If you’re a social studies teacher looking to enhance your curriculum or searching for supplementary resources, you’ve found the right place. I want to help every teacher be their best when teaching your Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca units! The following resources are activities I personally use in my Mesoamerican and South America units.
Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca Bell Ringers
I kick off my Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca units with dynamic, no-prep, skill-based bell ringers. Each bell ringer engages students by reviewing content and practicing crucial reading and writing skills such as subject/verb identification, citation, and sentence writing, with fun drawing prompts included. This approach not only prepares students for the day’s lesson but helps with classroom management, establishing routines and maintaining student expectations.
Mesoamerica and South America Map and Reading Activities
I start every ancient or medieval world history unit with an immersive map activity. This Mesoamerica Map and Reading Activity provides students with a hands-on approach to understanding central and south American geography, and its impact on empires. Each lesson includes interactive map labeling, coloring tasks, followed by a short reading passage and writing activity on geographic influences, as well as a Google Classroom or printable quiz.
Empire Report Card Reading Activity
When I plan a reading comprehension activity, I want to make it interesting for students. In the Aztec Empire Report Card Reading Activity, I transform my students into teacher-historians as they study Mesoamerican and South American Empires. Students read GRAPES thematic reading passages about the Aztecs, answer questions based on each theme, then grade each theme. Finally, they calculate the empire’s GPA and write teacher comments.
I teach each empire using this approach.
Olmec Civilization Report Card Reading Activity
Maya Civilization Report Card Reading Activity
Inca Empire Report Card Reading Activity
Hexagonal Thinking Activities
When I teach writing, I begin with organization. I use one of the four Hexagonal Thinking Activities for ancient Mesoamerican and South America. These are a great way for students to visualize what key terms they will use and how their paragraph will be organized.
Lost City of the Maya Documentary
Documentaries provide a great opportunity for students to learn or review using visual mediums. I tell my students that documentaries are like virtual field trips because we get to hear from historians and archaeologists, and see the actual sites students have studied. I also like to mix it up! Documentaries are a nice change of pace for classes, and they are great for sub plans too! The Lost City of the Maya Documentary because it covers all the key terms in a typical Aztec lesson!
And the Netflix Empire Games Aztecs Documentary is perfect for a Mesoamerica Unit because it covers all the key terms in a typical Aztec lesson!
Decline & Fall of Simulations
As a social studies teacher, I want my students to develop an understanding of cause and effect. Part of that is understanding how empires rise and fall. In the Decline & Fall of the Aztec Empire Simulation, students explore the complexities of empire decline with our interactive simulation. Students experience the forces that contribute to the decline of the Aztec Empire. And they do this while working to prevent the collapse of their simulated empire. This simulation fosters critical thinking and historical empathy, leaving a lasting impact on student learning.
FREE Decline & Fall of the Maya Civilization Simulation
Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca Monuments & Sculpture Play Doh Activity
Explore an exciting free teacher-led activity designed for social studies classes! Teachers will guide students through short lectures and texts on monuments and sculptures from the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca. After each segment, students will pause to recreate these monuments, fostering hands-on learning. In the web-quest, students will research significant monuments, sculptures, and achievements, recording their findings, inserting images, and recreating accomplishments. Finally, they will upload their work into a shared Google Doc. This interactive lesson is perfect for engaging students in the fascinating history of ancient civilizations.
Step Pyramid Project
Engage students with a hands-on 3D project where they construct a Step Pyramid Project. This culminating activity integrates key terms and historical events, encouraging collaborative learning and creative expression. A detailed checklist and rubric ensure project quality and classroom decoration.
Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca Tests
I used to dread making tests for my ancient and world history units. If you need help writing your unit test for the Olmec and Maya Test and Maya, Aztec and Inca Test, use this assessment covering Mesopotamian geography, the Olmec, Maya, Aztecs and Incas and much more. There is a regular and modified version, a study guide and writing tests.
The Olmec and Maya unit and the Maya, Aztec, Inca unit are designed with teachers in mind. It is full of time-saving activities. You will get more student buy-in with interactive simulations, hands-on projects, and insightful discussions on historical figures. Designed for flexibility, the Mesoamerica and South America units help teachers be their best!
Be sure to listen to the Middle Ages Podcast for more awesome ideas ancient and world history teachers!