Curated OER
The Aztecs - Mighty Warriors of Mexico
Upper elementary learners identify the Aztecs as the builders of a great city and rich civilization in what is now Mexico. They locate the Aztec Empire and its capital on a map and place the Aztecs in the chronology of American history....
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Primary Sources: Diaz and Cortes
Provided are two descriptions, both from famous Spanish explorers. Pupils read each passage and then answer 2 inference questions based on how they think each description shows what Cortes and Diaz felt about the Aztecs. Show images of...
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The European Conquest of the Americas
Witness the birth of the Americas in this presentation, which details the European Explorers who contributed to adding vital details on our modern-day maps. Viewers' worlds will literally expand after seeing the results of Cortes and the...
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Conquistadors: Hernán Cortes
High schoolers discover the accomplishments of Hernan Cortes. In this Exploration Age lesson plan, students discuss the attributes of Cortes and his role as a conquistador. High schoolers then conduct further research to participate in a...
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"Mexico" Lessons
Students complete a number of lessons to learn the history of Mexico. They research Aztec myths, Tenochtitlan, and create reports to share with the class.
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Writing Exercise: The Spanish in North America
Bring writing into your history course with this exercise on Spanish development and conquest in North America. Five short-answer prompts get students writing about various aspects of Spanish influence. They consider the origin of the...
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Aztecs Meet the Spanish
Students simulate an Independent Counsel to represent the Spanish and the Aztecs to formulate a policy for the Roman Catholic Church in 1527. They conduct research, graph the similarities and differences, create a poster, and write a...
Smithsonian Institution
Conflicting Voices of the Mexican War
Americans wanted to fulfill Manifest Destiny, and this pattern continued with the Mexican War. The resource specifically teaches about the Mexican War through a variety of exercises including a research project, group work, brainstorming...
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Conquests
In this Mexican history worksheet, students examine a list of 7 events during the time of Spanish conquests. Students identify and describe the significance of each of the events.
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Why did the Aztec and Inca civilizations disappear?
Middle schoolers can analyze primary source documents to answer the question, "Why did the Aztec and Inca civilizations disappear?" They will read the provided excerpts then answer 11 different questions to uncover the ultimate answer.
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Conquest of the Americas
Students study the Aztecs and Incas. For this Aztecs and Incas lesson, students discover their similiarities and differences and how the Spainards defeated both. Students create a picture book about one of these empires.
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The Conquest of the Aztec Civilization
Students use the classroom atlases, the Internet or textbooks to draw a freehand map. They work in groups using the maps in the book The Broken Spears (Portilla) and The Conquest of New Spain (Diaz) to draw a freehand map identifying...
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Coronado: Misfortune's Explorer
Fourth graders discuss the importance of Coronado's expedition through Texas and the trials his men endured during the journey. They view and discuss a map of Coronado's route, the effects of weather on the Great Plains, and Buffalo....
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Tenochtitlan Needs a Drink
Students engineer a way to provide drinking water using Aztec technology. In this engineering a way to provide drinking water using Aztec technology lesson, students find a way to deliver fresh water to a city surrounded by salt water. ...
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Gunpowder and the Explosion of World War
Students consider how technology changed the world of war. In this world history lesson, students research 20th century world conflicts and then compose essays that feature the how technology changed the way that wars were fought.
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Conquering North America
Students create a study guide on colonization of North America. In this American Colonization lesson plan, students complete a chart of explorers and their conquests. Students complete a crossword puzzle using explorer facts. Students...
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Art for Protest or Persuasion (Mural Options)
Young scholars examine various murals made for protest or persuasion purposes. Using the artwork, they identify the different types of techniques and media used to make them. They discuss the other types of jobs that had to be completed...
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A Pair, A Panel, A Presentation: Creating an Image for Your School
Students create a screen for the school. They work as a group to create a screen using various scenes from the school. Once they have finished their project, they explain why the artist chose to use the scenes from his time period.
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The Search for the Lost City of El Dorado
Ninth graders research the reasons to why people want to find the city of El Dorado. In this Spanish exploration lesson, 9th graders read an article and answer guided reading questions. Students present their findings to the class on...