Pre-Columbian America

Mesoamerican
Civilizations
Before
Columbus

Explain, using video and a script, a short summary of a Central and/or South American civilization of their choice.

Language Objectives

Content Objectives

Unit Objectives - SWBAT

Explain how the first people reached the Americas.

Describe the Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations.

Match

Match the key terms to the correct definition

• Theories

• civilization

• descendant

• sacrifices

• quipus

A set of principles or ideas that explain a phenomenon

A complex human society characterized by urban development

A person or organism that is descended from a specific ancestor

Acts of giving up something valuable for a greater cause

An ancient Incan device used for counting and recording

• A set of principles or ideas that explain a phenomenon

• A complex human society characterized by urban development

• A person or organism that is descended from a specific ancestor

• Acts of giving up something valuable for a greater cause

• An ancient Incan device used for counting and recording

The Bering Strait

​Migration Routes of the First Peoples

​The Bering Strait Vocabulary Presentation

​The End of the Ice Age

Multiple Choice

If the Bering Strait Land bridge connected North America to Russia, the English Channel Bridge, connected which two European countries?

• France and England

• England and Spain

• Europe and Africa

• Europe and Asia

​South and Central American Early Civilizations

Hotspot

Which civilization is located in South America?

​The Olmec Civilization

Open Ended

Type one thing you learned from the Olmec civilization.

(more points if you mention more)

​The Mayan Civilization

​​Nobles - Warriors and government officials

Merchants, Laborers

Farmers

​The Mayan Society

​​King or High Priest

Slaves

Reorder

Reorder the following from most important to least important

• Priest

• Noble Warrior

• Merchant

• Farmer

• Slave

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

​The Aztec Civilization

Priest

Noble

Sacrifices

​Aztec Society and Religion

Open Ended

Critical Thinking: Do you agree with the Aztecs way of performing human sacrifices to improve their lives? Why or why not?

​The Aztecs Vocabulary Presentation

​The Inca Empire

Inca Society

​​Road System

​​Terraces for farming

Inca Runner

​The Inca were very organized...

Open Ended

Mention one thing you learned from the Inca Civilization (from the presentation and in your own words)