Grade Level: 6th

Subject: Social Studies

Topic: Mesoamerican Civilizations
Time: 60 minutes

Jessica Buchanan & Aaron Ames

Objective: In this lesson students will be looking closely at three Mesoamerican cultures
(Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas). They will understand day to day life in the civilization chosen, and
gain knowledge about how different the world used to be.
Rationale:
The students should master this material because it will help them gain a greater understanding
of how far the world has come. Hopefully it will help them realize that even the greatest of
civilizations do not last forever, and change is a constant part of history.
Content Standards/ Michigan Curriculum Frameworks:
WHST.6-8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and
style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
Objectives/ Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations:
6-W3.1.3
Describe similarities and difference among Mayan, Aztec, and Incan
societies, including economy, religion, and role and class structure.
6-W3.1.4

Describe the regional struggles and changes in governmental systems

among the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Empires.

Materials:
Postcards, color pencils, markers, pens and pencils, readings on each culture, laptop, projector,
and projection screen, or smart board.
Opener:
This section will help to remind students to understand how life was like back in the time of the
Aztec, Mayan, and Incan Civilizations. We will ask students to discuss different characteristics of
each civilization. We will follow up with a two-minute video clip on each culture. By the end of
the project they will be able to tell people how different their life would have been if you were
born in those times.
Procedures/ Activities:
1. The lesson will begin by the teacher going over the project, explaining that the students
will pick one of the possible three civilizations to focus on.
2. Once each student picks a civilization, they will be given readings based on their
selection.
3. The teacher will explain that the students will research what daily life was like at the
time, and write on a postcard to their families about their daily activities.
4. The students can include chores, religions, games, anything that relates to the lifestyle of
the civilization chosen.

5. After they write on the postcard they will flip it over and draw what they would have
seen at the time. This can include buildings, monuments, or activities.
6. Once the students are done they will be asked to present their post card to the class.
7. During the class the teacher will be walking around making sure all students are working
and if they need any help or guidance giving it to them.
Assessment:
The learning will be measured for this assignment by the writing done on the front of the
postcard. The writing needs to be well written, and pertain to the civilization chosen. The
drawings on the back will not be graded by the look, but rather by if it was something that
pertained to the civilization.
Reflection:
This lesson went really well and it far exceeded my expectations for the day. The students really
enjoyed the project and went above and beyond what Aaron and I asked them to do. Aaron and I
did not fully understand the depth of the lesson until Dr. Crowley pointed out how we
incorporated literacy into the lesson and how important that is.
The students were put into small groups and they really worked well with each other and
bounced ideas off each other in order to make the lesson more meaningful. The students were
more than happy to present their projects to the class and tell us their opinion about their reading
and explain their postcard scene to us. At the end of class one student even stood up and took a
vote to see what the students opinions were. I was really pleased with how this lesson unfolded
and how engaged the students were.