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....

Fifth graders use the internet to research the history of cultures throughout the world. In groups, they disucss the meaning of various symbols and view Tenochtitlan as a center of power and wealth. They use everyday materials to...

Peek into the art and history of ancient Mexico by analyzing the artifact Stone Serpent Heads. Learners examine images of the piece, discuss its origin, history, and significance. They experience the carving process by creating similar...

Here are three interconnected lessons intended to build an understanding of life in Mexico prior to and after contact with Spain. Learners take a "trip" to Tenochtitlan through a series of images, read The Evil of Tezcatilipoca and The...

Middle schoolers 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...

Students investigate the Aztec civilization and locate it on a map. They explain the legend of the city of Tenochtitan and investigate the symbolism of the Mexican flag.

Learners examine and discuss the meanings of the various symbols in Tenochtitlan. In groups, they complete a part of the model of the city and discuss the importance of finding artifacts. Individually, they choose an a two-dimensional...

Pupils examine the Aztec civilization in what is now Mexico. Using a map, they locate the empire and explain the legend of the founding of Tenochtitlan. They explore the symbols on various Mexican flags and what they meant to the Aztec...

Students write a diary entry or a letter from the viewpoint of a character in a myth.  In this Aztec myths lesson, students define myths and read "The Heart of Copil" and "The Eagle of Tenochtitlan" and find the land of the...

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.

A Venn Diagram is used to compare artistic and historical representations of a single event. Young analysts view the provided images, read textbook descriptions, and discuss the validity of each representation in terms of bias and...

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...

Students, after reading Chapter 1 in the book, "First Encounters Between Spain and the Americas: Two Worlds Meet," design and create a map of the Aztec Empire at the time of the first contract with the Spanish. They create the map from...

Students research the Aztec culture in Mexico. They focus on their religious practices. They write a goal to personally sacrifice something. They also write about the costs and benefits of a sacrifice.

Students explore facets of Aztec history. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students map landmarks in Mexico, read excerpts from The Sad Night: The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss, by Sally Mathews and design concept...

Aztecs created amazing hydroponic gardens called Chinampas, to grow their crops. Learners in grades k-7 engage in four mini-experiments to understand just how amazing floating gardens are. Tip: A perfect way to bring science into your...

Students study the geography of the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas and create a map book. They share in stories and legends about these people. Handouts and worksheets are included.

Students research information about the ancient Aztec culture. In this Aztec lesson, students conduct Internet research about Aztecs to find the answers to questions about their language, jewelry and tools, and the Aztec calendar. ...

Young scholars examine the role of women in Mesoamerica. They watch segments of the Discovery video "Mesoamerica: The History of Central America". After conducting further research pertaining to specific Mayan women, they write...

Students research books, watch movies, and look on the internet to find information on ancient America, Mexico, and Central America. In this Mesoamerica lesson plan, students participate in a social studies unit on North America of the...

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...

This site is a curriculum unit on art from Tenochtitlan, specifically the case of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Provides three lesson plans, a glossary, bibliography, and other resources.

A learning module on the Aztec Empire that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include the capital of Tenochtitlan, an...

A huge website that provides a virtual field trip exploring the Spanish adventurers who quested for gold and land in the New World. The site has information on Pizarro, Orellana, Cabeza de Vaca, Cortes as well as extensive information...