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PPT
Curated OER

Native American Groups

For Teachers 4th
These slides are attractively designed but some contain a lot of text.  Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Aztec, Mayan, Olmec, and Mississippi Mound Builders are the pre-colonial Native American groups detailed in this PowerPoint....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mother Culture of Mexico: The Olmecs

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the Olmec civilization. They develop a map of Mexico and a map of the area of the Olmec civilization. They research Olmec art, religion, and architecture. They construct Olmec symbols including giant heads, altars,...
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Website
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: Soconusco Formative Project (2000)

For Students 9th - 10th
Excavation at this site indicates no other occupation after Middle Formative period, a fact that will drive research in this area. Site includes photographs of artifacts as they are found.
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Website
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: Bitumen Sourcing in the Olmec Region (2004)

For Students 9th - 10th
Study suggests that chemical studies on bitumen (hydrocarbon material) is a feasible method of studying inter-regional trade and social networks. Includes a chart defining archaeological phases of the Olmec Culture.
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Website
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: Olmec Civilization at San Andres, Tabasco, Mx

For Students 9th - 10th
A significant part of the research is a form of early writing. La Venta's hierarchy is defined by artifacts found during excavations.
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Handout
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: John Pohl's Mesoamerica

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive overview of Mesoamerica includes an introduction of the term Mesoamerica, the human populations and the region covered, a chronology including the PreClassic, Classic and PostClassic periods, and art and writing in ancient...
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Website
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: Dating Cholula, Mexico (2003)

For Students 9th - 10th
Researchers infer that Cholula construction may have begun at the same time as Great Pyramid in Teotihuacan. Readers are able to download the PDF file.
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Website
Other

Mesoweb: An Exploration of Mesoamerican Cultures

For Students 9th - 10th
An Exploration of Mesoamerican Cultures and Art is a database of many resources, publications, books, and articles. Click Search and enter the topic. Click Resources for archaeological sites and monuments such as Chichen Itza and Cacaxtla.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Americas

For Students 11th - 12th
After reading this section, students will be able to locate on a map the major American civilizations before the arrival of the Spanish, discuss the cultural achievements of these civilizations and also the differences and similarities...
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Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Spanish 2: Unit 4: El Cuerpo

For Students 9th - 10th
In this fourth unit of an intermediate Spanish course, students learn about and present information about the art, music, and literature of a Spanish-speaking country in Central America or the Caribbean. They also develop vocabulary...
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Website
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: Archaeological Investigations at Medias Aguas, Veracruz

For Students 9th - 10th
Excavations at Medias Aguas show a variety of architectural characteristics. The site may have been used as a funerary.
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Website
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: Mesoamerican Studies

For Students 9th - 10th
The Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies Site contains the work of a few archeologists and an extensive bibliography page.
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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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Website
Other

Mesoweb: Olmec Discovery at Zazacatla

For Students 9th - 10th
Report describing the discovery and excavation of an Olmec site at Zazacatla, Mexico.
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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...
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Website
Other

Cultures of Mesoamerica: Olmec

For Students 9th - 10th
Short article describing Olmec civilization as an Early Formative culture that made the transition from dispersed farming to village settlement. A discussion earthworks and links to pictures of artifacts are available. See "Gallery."
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Handout
Other

Tennessee Technological University: Civilization in Central America

For Students 9th - 10th
An outline of important civilizations in Central America that includes the Olmecs, the Maya, the Toltecs, and the Aztecs. The Aztec civilization is the focal point of the outline, which gives the major points concerning their culture in...
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Graphic
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: Gulf Coast Area

For Students 9th - 10th
The map here shows the Gulf Coast area of Mexico and the locations of modern and ancient cities and towns, including Olmec sites.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: The Rest of the World in Time of Classical Greece

For Students 9th - 10th
A summary of what was happening in other world cultures during the Classical period in ancient Greece.
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Graphic
Other

Mesoweb: Mesoamerican Time Line

For Students 9th - 10th
Mesoweb provides a timeline that shows which cultures existed when in Mesoamerica and where.
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Website
Other

Life and Death in Ancient Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the religious beliefs of the Olmecs and other ancient Mexicans, especially in regard to life and death, using artifacts and myths.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Ancient Meso America

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson is an overview of Ancient Meso-America. Students will learn about the geography, first civilizations including the Olmec and Maya and their political, economic and social structures.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Mesoweb: Olmec Discovery at Zazacatla

For Students 9th - 10th
Report describing the discovery and excavation of an Olmec site at Zazacatla, Mexico.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Mesoweb: Olmec Discovery at Zazacatla

For Students 9th - 10th
Report describing the discovery and excavation of an Olmec site at Zazacatla, Mexico.