Task 1: Research Your City and Take Notes

First, you will research your ancient city of the Americas. You will read and study multiple sources to learn about the geography and natural resources of your city and the values and beliefs of the city’s creators and community members. You will find out what is unique, admirable, or amazing about your city, and you will make note of any symbols or pictures that represent your city or help to explain its features. 

Before getting started with your research, review your Taking Good Notes document from earlier in the unit. The notetaking page is organized to help you answer the following questions, as you look through your resources:

• Where is my city located and when was it at its height?

• What were the natural resources in my city and how were they used in daily life? 

• What were the values and beliefs of the citizens of my city?

• What are some of the ways my city was designed? How did this reflect the values of my city’s community members? 

The notetaking page is also organized to help you find and record a symbol or image for each “point” you will be making in your final presentation. 

Taking Notes 

Find your city in your Student Research Set. Each city has several links to use in your research. Make sure you read and watch each resource. You will take notes on the notetaking page.

Below, you’ll see “notetaking categories.” As you read and watch each resource, take notes in the relevant box, making sure to cite your source for each cluster of notes. The boxes are also places where you can copy and paste, draw, or link to a picture or symbol you might want to use to describe your points. Remember to take as many relevant notes as you can, knowing you may use some of them, but not all. Later, you can decide which notes to use for your final project.

City Picture Book

Uxmal

Chichén Itzá

Tiwanaku

Monte Albán/Zapotec 

Chavín de Huantar

Palenque

Copán

Tikal