god of their own. They use what they've learned about each god to make and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Mexico

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Here are three interconnected lessons intended to build an understanding of life in Mexico prior to and after contact with Spain. Learners take a "trip" to Tenochtitlan through a series of images, read The Evil of Tezcatilipoca and The...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Aztecs - Mighty Warriors of Mexico

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Upper elementary learners identify the Aztecs as the builders of a great city and rich civilization in what is now Mexico. They locate the Aztec Empire and its capital on a map and place the Aztecs in the chronology of American history....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Eagle Has Landed: Aztecs Find a Home

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the Aztec civilization and locate it on a map. They explain the legend of the city of Tenochtitan and investigate the symbolism of the Mexican flag.
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Activity
Smarter Balanced

Aztec Empire

For Teachers 7th - 11th
To set the stage for a study of the Aztec Empire, groups use the provided definition of civilization and generate a list of elements that make up our modern day civilization. The whole class then examines an image of an Aztec city and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Exchange, Destruction and Reconstruction of Architectural Signs and Symbols in Mexico-Tenochtitlan: A History of Order and Power

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use the internet to research the history of cultures throughout the world. In groups, they disucss the meaning of various symbols and view Tenochtitlan as a center of power and wealth. They use everyday materials to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tenochtitlan Needs a Drink

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engineer a way to provide drinking water using Aztec technology.  In this engineering a way to provide drinking water using Aztec technology activity, students find a way to deliver fresh water to a city surrounded by salt...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Artifacts: Bringing the Past Back to Life -- the Mexican Case

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine and discuss the meanings of the various symbols in Tenochtitlan. In groups, they complete a part of the model of the city and discuss the importance of finding artifacts. Individually, they choose an a two-dimensional...
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Website
University of California

University of California at San Diego: Aztec Chronology

For Students 9th - 10th
An extremely detailed chronology of the Aztecs and their predecessors, stretching from 600 AD to 1521, their conquest by the Spaniards. Scroll to the end to find a genealogical chart of the Aztec royal house.
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Art Images of Tenochtitlan Past and Present

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This site is a curriculum unit on art from Tenochtitlan, specifically the case of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Provides three lesson plans, a glossary, bibliography, and other resources.
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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: The Conquistadors

For Students 9th - 10th
A huge website that provides a virtual field trip exploring the Spanish adventurers who quested for gold and land in the New World. The site has information on Pizarro, Orellana, Cabeza de Vaca, Cortes as well as extensive information...
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Aztec

For Students 9th - 10th
An encyclopedia article from Wikipedia on the Aztecs discusses the legend of how they first appeared, their culture, human sacrifice, and the end of the empire.
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Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Aztec

For Teachers 9th
A learning module on the Aztec Empire that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include the capital of Tenochtitlan, an...
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Primary
Cengage Learning

The Earth and Its People: Cortes on the Aztecs: Two Letters to Charles V

For Students 9th - 10th
This site demonstrates the impression that native Mexican people made on Hernando Cortes during his conquest. Includes good discussion questions.
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Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Hernando Cortes 1485 1547

For Students 5th - 7th
Furnished is a brief summary of the life and explorations of Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortes. Take a look at the photos and maps of his journey of what today is called Mexico.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Aztecs Find a Home: The Eagle Has Landed

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Aztecs Find a Home: The Eagle Has Landed." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: The Conquistadors: Aztec Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the development of the Aztec Empire and its status just before the Spanish Conquest. Click on the hyperlinks or pictures for more information. From part of an extensive PBS website about the Conquistadors.
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Handout
World History Encyclopedia

World History Encyclopedia: Aztec Civilization

For Students 9th - 10th
Entry references the history of the Aztec Empire with a focus on Tenochtitlan, religion, architecture, art, and its eventual collapse.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas Tenochtitlan

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] A retelling of a legend about the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans Tenochtitlan

For Teachers 4th - 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This nonfiction passage shares the legend of the creation of the Mayan city of Tenochtitlan. This passage reinforces essential reading comprehension skills. Opportunities for vocabulary acquisition are...
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans the Aztec Empire

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This nonfiction passage provides information about the ancient Aztec Empire, including the significance of Montezuma and Tenochtitlan. This passage reinforces essential reading comprehension skills....
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Unknown Type
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: The World of the Aztecs Quiz

For Students 3rd - 8th
Take this interactive, multiple choice quiz over the Aztecs, and then check your answers for review after answering the questions.