Welcome to the new Content Area Unit on Latin America!

First, we'll begin by looking at the past in order to better understand present day Latin America.

Week 1-3 Directions:

1. Choose one or two peers to complete this project with
2. Choose a civilization to explore. You will have a choice between The Aztecs, The Incas and The Mayans
3. Begin by familiarizing yourself with who these people were and where and how they lived. 
4. Use the links provided to look at the map of the civilization that you have chosen and ask yourself, what was the geography of their territory like?
5. Make sure that you are taking notes in your Writers' Notebook using a box and bullets format or another form of note taking skill that will help you keep track of important information

Task:

With your peer(s), prepare a PowerPoint  presentation with appropriate media/visuals where you answer the following questions: 

1. Give a description of the civilization and how they people lived (traditions, food or farming, culture. language)
2. Have a map showing where they lived 
3. Give at least 3 examples of artifacts from that civilization as well as explanations about what they represented in that culture. See some examples here
4. Create a timeline of the rise and fall of the civilization. You can print out a blank timeline here
5. Create 3 brochures of the most famous sites that the civilization built with details about the location and significance of these places
6. Each person must  write and type up (in Microsoft Word) at least 2 pages of informational text responding to the questions asked above in bullets 1-3

Checklist to achieve 100% in this task

      

Criteria	4	3	2	1
PowerPoint Presentation	-Contains all relevant facts that are required for the task -No mistakes in information given -Everyone presents in an equal amount of time -Includes a detailed and clear map of the region -Includes an accurate timeline with dates and events clearly shown -Describes 3 artifacts from the civilization	Contains mostly relevant facts that were required for the task -Some minor mistakes in information given -Everyone presents in an equal amount of time -Timeline included but might be missing key information - Mentions 3 artifacts	Contains mostly relevant facts that are required for the task -Some minor mistakes in information given -Everyone presents in almost an equal amount of time with one or more people remaining silent - Timeline included but might be missing key information - Mentions less than 3 artifacts	Contains no relevant facts that are required for the task -Major mistakes in information given -One person dominates the presentation - No timeline included -Does not mention 3 artifacts
Brochure	-Has 3 copies of a student created brochure with details about important monuments from the civilization	-Has less than 3 copies of a student created brochure with details about important monuments from the civilization	-Has  less than 3 copies of a brochure- -Brochure is possibly not student created and lacks important information about monuments from the civilization	-No brochures created
Typed Word Document	-Has type written written an authentic informational piece  summarizing the research that was carried out on the civilization and citing source of information where necessary -Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling. -Writing contains accurate and important facts with no irrelevant details that were not a part of the assignment.	-Has type written a mostly informational piece with personal opinions or unverified source of information summarizing the research that was carried out on the civilization. -Mostly Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling. -Mostly accurate writing and mostly important facts that were a part of the assignment.	-Has written an informational piece  summarizing the research that was carried out on the civilization some sources of information included -Mistakes in  grammar, punctuation, spelling. -Writing contains some irrelevant details that were not a part of the assignment.	-Has copied work from another source word for word without any creativity. -Major mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling. -Writing contains irrelevant details that were not a part of the assignment.

Other research resources:
National Geographic (Type in Maya, Inca or Aztec in the search bar)
Wikipedia (Type in Maya, Inca or Aztec in the search bar)
History.com (Type in Maya, Inca or Aztec in the search bar)
Buzzle.com (Type in Maya, Inca or Aztec in the search bar)