1. 400 BCE–900 CE Central America
The Mysterious Maya
400 BCE–900 CE
Central America

2. Mesoamerica Learning Goal
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca by describing their location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements as well as how these cultures adapted to and altered their environment.
Strand 1: Concept 2: PO 5

3. Table of Contents for ISN
Left Side
Page
Right Side
Vocab CFA #1 24
Vocab CFA #2 25
Hunters & Gatherers CSA 26
Mesoamerica LG & Scale 27
Central America Map 28
Map Contents 29
Mayan Codex Story 30
Mayan Culture Notes 31
5 Themes of Geography 32
Mayan HEI & Achievements 33
Aztec Activity 34
Aztec Culture Notes 35
Mayan vs. Aztec 36
Aztec HEI & Achievements 37
Inca Activity 38
Inca Culture Notes 39
Mesoamerica Study Guide 40
Inca HEI & Achievements 41
Mayan CFA/QUIZ 42
Aztec CFA/QUIZ 43
Inca CFA/QUIZ 44
Mesoamerica CSA/TEST

4. 2: Approaching Proficiency
Learning Goal for CFA #1: Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing their location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
4: Exceeds Proficiency
3: Proficient
2: Approaching Proficiency
1: Not Yet
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing their location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements as well as how this cultures adapted to and altered their environment.
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing their location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing at least THREE of the following: location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing at least TWO of the following: location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
No Evidence

5. Central America/Mesoamerica Region Map and Map Contents
ISN p. 28
ISN p. 29
Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Mexico
Caribbean Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of California
Andes Mountains
Machu Picchu (built by Incas)
Yucatan Peninsula (home of Maya)
Chichen Itza (built by Maya)
Cuba
Mexico (home of Aztec)
Mexican Plateau
Tenochtitlan (built by Aztec)
Maya
Inca
Aztec
Peru (home of Inca)

6. Homework! My Mayan Codex Story ISN p. 30 DUE ON ????????
Directions: You may cut or copy these glyphs to create a codex story explaining your day as a Mayan.
Fold your blank paper into eighths.
The first space is for your story’s title- Be creative!
Spaces 2 & 3 explain the beginning of your day
Spaces 4 & 5 explain the middle of your day
Spaces 6 & 7 explain the end of your day
Space 8 write your full name, date, and class period

7. LOCATION OF THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION ISN p. 31
The ancient Mayans lived on the Yucatan Peninsula; Belize, parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

8. MAYAN AGRICULTURE ISN p. 31
Mayans grew corn, beans, squash, cassava, and cacao (chocolate).

9. MAYAN HOUSING ISN p. 31
For the Mayan housing, they were huts with walls made of stone or mud. They were covered with hay providing protection from things such as rain and snow. These huts usually had one or two sets of stairs usually long and wide. To decorate these buildings the Mayans placed sculptures along the stairs. But sometimes these huts would have a very simple basic design without stairs or sculptures.

10. TRADE ITEMS OF THE MAYANS ISN p. 31
The Mayan civilization was very dependent on trade. One of the main reasons why the Mayan civilization collapsed was that its trade routes fell apart.
Among the most valued luxury items traded by the Mayans were Jade, Obsidian and Turquoise.
Jade was a valued trade commodity because the Mayans believed that it possesses sacred powers beneficial to rulers.
Turquoise on the other hand was believed by the Mayans to be a substance held dear by the Mayan gods and was believed to be associated with smoke.

11. The Mayans also traded pottery, woven baskets and chocolate.
TRADE (CONT) ISN p. 31
The Mayans also traded pottery, woven baskets and chocolate.

12. Think-Pair-Share Describe the climate of this PLACE.
What is the LOCATION of the Mayans?
Identify a precise spot or tell where one place is in relation to another (name of current countries)
Describe the climate of this PLACE.
Physical characteristics as well as language, religion, etc?
What items were MOVED between different cultures?
Why do you think chocolate was so highly valued by the Mayans?
How did their housing reflect their ADAPTION to the environment?
How did they learn to use and change what the environment offered them?

13. MR. HELP knows the 5 Themes of Geography! ISN p. 32
MOVEMENT – Refers to how people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another through cultural diffusion
REGION – Refers to similarities and differences of places. Compares physical and human characteristics.
HEI – HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION– Refers to how people relate to the physical world. People learn to use and change what the environment offers them.
LOCATION – Asks “Where is it?” Location can identify a precise spot or tell where one place is in relation to another. GPS, Longitude and Latitude
PLACE – Asks “What is it like?” Place includes physical characteristics as well as human ones, like language, religion, and politics.

14. Mayans Interactions, Adaptations, and Achievements ISN p. 33
HEI- Human Environmental Interaction
MAYANS USED A FORM OF IRRIGATION TO BRING WATER TO THEIR CROPS.
MAYANS ALSO BUILT TERRACES, WHICH ARE LEVELED AREAS ON A HILLSIDE (ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A STAIR CASE) TO PLANT THEIR CROPS IN ORDER TO GROW MORE FOOD.
MAYANS ALSO USED THE FARMING TECHNIQUE OF SLASH AND BURN IN WHICH PATCHES OF LAND ARE PREPARED FOR PLANTING BY CUTTING DOWN AND BURNING THE NATURAL VEGETATION

15. MAYAN ACHIEVEMENTS ISN p. 33
CODEX – complex writing system that used glyphs and pictures. Carved glyphs on buildings and wrote on bark paper.
MATHEMATICS – Developed math system based on the number 20. They were one of the first to use zero.
ASTRONOMY – Produced a 365 day solar calendar to help with planting and harvesting.
RELIGION – Mayans were polytheistic; which means the belief in many Gods.
ARCHITECTURE – They built step pyramids, temples, and palaces.

16. Think-Pair-Share What are three achievements of the Mayans?
Compare our written communication with that of the Mayas.
What number do we base our current math system?
Compare the purpose of their calendar to ones used today.

17. 2: Approaching Proficiency
Learning Goal for CFA #1: Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing their location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
4: Exceeds Proficiency
3: Proficient
2: Approaching Proficiency
1: Not Yet
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing their location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements as well as how this cultures adapted to and altered their environment.
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing their location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing at least THREE of the following: location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
Students will be able to describe the civilizations of the Mayan by describing at least TWO of the following: location, agriculture, housing, trade networks and achievements.
No Evidence