1. The Maya
Seat work
Students will quietly enter the room, find your seats and discuss your three sticky notes on pages with your row group.

2. The Maya The first people came to the Americas from what continent?
Asia
The Maya developed an advanced writing system using what?
hieroglyphs
Farming method in which trees and other plants on a plot of land are cut down and burned and ash is used for fertilizer.
slash-and-burn agriculture

3. Introduction
Chapter Introduction
This chapter will introduce you to Mesoamerican Civilizations. You will learn all about the cultures that developed there, as well as the way those cultures affected the environment and used their urban space.
Section 1: The Maya
Section 2: The Aztecs

4. Let’s set some Student Experts
The Maya
Let’s set some Student Experts
In the table, ask pairs of students to write as many means of transportation as they can. Have them circle the means that do not require machine power. Ask how many lists include boats or foot power. Then discuss the theories of how people arrived in the Americas.

5. The Maya
Key Ideas
After people in Mesoamerica learned to farm, civilizations developed in this region of tropical forest and highlands.
In the Maya civilization, religion and government were closely related.
The Maya developed a complex writing system and made advances in mathematics, science, and architecture.

6. The Maya
Key Terms
obsidian—natural volcanic glass used to make very sharp blades and heads for spears and arrows
slash-and-burn agriculture—farming method in which trees and other plants on a plot of land are cut down and burned and ash is used for fertilizer
drought—long period of extremely dry
weather
hieroglyphic—symbol that stands for a
word, idea, or sound
Students should use the Word Wise feature in this chapter of their Student Journal to explore Key Terms.

7. Migration to the Americas
The Maya
Migration to the Americas
The first people came to the Americas from Asia.
Some people believe these people came by foot on a land bridge to Alaska.
Other people believe they came by boat and then traveled south along the American coasts.
These people arrived between 15,000 and 40,000 years ago.
Refer students to the map in Section 1 of the Student Edition which depicts this land bridge and the probable migration routes. Ask students to think about what sort of knowledge these early people brought with them.

8. The Olmecs and the Zapotecs
The Maya
The Olmecs and the Zapotecs
Describe slash-and-burn agriculture.
Why do you think populations grew in areas
with better farming methods?
What was the capital city of the Zapotecs?
Which group may have been the first in
Mesoamerica to develop writing?
Ask students to consider how civilizations grow once the basic needs of existence have been met. How might patterns such as farming techniques or art styles might be shared and changed over time?

10. Maya Civilization Which part of modern Mexico did
The Maya
Maya Civilization
Which part of modern Mexico did
the Maya civilization cover?
What were the names of some large Maya cities
Refer students to this map in Section 1 of the Student Edition. Discuss the extent of the Olmec, Maya, and Zapotec civilizations. Point out the role that geography played in the expansion of the Maya civilization.

11. The Maya
Seat work
Students will quietly enter the room, find your seats and discuss your three sticky notes, on the website pages, with your row group.
Mr. Huff , the line is so quit when you are on lunchroom duty because you are the emperor of the mighty Huffistany empire.
- Paraphrased from a student

12. The Maya
What did the Maya sometimes use captured enemies for at their temples?
Human Sacrifice
What did the Maya prize the quetzal for?
It’s beautiful feathers
What was the length of the calendar that the Maya used for historical dates.
A 394-year calendar

13. Maya Civilization Describe Maya farming.
The Maya
Maya Civilization
Describe Maya farming.
Why was trade important to the Maya?
How might having many kings affect
the Maya region?
Why did the Maya practice human sacrifice?
Discuss with students these various aspects of Maya culture.

14. The Maya
Maya Achievements
The Maya developed an advanced writing system using hieroglyphs.
The Maya developed the science of astronomy and used three different calendars.
The Maya built impressive buildings, including observatories, out of stone.
Maya artistic ability was shown in the murals on the walls of some temples and palaces.
Discuss with students how these advanced characteristics demonstrate that the Maya had a complex civilization. Help students understand that cultural aspects of a civilization are related to political and economic developments.

15. What distinguishes one culture from another?
The Maya
What distinguishes one culture from another?
Workbook page 237
Refer students to this Mesoamerican history timeline in their Student Journals. Have them identify the key event associated with each date and briefly describe its importance.