Unit: Maya, Inca, Aztec Civilization

Grade: 6

Time: 5-7 class periods, plus the time outside of class for collaboration

Ohio Content Standard:

The First Global Age
5. Describe the characteristics of Maya, Inca, and Aztec
civilizations including:
a. Location;
b. Government;
c. Religion;
d. Agriculture;
e. Cultural and scientific contributions.

Objectives:
• Students will locate the areas on a map where the Maya, Inca, and Aztec lived

• Students will explain which civilizations were monotheistic or polytheistic

• Students will explore the temples and pyramids of the civilizations

• Students will explain the differences in the calendars of the three civilizations

Materials/Resources:
 Flickr Group – http://www.flickr.com/groups/traverancientciv/

Wiki Spaces - https://traverancientcivilizations.wikispaces.com/

• Skype – www.skype.com – name “kacietraver”

• PowerPoint

Teaching Strategies/Student Engagement:

• After completing the webquest/webspiration lesson, students will continue their work in
this unit by working collaboratively to create a team project that will include a PPT
presentation with pictures (group part) and a paper using the information the team gathers
(individual part).

• Students will each sign into Flickr and search the commons area for photos that would be
relevant to their project. They will then share the photos in their group.
 • Additionally, students will work collaboratively in Wikispaces to share information they
gathered through the webquest, and additional research. Students can use this
information for their individual papers, as well as the group project.

• As a supplement to class, students will Skype with their sister class in Chicago that was
established at the beginning of the year. Their sister class will be working on the project
at the same time, and they will share in discussion about how their project are going.

• In technology class, students will work on their group PowerPoint presentations using the
research they found at home and added to their sites. In language arts, students will begin
the paper portion of their project, using information from their wikispace, and any
additional research they have gathered.

Assessment:
• Students will be assessed formatively on their participation in the group, including
additions to the wikis and the Flickr group. They will be given separate rubrics for both
the presentation and the paper from their perspective teachers.
 Criteria Meets Standard Developing Needs Does Not Meet
Improvement to Standard
(4) – 100% (3) – 90% Meet Standard
(1) – 70%
(2) – 80%

Research Paper Rubric

Introduction of Thesis insightful Thesis stated Thesis vague No thesis stated

thesis and clearly stated
Some key terms Terms not defined No terms defined
Key terms defined defined
Introduction not No introduction
Introduction clear provided
energizing
Introduction
interesting

Supporting Uses examples, Examples, Some examples, Vague, missing,

evidence and reasons, reasons, details, reasons, details, inaccurate
details explanations, that and explanations sufficient and evidence
are relevant, sufficient and accurate
appropriate, and accurate
convincing

Conclusion Extends, connects, Summarizes main Restates main Absent,

comments on key ideas; echoes key idea incomplete, or
ideas and topics concepts unfocused

Mechanics Exhibits no errors Exhibits minor Exhibits some Exhibits many

in spelling and errors in spelling errors in spelling errors in spelling
usage, punctuation and usage, and usage, and usage,
punctuation; punctuation; punctuation;
somewhat interferes with flow interferes greatly
interferes with flow with flow

MLA format Uses proper MLA Minor mistakes in Some mistakes in Many mistakes in
format throughout MLA format MLA format MLA format or
missing

Comments:

Final Grade: ___________________

 Needs
Improvement Does Not
Meets Developing to Meet Meet
Criteria Standard (3) – 90% Standard Standard
(4) – 100% (2) – 80% (1) – 70%
Multimedia Presentation Rubric

Presentation Well-rehearsed Rehearsed with Delivery not Delivery not

with smooth fairly smooth smooth, but able smooth and
delivery that delivery that to maintain audience attention
holds audience holds audience interest of the often lost.
attention. attention most of audience most of
the time. the time.
Attractiveness Makes excellent Makes good use Makes use of Use of font, color,
use of font, color, of font, color, font, color, graphics, effects
graphics, effects, graphics, effects, graphics, effects, etc. but these
etc. to enhance etc. to enhance to etc. but often distract
the presentation. presentation. occasionally from the
these detract presentation
from the content.
presentation
content.
Content Covers topic in- Includes essential Includes essential Content is
depth with details knowledge about information about minimal OR there
and examples. the topic. Subject the topic but are several factual
Subject knowledge there are 1-2 errors.
knowledge is appears to be factual errors.
excellent. good.
Mechanics No misspellings Three or fewer Four misspellings More than 4
or grammatical misspellings and/or errors in spelling
errors. and/or grammatical or grammar.
mechanical errors.
errors.

Comments:

Final Grade: ___________________