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...

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...

In this reading comprehension with glossary worksheet, students read a passage about the Mayan civilization and the accompanying glossary and illustrations, and then identify true statements from the reading and by inference. Students...

Middle schoolers work on summarizing a story, and they determine if it is a legend, a myth, or a fable. Working in groups to read and summarize stories, they then list evidence whether the tale is a myth, fable, or...

In this social studies learning exercise, students record information about the Mayan civilization on two recording cards. They see a clip art pictures of the Mayan ruins, and the words, "Did you know..." on the page.

Learners read a story called Scientists Discover Oldest Mayan Mural and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current events Mayan mural lesson plan, students respond to literature by answering questions,...

Students research the culture of Mexico. In this Mexican culture lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation about the culture of Mexico and the students take notes. Students write an essay about what they have learned.

Fifth graders investigate the Mayan culture, number system, alphabet, hieroglyphics, history, civilization, artistry, and sports in this series of lessons.

What a fun way to review noun gender! This activity is complex, but it will surely engage your learners. Beginning Spanish speakers determine the definite article for a list of nouns and color in the square grid provided. What famous...

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....

To break down complex themes, discuss a sense of self, and learn a bit about Mayan culture, learners start through art analysis. They analyze a Mayan incense burner, discuss themes, and then write a short story that includes themes from...

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...

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...

Invertebrates play a prominent role in many myths across cultures. From Greece to Guatemala, see if you can identify the invertebrate of importance. Ten multiple-choice questions test your knowledge of mythology from around the world.

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...

Students explore how culture effects our world. In this culture lesson, students work in groups to do a web quest. Students gather and analyze information to decide if Mayan ruins should be destroyed to build a shopping center. Students...

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...

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 explore early attempts at written language. In this early civilizations lesson plan, students investigate first attempts at written communication. Among the civilizations covered are Mayan, Greek, and Egyptian.

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.

Students explore various intellectual traditions which dominate human history through a variety of contemporary pieces of literature which exemplify the traditions. Biblical monotheism, Greek rationalism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism...

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...

Animals oftentimes elicit various characteristics which make them symbolic or representative of human feeling, action, or emotion. The class creates horse characters out of clay to show character action and symbolism. This is a great...

In this vocabulary activity, students select the best choice to complete the sentence. They are challenged with difficult words that contain a gl-blends.