Steve Manning Storytelling

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Aztecs

'The Conquest of Mexico'
starring
Juan Martinez, Conquistador







Content

In 1519 Cortes landed in Mexico and marched on Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). Within a year the city was his and Aztec civilisation was no more.
Cortes behaviour has long been controversial. Now children are offered the opportunity to make up their own minds about the Spanish conquest of Mexico by listening to and debating with a Spanish Conquistador.
Juan's story is based on first hand accounts of both Spaniards and Aztecs, but is he telling the truth? What were Cortes' real motives behind the conquest of Mexico?
Opportunity to debate the ethics of invading and settling a foreign land.






Format
  • Introduction to the period
  • Character-led storytelling session
  • Workshop where children use pictorial Aztec sources to establish the true sequence of events
  • Debate and discussion with Juan the Conquistador focusing on treatment of the Aztecs and Spain's true motives in conquering the New World.



Extension



'The Conquest of Mexico' can be extended with;
  • Aztec myth storytelling session
  • Brief drama session using myths as inspiration





'As always you brilliantly combined information and entertainment...the Year 5s loved hearing the gory bits about Aztec sacrifices.'
(Mrs Jenks, Kelly College Prep School, Tavistock)