Subject:

Civilizations

Thematic Scenario:

Discovering Latin American Civilizations

Contexts\Outcomes:

Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship among the perspectives, practices, and products of the Pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, and Modern Mexican civilizations.

Learn from Selected Countries/Cultures:

Geographical background information
Cultural background information
Historical background information

Strategies:

Pair Activities:
Pairs of students create a mythological creature or god specific to Latin American culture.
Cooperative Learning:
Students take a temple rubbings and analyze them.
Students generate a Mayan dig box.
Students display their Latin American tiles in an art gallery.
Students depict hieroglyphics, including names and mottos, from Spanish culture.
Student groups assemble time capsules representing a new civilization.
Venn Diagrams:
Students use a Venn diagram to compare/contrast Spanish civilization with their own.
Concept Ladders:
Students develop a concept ladder characterizing items found in a simulated archeological dig of Spanish cultures.
Comparison Charts:
Student groups chart comparative elements of legends.
Students examine Mayan math and compare it with their math.
Researching legends, civilizations, and cultures:
Students view and discuss a PowerPoint representing Spanish civilizations.
Students read and analyze legends from Spanish cultures.
Students view and discuss a PowerPoint representing various Spanish cultures.
Students listen to modern Latin American music.

Assessments:

Oral Presentation:
Students write and illustrate, sing, or act out a legend.
Students make Latin American tiles and explain orally.
Students design an Aztec calendar using symbols and present an oral explanation of the calendar in Spanish.
Written Project:
Students take a gallery walk and give a written interpretation of a classmate’s tile.
Student groups create civilization criteria guides.
Culminating Project (Oral presentation with graphics as visual cues.):
Student groups invent their own civilization.

Resources:

Internet resources/research
Library resources/research
Literature
PowerPoints
Photographs
Simulated digs