Dora DePaolis Social Studies 7

Aim: Students will identify the identifying features of the Aztec Empire Do Now: Quick Drill: Mayan Review Objectives: Define theocracy Identify the elements of Mayan Empire that are evidence of an advanced culture

Social Studies Standards SS1 Use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York. ELA Standard 4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6 8 texts and topics. Materials: SmartBoard, SmartBoard Presentation, Worksheet, Procedures: Do Now: Quick Drill o Students fold a piece of paper twice to create 4 horizontal boxes on each side of the page (8 boxes total). The teacher asks the first question and the answer is written in the first box. Students hold the piece of paper over their head so that the teacher can review students responses. Then the next question is asked and the process is repeated. o Questions: 1. What did Mayan mathematicians discover thousands of years before Europeans? (zero) 2. A government ruled by religious figures is called what? (theocracy) 3. A writing system that uses pictures to represent things, ideas or sounds is called what? (hieroglyphics) 4. The Mayans developed an accurate 364 day what? (Calendar) 5. The Mayan Empire is located in what part of the world? Mexico & Central America / Yucatan Peninsula) 6. What were performed at the top of Mayan pyramids? (religious ceremonies)

7. What is the name of the Mayan capital city? (Tikal) 8. The Mayan Empire did not have a strong central government. Instead, it was split up intowhat? (City States) Identify location of Aztec Empire Identify location of Aztec capital city o How do you get to a city in the middle of a lake? o What can you do when someone attacks your city? o How can you grow food? If you grow food on mainland enemies can cut off your food supply. Aztec Floating Gardens
o Video: http://www.history.com/topics/aztecs/videos#aztec-ingenuity Aztec Aqueducts o Video: http://www.history.com/videos/aztec-aqueducts#aztec-aqueducts o Use of Technology by Ancient culture o Contrast Aztec Empires access to clean water with current state in Africa

Aztec Society o What type of government do we have? o Can the town of Freeport decide that stop signs should be purple and diamondshaped? Why not? o Contrast Centralized government with Mayan City-States Aztec Religion o Treatment of Captives Human Sacrifices o How would Aztec rituals be perceived by other cultures? o Would you want to go to war against the Aztecs? Aztec Similarities to Mayan Culture o Cultural Diffusion: Compare/Contrast Calendars, number system, language

Key Question: What evidence supports the belief that Inca Empire was an advanced civilization? Assessment: Students verbal responses Unit exam

Conclusion: Recap key points Answer any remaining questions the students may have

Homework: Mayan & Aztec Crossword Puzzle Complete Do Now worksheet