Introducing 3 Early Mesoamerican Peoples

Lesson 1

Prep: 

• Civilization Cards: Ancient Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, Greece, & Rome (click here for a civilization location cards resource)

• Horizontal Timeline on whiteboard: 3500 BCE through 500 CE (intervals of 100 years) (41 lines)

• Vertical Timeline

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Introduce horizontal timeline & explain BCE and CE

Activity Page SR.1 - What Makes a Civilization a Civilization?

• Group work - each group takes a civilization card & determines what features of their civilization matches the requirements in Activity Page SR.1

• Place civilization cards in timeline order (not on vertical timeline, that won't have a large enough

Activity Page 1.1 - Mesoamerican Vertical Timeline

• Earliest events on top, modern times occur on bottom (label 2000 CE as modern times)

• Label timeline as dictated by the teacher manual

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Reading

Introduce reader.

Read Big Question (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

Read Chapter 1 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 1.3 - Mesoamerican Map

• Use reader to find locations of Mesoamerican peoples

• yellow = Maya

• red = Aztec

• blue = Inca

Activity Page 1.4 - Post-read Questions (if time, OR as homework!)

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

The Maya

Lesson 2

Prep:

• Poster about Paraphrasing (link to resource here)

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 2 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

Read Chapter 2 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

YouTube video about Pok a Tok (click here)

Activity Page 2.2 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Activity Page 2.5 - Paraphrasing

• Display & go through poster

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 3

Prep:

• Poster about Paraphrasing (link to resource here)

• Sample paragraphs, ordering sorts practice, & graphic organizer w/ built in rubric (link to resource here)

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 2

• Students' last day to work on paragraph

Reread Chapter 2 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Writing

Activity Page SR.2 - Paragraph about a Paragraph (SKIP THIS IF YOU ARE ONLY DOING BIG QUESTION CHAPTER TWO & DON'T HAVE TIME!)

• Read through paragraph & display poster (link to resource here)

• Sample paragraphs, ordering sorts practice (link to resource here)

Allow time to finish Big Question Chapter Two paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 4

Prep:

• Poster about Paraphrasing (link to resource here)

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 3 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

• Students' ONLY DAY to work on paragraph

Read Chapter 3 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 4.2 - Post-read Questions

Writing

YouTube video about Mayan codex (click here)

Codex Project Introduction

Activity Page SR.4 - Codex Rubric

Activity Page 4.5 - Picking a Codex Topic

Allow time to finish Big Question Chapter Three paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 5

Prep:

• Poster about Paraphrasing (link to resource here)

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 4 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

Read Chapter 4 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 5.2 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Review Activity Page 4.5 - Picking a Codex Topic

• Tally students' choices

Activity Page 5.3 - Taking Paraphrased Notes on the Maya

• Review Paraphrase Poster

• Students find 6 pieces of information (in topic groups/pairs/individually) relating to their chosen topic (record on loose-leaf paper)

• Paraphrase in their Activity Page

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 4 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 6

Prep:

• Sentences to compare/contrast (written on whiteboard)

  • The Maya built pyramids

  • The Egyptians built pyramids

  • The Inca used llamas as pack animals

  • The Maya had no pack animals

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Reread Big Question Chapter 4

• Students' LAST DAY to work on paragraph

Reread Chapter 4 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 6.1 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Activity Page 6.2 - Sentences that Compare & Contrast

• Follow manual's instructions

Writing out Maya Codex Topic Paragraph Organizer (link to resource here)

Allow time to finish Big Question Chapter 4 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

The Aztec

Lesson 7

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 5 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

Read Chapter 5 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 7.2 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Review Maya Codex Topic Graphic Organizer (link to resource here)

• Use paraphrased notes from Activity Page 2.5 & 5.3 

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 5 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 8

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Reread Big Question Chapter 5

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

• Students' LAST DAY to work on paragraph

Reread Chapter 5 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 7.2 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Activity Page 8.1 - Taking Paraphrased Notes on the Aztec

• Review Paraphrase Poster

• Students write their topic at the topic of their Activity Page

• Students find 6 pieces of information (in topic groups/pairs/individually) relating to their chosen topic (record on loose-leaf paper)

• Paraphrase in their Activity Page

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 5 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 9

Prep:

• Aztec Codex Topic Paragraph Organizer (link to resource here)

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 6 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

• Students' LAST DAY to work on paragraph

Read Chapter 6 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 9.2 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Activity Page 9.4 - Phrases that Compare & Contrast

Writing out Aztec Codex Topic Paragraph Organizer (link to resource here)

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 6 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

The Inca

Lesson 10

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 7 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

Read Chapter 7 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 10.3 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Activity Page 10.4 - Taking Paraphrased Notes on the Inca

• Review Paraphrase Poster

• Students write their topic at the topic of their Activity Page

• Students find 6 pieces of information (in topic groups/pairs/individually) relating to their chosen topic (record on loose-leaf paper)

• Paraphrase in their Activity Page

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 7 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 11

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Reread Big Question Chapter 7

• Students' LAST DAY to work on paragraph

Reread Chapter 7 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Writing

Writing out Inca Codex Topic Paragraph Organizer (link to resource here)

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 7 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 12

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 8 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

• Students' LAST DAY to work on paragraph

Read Chapter 8 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 12.2 & 12.3 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Review/finish writing out Maya, Aztec, and Inca Codex Topic Paragraph Organizers (link to resource here)

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 8 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 13

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Read Big Question Chapter 9 (pre-made prompts w/ built-in rubric resource here)

• Students write down big question on a sticky note/lined paper

• They can write down key words/information from the chapter

• Exit Ticket OR extra writing practice: students write out their answer to the Big Question in paragraph form.

Read Chapter 9 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 13.2 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Review/finish writing out Maya, Aztec, and Inca Codex Topic Paragraph Organizers (link to resource here)

Allow students to research images of examples of their topic written about in their writing

• Depending on resources available at your school, students can either draw or print their examples (with teacher approval, of course)

• Students will keep images small enough to fit within their codex

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 9 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)

Lesson 14

Daily Writing Prompt (link to resource here)

Reading

Reread Big Question Chapter 9

• Students' LAST DAY to work on paragraph

Reread Chapter 9 from the reader.

Ask comprehension questions from the manual.

Activity Page 14.1 - Post-read Questions

Writing

Review/finish writing out Maya, Aztec, and Inca Codex Topic Paragraph Organizers (link to resource here)

Allow students to research images of examples of their topic written about in their writing

• Depending on resources available at your school, students can either draw or print their examples (with teacher approval, of course)

• Students will keep images small enough to fit within their codex

Students will write OR print, cut, then paste their completed 3 paragraphs & image examples onto large, brown/beige construction paper

Allow students to draw/cut out shapes/designs to decorate their codex if the writing and example images are placed correctly

Allow time to work on Big Question Chapter 9 paragraph

Daily Grammar (this can be pushed to a shorter block if needed!) (link to resource here)