Aztec History Lesson Plan for 3rd Grade Students

Topic: Aztec History

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to understand and summarize the basic historical ideas about the Aztec civilization.

Materials

• Pictures of Aztec artifacts (e.g. statues, carvings, pottery)
• Handouts with basic information about the Aztec civilization
• Art supplies (e.g. construction paper, markers, colored pencils) for the project at the end

Warm-up

• Show the students the pictures of the Aztec artifacts and ask them if they have heard of the Aztec civilization before. What do they know about it?
• Write their answers on the board and discuss as a class.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the Aztec civilization and its location in present-day Mexico.
• Explain that the Aztec civilization was one of the largest and most powerful civilizations in Mesoamerica, and that it had a complex system of government and a rich culture.
• Show the students the pictures of the Aztec rulers and explain that the Aztec civilization was ruled by a series of powerful emperors called "tlatoani" or "emperors."
• Discuss the impact of the Aztec civilization on present-day Mexico, including the use of the Aztec language, Aztec customs and traditions, and the continued presence of Aztec people in Mexico.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and give each group a set of pictures of different Aztec artifacts (e.g. statues, buildings, jewelry).
• Have the students work together to identify and explain the purpose of each artifact.
• Ask the students to report their findings to the class.

Independent Practice

• Give each student a piece of paper and a pen.
• Have the students draw a picture of themselves in an Aztec village and write a sentence explaining what they are doing in their picture.
• Ask the students to share their pictures with the class and have the class guess what each student is doing in their picture.

Closure

• Review the main points of the Aztec civilization with the students.
• Ask the students to share one thing they learned about the Aztec civilization during the lesson.

Assessment

• Observe the students during the guided and independent practice activities to assess their understanding of the topic.
• Collect and review the students' projects for understanding of the Aztec civilization and its accomplishments.