Lesson Plan
Penn Museum

Ancient History Math Mystery

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Through several organized and attractive worksheets, your learners will make a deduction about tally marks and hieroglyphics to determine what they represent in the ancient numeral system. This is a well-designed, interdisciplinary...
Handout
Penn Museum

Maya Ball

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Sure the ancient Mayan civilization had an advanced calendar and mathematical system, but did you know that they also played a great team sport like basketball? Invite your learners to discover the great ballcourt at Chichen Itza and...
Activity
Mr. Roughton

The Maya Files

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What a creative approach to studying about the ancient Mayan civilization! Learners will become investigators in the case of the "disappearance" of the Classic Maya by examining a variety of primary and secondary source material,...
PPT
Curated OER

Ancient Mexico: Mayan, Incan, and Aztec Civilizations

For Teachers 7th - 10th
A basic overview of the early civilizations of Central America, this slideshow would be a good foundation for a lesson on the characteristics of these three tribes. It would fold into a unit on world cultures or European exploration...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mayan Math

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the Maya's as mathematicians. In this Mayan math lessons, 5th graders work with the ancient Mayan numbering system by comparing it to the American Number System. They tell the differences and similarities...
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Bringing Back the Sun: The Story of Jaguar Inspiring Student Stories

For Teachers K - 5th
What on earth is that jar for? It was an ancient incense burner used by the Maya, that was inspired by the myth of the sun god. Young analysts hear the story of the Mayan sun god, analyze the story through the artistry in the jar, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Resources and Ancient Cities

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain how the availability of natural resources has affected human settlement patterns. They recognize the interactions of human populations on environments and compare the growth of two ancient cities in relation to natural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Be That As It Maya

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Creative projects are a great way to engage your class and can be a fun way to assess mastery! Learners create brochures and postcards that might have been created by and for travelers to ancient Mayan cities. They read and discuss the...
Unit Plan
Partnership for Educating Colorado Students

Mayan Mathematics and Architecture

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Take young scholars on a trip through history with this unit on the mathematics and architecture of the Mayan civilization. Starting with a introduction to their base twenty number system and the symbols they used, this eight-lesson unit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystic Lands: Maya: Messages in Stone

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore an ancient Mayan city. In this world history lesson, students watch a video about the ancient Mayan civilization, discussing information prior to and after watching the video. Students then come to understand more about...
Worksheet
Curated OER

World History Worksheet # 7 Questions

For Students 6th - 8th
What do we know about the ancient Mayan civilization? In this world history worksheet, learners utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases pertaining to the Mayan and Olmec to answer 10 fill-in-the-blank questions about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulation: Urban Planning for An Ancient Mayan City

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students participate in the simulation of planning an ancient Mayan city. In this urban planning lesson, students role play as citizens of an Mayan city. They act out their roles in a classroom that has been rearranged to simulate the...
Unit Plan
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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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: The Gift of Giving

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Giving gifts has been a part of the human experience since modern man walked the earth. Upper graders explore the culture of gift giving in Mayan times through an artistic analysis. They analyze gift giving and palace life as seen on an...
PPT
Curated OER

Pre-Columbian Civilizations in the Americas

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Before you begin a unit on Christopher Columbus and the European explorers, take your class through the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Civilizations in this vivid and interesting presentation. With photographs of golden artifacts and ancient...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Mayan Culture

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study an ancient culture in Mexico whose people were called the Mayans. They compare certain aspects of Mayan culture with Ancient Egypt. They discuss why some other ancient cultures (Egypt and China) were able to survive for...
Worksheet
Curated OER

What Were the Main Achievements of the Mayan Civilization?

For Students 7th - 10th
Guided reading questions can keep kids focused. Here they read about Mayan Civilization and then answer 9 fill-in-the-blank questions. They must use evidence from their readings to support their answers. The worksheet includes 3...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Egypt

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners discover details about ancient Egyptian funerals. In this ancient Egypt lesson, students compare and contrast modern funeral rites to those practiced by ancient Egyptians. Teachers may also access the suggested print and online...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poverty Point Earthworks: Louisiana's Ancient Inhabitants

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research the prehistoric earthworks site at Poverty Point, Louisiana. They compare the Louisiana artifacts and structure to the remains and knowledge of other ancient cultures. They present their research to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inside The Pyramids

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the use of pyramids in different cultures. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students watch "Inside the Pyramids." High schoolers conduct further research on the topic and create...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will America Fall Apart Like the Maya?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers work in teams to research ancient Mayan civilization as they simulate working for the President of the United States. He is concerned that if a civilization as technologically advanced as the Maya's could disappear, could...