Curated OER
I AM a Researcher, "I"nca, "A"ztec, "M"aya
Students create and original multimedia presentation on the Incas, Mayans, or Aztecs. In this Meso-American civilization lesson, students research and then compare and contrast the civilizations of the Incas, Mayan and the Aztecs....
Curated OER
The Mayan Empire
Students study vocabulary associated with the Mayan Empire; its art, daily life, inventions, and religious beliefs. They examine why the Mayan culture is considered to be one of the most advanced of the ancient civilizations by...
Curated OER
Archaeology For Kids Quiz 85
In this archaeology for kids quiz 85 worksheet, student interactively answer 12 multiple choice questions about honoring the dead in ancient cultures, as part of an online magazine.
Curated OER
Theobroma Cacao "The Food of the Gods"
Sixth graders research the history of chocolate and write short answers to provided questions. They read about the Mayan and Aztec civilizations and the Spanish conquest.
Curated OER
Me Oh Maya
Students compare basketball to Mayan ring-ball. They write a newspaper article that may have been published during Mayan times.
Curated OER
Meso-America
Students will identify and locate Central and South America and their countries and features, as well as Meso-American civilizations. Students will compare civilizations and discuss voyages of relevant explorers.
Curated OER
ARTIFACT to ART to GLYPHS
Students study the development of early Latin American civilizations in unit one. The second part of the unit is based on early image-making attempts from the Cro-Magnon to the Peruvian Incas. Students create their own weavings using a...
Curated OER
Mesoamerican Codex Books
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...
Ed Change
Who Said It? A Re-Perception Quiz
In this controversial issues worksheet, learners read 15 famous quotations on controversial topics and identify who said each of them.
Curated OER
Cultural Calendar
Students design their own cultural calendar. In this calendar making lesson, students decide on a culture for a calendar theme and discuss how calendars differ from the US calendar. Students create their own calendar using a template....
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Writings of the Ancient Maya
Students are introduced to the ancient Mayan civilization through their writings. They explore a social studies focus on the destruction of many Mayan writings by the Spanish and what archaeologists have learned from the writings that...
Incredible Art Department
The Incredible Art Department: Ancient Mayan Civilization Art & Culture
Looks at the art and culture of the Maya civilization including history, forms of art, recent discoveries, and some art lessons. There is also a lengthy list of web resource links.
Canadian Museum of History
Canadian Museum of History: Maya Civilization
Lots of information about many facets of the Maya civilization. Covers the history, people, geography, languages, cities, society, cosmology, the calendar, and lots more. Includes a glossary and a timeline.
Other
Ancient Scripts: Writing Systems
History and definition of writing, plus extensive information on the types, families, and regions of written languages. For each language, you'll find information on when and where it was used, the people who used it, and what it looked...
Mex Connect
Mexconnect: The Ancient Maya: A Commercial Empire
This article discusses the implications of trade and commerce during the Mayan Period. The principles of resource allocation and specialization are discussed. (Published January 1, 2006)
Other
Mesoweb: The Temple of the Inscriptions Tablets
Wonderful PDF files of various tablets found at the Temple of the Inscriptions in the ancient Maya city-state of Palenque.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Ancient Meso America
[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.
Other
Life and Death in Ancient Mexico
This site describes the religious beliefs of the Olmecs and other ancient Mexicans, especially in regard to life and death, using artifacts and myths.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Collapse: Why Do Civilizations Fall?
Why did great civilizations fall? War, disease, overpopulation or natural disasters? Interactive content and activities allow you, by sifting through archaeological evidence, to investigate the collapse of the Mayan civilization, the...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Junior Scholastic: Jungle of Secrets
Check out this site to discover more about the Ancient Maya culture. An article and video are provided. [2:19]
Other
Mc Clung Museum: Maya: Portraits of a People
Gives a short but concise summary of the Mayan civilization along with a timeline and pictures. Can serve as a good introduction to the Mayans. Map of the region is also available.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Unmasking the Maya: Story of Sna Jtz'ibajom
This Smithsonian website looks at the Maya of today in the Chiapas region of Mexico with a brief overview of their history.
Other
Maya Stories
This site has a collection of Maya stories and myths which can be used as primary sources.