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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesoamerican Market Fair

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students organize an Mesoamerican market fair. In this early civilizations lesson, students celebrate the culmination of a unit on Mesoamerican cultures by planning, marketing, and hosting a market fair complete with food, games,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Central American Immigrants to the United States: Refugees from Unrest

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the major aspects of Olmec and Mayan civilzations, including economic, political, and religious. They list contributions of these civilizations. Students identify the Central American countries where the United States...
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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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PPT
Curated OER

The Inca Empire

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Explore the amazing empire of the Inca. Presented here is a very brief outline regarding the government, economy, and achievements of the Inca. Your class will enjoy the vivid photographs and appreciate the easy-to-follow text. Several...
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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

Relative History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore theories about how the Olmec civilization influenced other Mesoamerican societies. They research the Olmecs to create a museum exhibit of their findings and reflect on how an Olmec person might have understood the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ANALYSIS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine a variety of maps and documents to identify physical and cultural features of neighborhoods, cities, states, and countries, to explain the historical migration of people, expansion and disintegration of empires,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rich Chocolate: Mayan and Aztec use of Chocolate

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students conduct Internet research to discover how Mesoamerican's used chocolate. For this South American history lesson, students work in pairs to complete an activity worksheet and engage in class discussion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesoamerica

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students demonstrate knowledge of early Middle American civilizations. They study Mesoamerican i religions, governments, and achievements. They identify geographies of North and South America.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Anasazi/Mesoamerican/Andean: Time and Cultural Passages

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders role play the position of someone in one of six different civilization groups. They research the group's development, advancement and fall of their civilization. They create a presentation to share the information with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mayan Culture

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils use RAFT prompts to write about Mayan society. In this lesson on Mayan culture, students research and then explain the Mayan hierarchy and social structure. As a culminating activity each student will write a newspaper article...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mayan Empire

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mayan History

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine Mayan contributions to the world. For this Mesoamerican culture lesson, students view a slideshow about the Maya and then peruse books about the accomplishments of the culture. Students create charts that highlight Mayan...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pre-Colonial Native American Groups

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate U.S. history by researching the Internet and taking a test. In this American Indian group lesson plan, students identify the many specific Native American tribes and their geographic locations. Students research the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Culture Clash: New World Meets Old

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the history of Christopher Columbus.  In this World History lesson, 6th graders research facts about Christopher Columbus.  Students write their own opinion about Columbus's background focusing on three piecesof...
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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
Mex Connect

Mexconnect: The Maya Civilization and Cities: A Resource Page

For Students 9th - 10th
The Maya series of articles consists of a map, Maya civilization timeline, cities, numerals and calendar, historical conflicts, and trade and commerce. Articles are written by Luis Dumois, a student of Mayan civilization. Galleries of...
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Website
Other

Univ. Of Kansas: Toltecs: Lecture Notes

For Students 9th - 10th
A set of lecture notes detailing the Toltec culture and civilization. These notes are part of a larger course covering the Mesoamerican civilizations.
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Website
The British Museum

British Museum: Explore World Cultures: Aztecs

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a description and image gallery with piece descriptions for the art of the prehispanic mesoamerican civilization of the Aztecs.
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Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Complex Societies

For Teachers 5th
A learning module on the complexities of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Aztecs Mighty Warriors of Mexico

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Unit plan to teach about the Aztec civilization. Includes websites, worksheets, activities, and extending the lesson.
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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

Mesoamerican Religions

For Students 4th - 8th
Discusses features of the religious practices of the Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, and Aztec civilizations.
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Handout
Other

Mesoamerican Governments

For Students 4th - 8th
Discusses characteristics of the governments of the Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, and Aztec civilizations.