Introduction
This WebQuest is designed for high school students to compare and contrast the three major Ancient Latin American Civilizations.
Introduction
In this Web-Quest students will research the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations on the Internet and answer specific questions that compare and contrast the major aspects of theseAncient Latin American cultures.
Task
Task
Welcome to the Ancient Civilizations of Latin America!
In this Web-Quest you will research the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations in order to fully compare and contrast them. You will develop a concept map to organize all of your research findings. I will then assign you to a group with whom you will prepare a PowerPoint presentation of one of the civilizations. The final assessment of your knowledge will be a detailed (5-7 page) research paper answering the questions outlined in this Web-Quest.
Process
Process
Research and Concept Map!
Your first task for this assignment is to research the three major Ancient Latin American civilizations. You will need to gather as much information as you can about each of them in order to complete all of your tasks. Use the following questions as guides to make sure you have enough information and to develop a good understanding of each civilization. You have three days to complete your research and to develop a concept map to organize all of your research findings. Your concept map will be graded and will help you in developing your other assignments so make sure you do a good job and are thorough. You may find it easier to make three individual concept maps, one for each civilization. This is also acceptable. *Tip: remember to keep a copy of your concept map(s) to aid you on your other assignments!
What characteristics, if any, did each of the three civilizations share? (Look at culture, geography, arts & crafts, family life, etc.)
What types of tools did they use? What does this say about their development?
Did their worship follow similar paths or did their beliefs differ greatly?
What type of values did their most powerful or venerated gods reflect?
What human characteristics did each of the societies value the most?
Describe their social hierarchy. Were they a warrior society, farmers, or a combination of both?
How were their cities or towns structured and who lived in them? Was most of the population urban or rural? How did these structures affect the development of the society?
What were their contributions to the arts, sciences, mathematics, and/or medicine? Have they lasted? Why or why not?
Use the following websites to research the Mayan civilization:
* Religions for all three Civilizations
Use the following websites to research the Aztec civilization:
Use the following websites to research the Inca civilization:
PowerPoint!
Now that you have gathered all of your information you will work with your assigned groups to prepare a PowerPoint presentation. For this task you will focus only on the one civilization that I have assigned to your group. It will be up to you, as a group, to divide tasks and to decide who will focus on which part of your presentation. You will each write a short report(1 page, typed) to hand in on the day you are presenting describing your role in the group and what you contributed.
This is what I'll be looking for in your presentations:
- At least 20 slides
- Detailed map of location of your civilization
- Time-line of important dates during the civilization's existence
- Information and detailed examples (pictures, clip art, videos), if available, of the civilization's arts, religion, sciences, economy, social hierarchy, system of governance, military, and imperial expansion
- Cohesive organization
Research Paper!
This will be an individual assignment.
Reflect on the questions answered by your research. Pick two of the civilizations and do a thorough comparison. Reflect on the duration of civilizations. What factors aided their growth? Their downfall? Were there any similarities? Speculate as to why one might have lasted longer than another and/or why they ultimately failed, but support your opinion with facts. I want 5 to 7 pages (not including cover and works cited), 1.5 line spacing, Times New Roman or Arial font, and size 12 font; cover page with title and your name; works cited page with all of your resources in proper APA style.
Evaluation
Evaluation
|
Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IndividualConceptMap(s)
|
Concept map/s is/are difficult to follow; includes lessthan five important details about any one of the three civilizations | Concept map/s is/are not very easy to follow; includes only six or seven important details about any one of the three civilizations | Concept map/s is/are easy to follow; includes at least eight important details about each of the three civilizations | Concept map/s is/are easy to follow; includes more than eight important details about each of the three civilizations | |
|
GroupPowerPoint Presentation
|
Presentation is disorganized; contains fewer than 15 slides; is missing more than one of the following: detailed map of civilization, time-line; less than four (not including map) pictures or clip-art, etc. | Presentation is lacking some organization; contains fewer than 20 slides, is missing one of the following: detailed map of civilization, time-line, or less than four (not including map) pictures or clip-art, etc. | Presentation is wellorganized; contains at least 20 slides, detailed map of civilization, has time-line, at least four (not including map) pictures or clip-art, etc. | Presentation is well organized and shows good group work; contains more than 20 slides, detailed map of civilization, has time-line, more than four (not including map) pictures or clip-art, etc. | |
|
Individual PresentationReport |
Not very clear onpersonal role in group or personal contributions to the presentation | Gives a detailed report of personal role in group and personal contributions to the presentation | |||
|
IndividualResearch Paper |
Paper fails to discuss similarities anddifferencesbetween two of the civilizations; no reflections on impact and/or duration of civilizations discussed; does not support opinion or argument with facts; less than 4 pages,incorrectfont, missingcover page, improper or missing citations; many grammatical errors | Paper discusses less than three similarities and differences between two of the civilizations; unclearreflectionson impact and/or duration of civilizationsdiscussed; does not properly support a stated opinion or argument with at least three facts; less than 5 pages, incorrect font, missing cover page, improper or missingcitations; more than 3 grammatical errors | Paper discusses at least three similarities and differences between two of the civilizations; good reflections on impact and/or duration of civilizations discussed; supports any opinion orargumentwith at least three facts; 5-7 pages, correct font, cover page, proper citations; 3 or fewer grammatical errors | Paper discusses more than three similarities and differences between two of the civilizations; good reflections on impact and duration of civilizations discussed; supports any opinion or argument with at least three facts; 5-7 pages, correct font, cover page, proper citations; 0 or 1 grammaticalerror |
Conclusion
Conclusion
We Are Done!
You have completed a thorough research on the three most important Ancient civilizationsof Latin America. As you have most likely found out, their impact can still be felt hundreds of years after their collapse. This makes it fundamentally important for us to continue studying and learning from them so that we can draw parallels to our own present civilization.
If your interest has been piqued and you want to find out more you can also visit the following websites:
Maya- culture, city, government
*This is an aerial view of Cuzco (Inca)
Credits
Credits
I would also like to thank the following sites for the use of their pictures:
http://travel.resourcesforattorneys.com/mexico/images/chichen-itza.jpg
http://www2.truman.edu/~marc/webpages/nativesp99/aztecs/sunstone.jpg
http://www.kidspast.com/images/inca-empire.jpg
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/23800/23836/inca_23836_sm.gif
and Indiana's Academic Standards and Resources website at: