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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carnavals and Colonialization

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders compare and contrast different Carnavals throughout Latin America. For this Latin American lesson, 9th graders study the geography and colonial history of Latin America.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inca's Untangles World

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read a reprinted article from USA Today. In this metacognition lesson, students complete a worksheet about their thoughts while they are reading.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Couriers in the Inca Empire: Getting Your Message Across

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars examine how the Inca communicated over large distances. They locate the Inca Empire on a map, define key vocabulary terms, play the game, 'telephone,' and create a quipu to show the year they were born.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesoamerica: The History of Central America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the role of women in Mesoamerica. They watch segments of the Discovery video "Mesoamerica: The History of Central America". After conducting further research pertaining to specific Mayan women, they write essays...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aztec Culture

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the Aztec culture in Mexico. They focus on their religious practices. They write a goal to personally sacrifice something. They also write about the costs and benefits of a sacrifice.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking it to the Streets

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the concept of cultural diffusion. They give examples of cultural diffusion throughout history; e.g. the development of Cuban music and dance. Students explain how cultural diffusion impacts civilizations, past and...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Vocabulary Building

For Students 5th - 8th
In this vocabulary worksheet, students choose the correct vocabulary word to complete sentences and match definitions. Students have 24 words with 18 activities each.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arkansas History Lesson Plant One: Play-Do Soto

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete a variety of projects to learn about Arkansas history. In this Arkansas lesson plan, 5th graders go on a field trip to a state park, explore an Arkansas map, put play-dough on the trail of De Soto, color regions of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Irish Potato Famine and Immigration

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study how the potato famine affected the Irish population. They speculate on how the Irish were viewed by the English and the new Americans. They examine why the Irish immigrated to the new colonies. and evaluate how new...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impact of Exploration on Americas

For Teachers 8th - 11th
In this exploration of the America's study guide worksheet, students respond to 13 short answer questions. The questions correlate to assigned readings in a textbook.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New World and the Emergence of a New Race

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study specific terms and concepts about the discovery of America. They improve their history knowledge about some Latin American regions and their map and geography skills of the New World. They describe what is meant by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dia de los Muertos

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders research the Day of the Dead, an important Mexican holiday. They view videos, investigate Mexican geography and history and compare the Day of the Dead to the celebration of Halloween.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Panpipe

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the panpipe and the cultures that use them in their music. They view photos of Peru and Bolivia and discuss their cultures, listen to recordings of music that includes the panpipe, and construct a panpipe using PVC...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cinco De Mayo Vocabulary "Quiz"

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Cinco De Mayo vocabulary activity, students match vocabulary words on the left with definitions on the right. Worksheet includes a link to additional activities.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Portuguese Exploration and Spanish Conquest

For Students 11th - 12th
From a chapter on "Early Globalization: The Atlantic World, 1492-1650," this section describes the importance of Portuguese exploration of the Atlantic and Spanish exploration of the Americas.
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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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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Aztec Empire for Kids: Spanish Conquest

For Students 9th - 10th
Kids learn about the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire including Hernan Cortes and Montezuma II on this site.
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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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Website
PBS

Pbs: Conquistadors: Cabeza De Vaca

For Students 9th - 10th
Click on "The Marvelous Adventure" to follow Cabeza de Vaca's several year journey through the Southeast and Texas. Part of a larger site on the Spanish conquest of the Western world, these pages focus on Cabeza de Vaca. Includes de...
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Website
Other

Don Quijote: Spanish History

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an overview of Spanish history from Romans to actual time, through the Inquisition, the Spanish Flag, and art. It offers links to more information about each topic.
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1491 1607: Spanish Conquistadores and Colonial Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
The Spanish gained an early foothold in the colonies, quickly becoming the most powerful European power in the New World.
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Conquest, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A series of illustrations and accounts of Spanish conquest of Indians that reflect the fascination with and the brutality directed against native cultures.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Spain's Territorial Conquest in the Americas

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of Spanish territorial conquest in the New World is the history of the succession of conquistadors who often overwhelmed native empires, but were sometimes overwhelmed themselves. Read about the conquistadors who came to the...
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Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1491 1607: The Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
A quick comprehension check over the Columbian Exchange and Spanish Exploration.