Eighth graders are introduced to the characteristics of the Mayan civilization. While viewing a film, they practice their note taking skills by writing down what they believe are important facts. They discuss their notes at the end of...

The ancient Mayans had a complex calendar and number system with a rich history. In fact, the date 12/21/2012 was the center of much controversy as to whether or not it was the end of time. It wasn't the end of time, but...

Students use RAFT prompts to write about Mayan society. In this lesson on Mayan culture, students research and then explain the Mayan hierarchy and social structure. As a culminating activity each student will write a newspaper article...

Students investigate the early Mayan Calendar. In this algebra lesson plan, students combine three different disciplines to study and review the effect that Mayan calendar had. They investigate multiples and smallest common multiples.

Students examine Mayan contributions to the world. In this Mesoamerican culture lesson, students view a slideshow about the Maya and then peruse books about the accomplishments of the culture. Students create...

Students analyze the Mayan calendar and define its meaning. In this algebra lesson, students explain what the Mayan calendar means and how it works. They define the symbols and recreate a simplified version of the Mayan calendar.

Students investigate Mayan Numbers. In this algebra lesson, students compare our number system to the number system of the Mayans. They identify base 10 and base 20 numbers including zero in the Mayan symbols. They solve a Mayan problem.

Students conduct Internet research to discover how Mesoamerican's used chocolate. In this South American history lesson, students work in pairs to complete an activity worksheet and engage in class discussion.

What is considered a valuable gift? As the class will come to find out, what is considered a gift varies by time and location. After viewing images of a Mayan pot that depicts men giving cacao to the gods, learners research three...

Students identify seeds humans eat and do not eat. Students make seed collections, using common kitchen foods. Students display seeds from the foods they serve and discuss them with their guests. Students complete activities which...

Students research the Mayan civilization and complete an artifact dig. In this archeology lesson, students watch an IMAX video about the Mayan civilization. Students discuss archaeology related vocabulary and then work in teams to...

Learners examine a piece of pottery and make conclusions about the culture. They demonstrate the skills used in digging at a dig site. They also make inferences about the responsibility archaeologists have when excavating a site.

Four fabulous activities immerse amateur astronomers into measuring objects that we cannot handle. The experiences are applied to NASA's Space Interferometry Mission, which will take measurements of planets around stars other than our...

Students watch the series "Unforgiveable Blackness". They analyze Jack Johnson's life to investigate the legal system and interracial relationships. They examine how segregation was threatened by peole allowing to marry ones out of their...

Class members complete activities related to the story "Oklahoma Stone Soup." First, pupils read, discuss, and answer questions about the story. Next, to incorporate math into the lesson, learners make stone soup using a variety of...

Third graders examine the history of corn. In this agriculture lesson, 3rd graders discuss the history of corn and identify the corn belt on a map. Students dissect kernels of corn and discuss their observations.

Eighth graders draw the paths of the planets in the solar system. In this astronomy lesson, 8th graders calculate speed of objects using distance and time information. They research about the work of scientists in the 16th and 17th century.

Eighth graders work together in groups to examine the earliest civilizations. After reading two stories, they compare and contrast the facts with those stories with other ones they have read. They discuss the different hypothesis on...

Students describes ways in which the arts serve as expressions of culture. They explain how some forms of cultural communication contributes to societal cohesion and/or division. Students detect and analyze explicit and implicit messages...