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Worksheet
Curated OER

Writing Exercise: The Spanish in North America

For Students 4th - 7th
Bring writing into your history course with this exercise on Spanish development and conquest in North America. Five short-answer prompts get students writing about various aspects of Spanish influence. They consider the origin of the...
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Website
Other

Heritage History: Montezuma

For Students 3rd - 8th
Historical information about Montezuma II, ruler of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish Conquest. The information is taken from heritage history books written for young people.
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Website
University of Calgary

University of Calgary: Hernando Cortes Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
This account of "The Conquest of the Aztec Empire" tells the story of Cortes' encounter with the Aztecs and the fall of the empire.
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Website
Other

Timeline Index: Cortez, Conqueror of Mexico 1519

For Students 6th - 8th
A chronology of the life of Hernando Cortez up to the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs.
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Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Age of Exploration: The Spanish Conquest of Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
Lengthy description of the life of Hernan Cortes, the Spanish conquistador who brought down the Aztec Empire in Mexico. How this came to be is explained, with many details of the sophistication of Aztec civilization.
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Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Hernan Cortes

For Students 9th - 10th
Fordham University gives the text of Cortes' second letter to King Charles V, describing the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan, and the people who lived there.
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Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: An Aztec Account of the Spanish Conquest

For Students 9th - 10th
Fordham University provides an excerpt of an Aztec account of the initial encounter of Montezuma and the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes, as published by noted anthropologist Miguel Leon-Portilla. The meeting-turned-massacre,...
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Graphic
Other

Aztec Centers in the Region of Lake Texcoco

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of Lake Texcoco, showing the Aztec centers in the region at the time of the Spanish conquistadors. The entry route of Cortes into the city of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, is designated along with causeways into the city. A few...
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Handout
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: Hernando Cortes

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of Hernando Cortes (or Cortez) (1485 -1547), a Spanish adventurer who conquered what is now central and southern Mexico. His seizure of land, power, and wealth made him the greatest Spanish conqueror in the Americas. His...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Hernando Cortez

For Students 9th - 10th
(1485-1547) Spanish conquistador and conqueror of Mexico