Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

For Teachers 5th
Here are a series of lessons on the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations. This incredible, 15-lesson unit would be perfect for any fifth grade study on these important civilizations. Learners focus on the complex nature of the cultures,...
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

For Teachers 5th Standards
A 10-lesson unit explores the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. Over the course of two weeks, scholars read nonfiction excerpts, discuss their findings, and complete activities. An assessment equipped with multiple choice and matching...
Instructional Video4:12
TED-Ed

The Aztec Myth of the Unlikeliest Sun God

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
How did the sun arrive in the sky? Learners watch a short film that describes the myth of Nanahuatl, a weak Aztec god who sacrificed himself to become the fifth sun for his people.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Aztec and Mayan Mythology

For Teachers 6th
Here's a fresh take on a mythology unit. Use the myths of the Mayan and Aztec peoples of Mesoamerica instead of the more traditional Greek and Roman stories. This abstract suggests possible approaches and resources that can be...
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Unit 2: Early American Civilizations

For Teachers 5th Standards
Fifth graders explore early American civilizations in a four-week ELA unit. Every lesson offers an opportunity to read and discuss a selected passage followed by word work that covers vocabulary, grammar, and morphology. Learners write...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas

For Teachers 1st
Students study the geography of the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas and create a map book. They share in stories and legends about these people. Handouts and worksheets are included.
Instructional Video9:00
Crash Course

American Floods: Crash Course World Mythology #18

For Students 7th - 12th
According to an ancient Mayan myth, the Creator made people using cornmeal and alcohol. Viewers explore the story with the 18th video in the Crash Course World Mythology series. Scholars discover myths about floods from the Mayans and...
Instructional Video1:46
1
1
PBS

The Teotihuacan Fire Ceremony

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Fire and light play an almost universal role in world religions, and the predecessors for the Aztecs were no exception. Using an animation, the enlightening video recreates the Teotichuacan Fire Ceremony with rich details and features...
Unit Plan
1
1
Core Knowledge Foundation

Early American Civilizations Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology

For Teachers 1st Standards
Bridge subjects ancient history and English language arts together with a unit all about the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. Eleven lessons begin with a read-aloud followed by a whole-class discussion in preparation for practice by...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

I AM a Researcher, "I"nca, "A"ztec, "M"aya

For Teachers 5th
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....
Unit Plan
New York City Department of Education

Geography and Early Peoples of the Western Hemisphere

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Young historians discover the early people of the western hemisphere. The unit explores how the land changed, how it was used and homes of early Americans such as Incas, Mayans, Inuits, Aztecs, and Pueblos. Individuals also examine these...
Instructional Video12:04
1
1
Crash Course

Pre-Columbian Theater, Spanish Empire, and Sor Juana: Crash Course Theater #22

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The Aztecs turned the act of making sacrifices into a theatrical production. These native religious practices introduce a video on Pre-Columbian theater. By watching the video, viewers discover the connection between theater and the...
Unit Plan
Virginia Department of Education

World History and Geography to 1500 A.D.

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Here's a great resource for your curriculum library. The 240-page packet, organized into units by topics, includes sample lesson plans, links to primary and secondary source documents, worksheets, activities, and sample assessments.
Unit Plan
Midwest Institute for Native American Studies

Introduction to Pre-Columbian Lessons

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Native peoples established civilizations all over Central and North America. Introduce native civilizations with a unit that promotes discussion, reinforces map skills, enhances reading comprehension, and exposes young historians to...
Instructional Video11:09
Crash Course

Water and Classical Civilizations: Crash Course World History 222

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Humans cannot survive without water, and neither can civilizations. A brief history of ancient civilizations and their dependence on—and management of—water demonstrates how states either flourish or flail based on the availability of...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Mexico: A Look At Its Culture and Geography

For Teachers 1st
Students canvass the Mexican geography, culture, dress, language, crafts, and traditions in this unit of eight lessons. The Mexican Independance Day is compared to our own and the contributions of the Mayan, Azetec, and Spanish are...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Exploring Borderlands

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What motivated Europeans to explore the New World, and what effects did their exploration have on Native American populations? The second installment of a 16-part American Passages series prompts pupils to watch a video and read several...
Unit Plan
Project Food, Land & People

Loco for Cocoa

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a time line and map about how chocolate traveled the world. In this chocolate lesson plan, students also create and taste chocolate.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Meso-America

For Teachers 5th
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.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Travel to Mesoamerica

For Teachers 1st
Students research books, watch movies, and look on the internet to find information on ancient America, Mexico, and Central America. In this Mesoamerica lesson plan, students participate in a social studies unit on North America of the...
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Aztec

For Teachers 9th
A learning module on the Aztec Empire that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include the capital of Tenochtitlan, an...
Unit Plan
The Newberry Library

The Aztecs and the Making of Colonial Mexico: Europeans Invade the Aztec Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes invaded the Aztec empire in the 16th century. This conquest led to the colonization of Mexico. The Newberry Library provides an in depth look into this period of Mexican history through photos,...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Native American and Aztec Mythology

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a comprehensive unit on Native American and Aztec Mythology including key terms, animals and archtypes, animal tricksters, totems, readings of Cherokee and California myths, the Aztec creation myth, research assignment with...
Instructional Video
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Aztec Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
This video lesson from Khan Academy provides information about the Aztec Empire. This information is intended for high school world history students for for those who are studying arts and humanities.

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