Curated OER
Enduring Patterns: Pre-Columbian Ecuadorean Textile Designs
Students examine Pre-Columbian Ecuadorean design motifs. They view examples of the designs, discuss the motif themes, and replicate the designs on modern fabric using authentic methods.
Curated OER
Clay Wipe Away: Ceramics
Discuss Pre-Colombian South American art with your class, then get out the clay and create some. Pupils practice using the wipe-away technique to create a ceramic tile similar to those made by the Maya. Great web links and a...
Curated OER
When A Line Meets Itself
Students investigate the linear characteristics of cultural art. In this art analysis lesson, students discover the Pre-Columbian Chimu culture and the many masks they created. Students identify the different shapes and lines...
Curated OER
AZTEC TILES
Pupils observe the shapes and lines that make up Aztec sculpture, study Pre-Columbian art as they discover the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas. They create a small-scale Aztec tile using pasta. Creative, clever and engaging.
Curated OER
The Land and People Before Columbus
The major pre-Columbian settlements are studied in this excellente social studies lesson plan. Fifth graders explain how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the environment, and focus on eight...
Curated OER
Abstract painting - Inspired by Textiles
Students compare and contrast various forms of artistic expression associated with specific groups of people, geographic regions, or time periods, specifically art of Andean cultures, and create art works using procedures borrowed from...
Curated OER
Making a Report to President Washington
Learners gain an understanding of some of the challenges the U.S. faced at its birth. They are asked to compose a report on the state of the nation in 1790 (addressed to President George Washington), which includes a narrative, maps and...
Curated OER
Facial Studies Through Creation of a Face Jug
Middle schoolers study facial expressions and create a face jug. For this facial study lesson, students look at images of face jugs through history before drawing thumbnails of facial images. They use the coil method to make a jug, and...
Curated OER
Island of the Blue Dolphins Jigsaw
Fourth graders research three topics from the book, either Village Life, Sea Life, or San Nicholas Island. They research independently and meet in a jigsaw format to share what they learned. As group they create a poster for class...
Curated OER
Scenes of Reverence: The Virgin of Guadalupe
Students learn the history of Christianity in New Spain. They learn the story and significance of the Virgin of Guadalupe. They compare and contrast images of the Virgin and religious art to European counterparts.
Curated OER
What Was It Like?
Students use the Internet to gather historical facts about the county in which they live. Using the information, they discover how to check it for accuracy and present their findings to the class. They write an essay about the history of...
Curated OER
Coming to California
Fourth graders read excerpts from Juan Bautista de Anza's diaries. They analyze the impact of primary sources. They write journal entries for characters in stories they have read during the year.
El Museo del Barrio
Dia de los Muertos Educator Resource Guide
What are the origins of el Dia de los Muertos, and how is this tradition observed in contemporary celebrations? With a variety of lesson plans and suggested hands-on activities, here is an excellent resource to reference as you...
Curated OER
The Chicano Movement in California - Culture, Causes, and Community
Students explore the culture and community of the Chicano movement in California using prints that emerged from the Chicano movement. The historical, binational, and bicultural components are examined in this three lessons unit.
Curated OER
American Prehistory: 8000 Years of Forest Management
Learners discuss the first people to live in North America and the types of evidence we have of their existence. They complete a set of worksheets and explore their answer in group discussions.
Other
A Pre Columbian (Art) Portfolio
Home page is an extensive search engine to locate artifacts by city or culture.
Mex Connect
Mexico Connect: Pre Classic Period of the Olmecs
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.
Stephen Byrne
History for Kids: Native American Art
History for Kids reference page provides an overview of Native American art which is representative of unique and diverse tribes throughout the Americas prior to Columbus.
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies
Famsi: John Pohl's Mesoamerica
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...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Anasazi
The Anasazi, the "ancient ones," were an important group among the early Southwest Indians. Read a description of their culture, housing, arts, and possible reasons for their disappearance.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Moche Culture, an Introduction
Moche architects and artists raised spectacular adobe platforms and pyramids and created exquisite ceramics and jewelry. View pictures and read descriptions of Moche artwork and culture in this essay.