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Ancient Indian Civilizations
WebQuest
Sheryl
Dickerson
Maya,
Inca, and Aztec
Group Project
(Don’t forget to site your sources for the project.)
Resource:
PEOPLE IN TIME AND PLACE: WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Introduction Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Introduction
We
are going to explore the Americas at the time in which the Spaniards
and other explorers were arriving there. You are going to be one of
these Spaniards. The men of this time period were very surprised to
the great pyramids of the Aztecs and the Maya, as well as the roads
and temples of the Incas, and the great cities.
This
WebQuest will take you back in time to learn what it was like to
explore this “New World”. One way to do this is to imagine YOU are
one of these adventurers who have been sent by Spain in search of gold
and riches. Your first duty, however, is to prepare a description of
the new land and its peoples for the king of Spain.
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The
Task
With
a group, choose one of the Native American civilizations to describe.
Each member of your group should assume the role of a specialist. You
will be expected to add information by using your special skill.
Following is a list of specialist to choose from.
Each
member of the group should work on an assigned task. When the group
meets you should decide the order in which these individual parts will
be put together in a single presentation to the “queen”. The
presentation will be oral and every individual will be responsible for
at least one visual aid. These visual aids need to be explained
orally as well. Try to stay as close to the facts as possible.
When
you give your presentation the group should speak before the class as
if they were making a presentation to the “queen” of Spain.
Classmates should act as the king’s advisors. Afterward the class can
ask questions about the new country.
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Cartographer-who
will draw a map of the city or village
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Translator-gather
information from the chief, king or other members in their society
(what they eat, what they wear, how they live, etc.)
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Engineer-who
will observe the architectural features of the city or surrounding
territory (such as temples, observatories, house, storage bins, etc.)
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Military Specialist-who
plans to meet the Native Americans and describe the people (what are
their military training and strengths like, will they be a threat, can
we over take them, etc.)
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Artist-who
will provide a drawing of the people in traditional dress and show
them working crops, attending ceremonies, training, kids playing,
king, chief or priest at an official event, etc.
-
Religious Specialist-who
will observe and describe the religious beliefs and rituals
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Resources
PEOPLE IN
TIME AND PLACE: WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Authors:
Pamela Argo, Carol Gemmell, Gail Finger and Linda Lucus
Series Consultants:
Dr. James F. Baumann and Dr. Theodore Kaltsounis
Literature
Consultants:
Dr. Ben A. Smith, Dr.
John C. Davis and Dr. Jesse Palmer
Publisher:
Silver Burdett Ginn
Mayan Architecture
http://library.thinkquest.org/10098/mayan.htm?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0430
This
site has information on Mayan buildings of all kinds.
The
Maya Calenadar
http://www.mayacalendar.com/
In
this site, for the Maya, go down to the calendar and click on it.
This will take you to a page where you can learn more about the
calendar or Mayan mathematics, both of these are good for
accomplishments of the Maya.
Ancient Mayan
http://www.historylink101.com/1/mayan/ancient_mayan.htm
This
is an excellent site for the Maya. It has information on the people
and their daily lives, art, religion, maps and pictures.
The
Aztec
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/aztecs.htm
This
site will be good for the study of the Aztecs. It covers a lot of
topics from daily life to religion. Just click on the Sun Stone to
get started.
Aztec Architecture
http://library.thinkquest.org/10098/aztec.htm?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0305
This
is a good site to learn about the architecture of the Aztec, all kinds
from the large religious ceremonies to the everyday regular citizens
home.
Inca
Empire
http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/incaempire3e.htm
This
site is a good site for the Incan religion.
The
Great Indian Civilizations
http://lsa.colorado.edu/~depaula/webguide/great46.htm
This site is good
for all three Indian groups. Just click on your desired topic.
eThemes
http://emints.more.net/ethemes/resources/S00000540.html
This website has
other web sites for your subjects. Just find your subject and click.
Ancient Cultures in North America
and Early Civilizations
http://www.wsanford.com/~jgoodwin/technology/nativeamer/
This website has
other web sites for your subjects. Just find your subject and click.
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The
Process
Following these instructions will make completion of your task easy!
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Use the Web Sites that are listed that you might find. You may
also use any other resources you find to gather information for your
presentation. Each student will present 2 to 4 minutes, which
will be 15 to 20 minutes for the group. Make sure you include a
visual aid and an explanation of them.
-
Begin exploring the
resources
listed above. You will find that the web sites focus on different
aspects of the Indian Civilizations. Some sites are even written by
students your age from other schools across the country.
-
As you explore these sites, record facts. Some tips to make note
taking more effective include printing out excerpts from sites that
you find useful and using highlighters to mark pertinent information,
if you do this you will need to pay for copies. This information can
also be recorded, in your own words, on note cards.
-
When you have collected information about your topic, you are
prepared to begin planning your presentation. This process begins with
brainstorming and prewriting followed by the actual practice of your
presentation. Remember, you are writing from the perspective of a
Spaniard visiting the
Americas
for the first time.
You are explaining your experience to the people back in
Spain
and more specifically the “Queen of Spain”. Your presentation should
include enough detail and description for your listeners to gain a
good sense of what life like in the Americas.
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Evaluation
This WebQuest will be evaluated according to the following
criteria:
Do
you have an introduction? Did you keep to the subject and present
facts not opinion? Did you have details to support your information?
Did you have a conclusion or an appropriate transition to the next
presenter?
Is
there at least one visual aid to complement your presentation? Is the
visual aid explained fully? Can the visual aid be seen clearly?
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Conclusion
When
you complete this WebQuest, you will be able to better identify and
understand the accomplishments of the ancient Indian civilizations. As
you gather information from a variety of sources, you will have a
greater understanding of the personal, social, and religious events
that made these cultures great.
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|Last updated May 7, 2002|
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