Grade 8 Humanities
Worldviews in Conflict
Language Arts
Complete 2 from each category. You MUST complete the bolded projects
Reading and Writing
1. Editorial – Write an editorial expressing your opinion of the Spanish Conquest of the
Aztec Empire
a. Write in the form of a friendly letter
b. Include:
i. Facts of what happened
ii. How you feel about this historical event
iii. What and why you think things should have happened
2. Poetry – Write a poem in the Aztec style
a. Poem should be
i. Didactic (designed to teach a lesson)
ii. Themes include:
1. Worship
2. Share a story
3. Celebrate the beauty of the natural world
3. Personal Choice – design a writing project to include the themes of worldview in conflict.
Listening and Speaking
1. Debate Speech – Was Spain justified in their actions because of their worldview?
OR
Debate Speech – Were the Aztec people justified in practicing their religious beliefs?
2. Radio Drama – Create a radio drama of the First Contact between the Aztec Empire
and the Spanish
OR
Radio Drama – Create a radio drama of Moctezuma’s Council Meeting upon the
arrival of the Spanish
OR
Radio Drama – Create a radio drama of Nobles appealing to the Spanish Crown to sail
to the New World
3. Personal Choice – design a performance based project which includes themes of worldview
in conflict.
Viewing and Representing
1. Aztec Codice – Create an Aztec codex telling a story about life before the conquest
2. Propaganda Poster – Create a poster that promotes either the Aztec or Spanish
worldview
3. Personal Choice – design a project representing Spanish or Aztec culture and/or art
Social Studies
Complete the following assignments.
If you have an idea for a personal choice project, you MUST consult with the teacher to
determine in which category the project fits BEFORE you begin.
Assignment 1:
Research “The People of the Sun”
a. Create a web diagram gathering information from chapter 7, online, and text
resources about the relationship the Aztecs had with their god, Huizilopochtli. Use
information from your web to answer these questions.
i. What role did the Aztecs believe Huizilopochtli played in finding a new home
for them?
ii. What did the Aztecs believe were the god’s responsibilities?
iii. What did they believe were their responsibilities to the god? Why?
iv. What impact did fulfilling these responsibilities have on the Aztec’s
relationship with other peoples?
v. In what ways did their relationship with Huizilopochtli influence their art,
literature, and architecture?
b. Based on the information you have gathered, why do you think the Aztecs called
themselves “The People of the Sun”?
c. Based on what you have learned about the Aztec identity, what generalization can
you make about the role of beliefs and experience in shaping identity?
OR
Research Canadian and Aztec Geography
a. In what ways did the geography of the Aztec land influence three Aztec roles:
farmer, trader, and warrior?
b. Select three roles in Canada that are strongly influenced by geography and explain
geography’s influence on each role.
c. Would geography have a greater influence on Aztec society or on contemporary
Canadian society? Be prepared to support your opinion.
Assignment 2:
Worldview Motto
a. Consider the following political mottos: “peace, order, and good government”
(Canadian Confederation, 1867), “liberty, equality, brotherhood” (France), and “life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (United States).
i. Work with a group to make up a three-word motto that you think represents
the Aztec worldview (it does not need to have the same words as those of
the three mottos listed).
ii. How do you think the Aztec social structure and educational system
supported and contributed to this worldview?
OR
Superpowers Around the World
a. In chapter 8 of the text, the Aztecs were referred to as a “superpower”. What does
that mean to you? Today, some people think the United States is the only
superpower, while others disagree, saying that China, the European Union, Russia,
an India are also superpowers.
i. How does a country get ranked as a superpower? What criteria made the
Aztecs a superpower 500 years ago?
ii. Use your criteria list to determine which countries today are superpowers.
Explain your reasoning.
iii. Are any countries in Canada “superpowers”? Write a persuasive essay
sharing your opinion.
Assignment 3:
Spanish Worldview
a. The worldview of Spain was influenced by four important factors: geography, God,
gold, and Glory. As a result, the Spanish monarchy supported the idea of creating an
overseas empire. Complete an organizer, gathering information from chapter 9 of
the text, online, and other text sources about how each factor contributed to Spain’s
desire to expand its empire.
b. Review the worldviews icon in the textbook. Where would you place each of the
factors in your organizer? Explain your reasoning.
OR
“The New World” Worldview
a. Historians often use the term “The New World” to describe the Americas when
Columbus arrived. Whose perspective is reflected in this term? Explain why this
term is Eurocentric. Look up Eurocentrism in the text glossary. What happens when
you look at things from only one point of view or perspective?
Assignment 4:
An Unequal Battle
a.
The Aztecs fought hard to protect their civilization, but the Spanish had three
advantages the Aztecs could not overcome.
i. How did weaponry, strategy, and disease contribute to the eventual downfall
of the Aztec society?
OR
a.
How did Cortes’ worldview contribute to the strategy he used on the Aztec peoples?
i. How might the battles’ outcomes have been different if the Aztecs and
Spanish had had equal sets of weapons?
ii. What was the role of the Indigenous allies that Cortes enlisted?
iii. The Aztec society was one filled with great pride – pride in their
achievements, in their hierarchy, and in their warrior society. What effect do
you think smallpox had on their sense of pride?
OR
a.
What reasons might each of the following have for thinking that Cores was a hero or
a villain?
i. A Spanish fighter
ii. An Aztec solider
iii. A Mexican today
Assignment 5:
a. Select a quotation from any “Exploring Sources” in chapter 11 of the textbook.
Create a visual to explain what your selection tells you about the worldview of the
person at the time of the quotation.
OR
a. To understand the meaning of culture, it is important to understand your own. On
your own, complete this personal cultural worksheet by answering the following
questions:
i. What language(s) do you speak at home?
ii. What music do you listen to?
iii. What foods do you eat at home?
iv. At home, what manners have you been taught? What is considered polite
and rude?
v. What do you wear on special occasions?
vi. How often do you see your extended family?
vii. What holidays and celebrations are important to you?
b. Based on the answers in your worksheet, how would you describe the culture that
you are a part of?
Assignment 6:
Cortez landed in what is now Mexico on April 22, 1519. As the 500th anniversary
of this event approaches a museum has put out a call for displays. However
there is a problem, the museum does not know how the Spanish should be
portrayed. To answer this question we must consider:
To what extent can we blame the Spanish for acting upon
their worldviews and therefore conquering the Aztecs?
Students will be divided into groups of 3 each will create a display for the
museum. Half of the groups will argue for option 1 and half for option 2.
Option 1: The Spanish should not be blamed for conquering the
Aztecs because they were following their worldview and therefor did
not know better.
-Therefore they should be positively reflected in the display.
Option 2: The Spanish should be blamed for conquering the Aztecs
even though they were following their worldview.
-Therefore they should be negatively reflected in the display.
PART 1:
-Create an argument to convince the museum that the Spanish
should be displayed positively or negatively.
PART 2:
-Create a Museum Display which shows the Spanish and Aztec
conflict.
-The display must show the Spanish in a positive or negative light.
-Include at least one piece of text describing the event and 1 visual
PART 3:
-Present your argument and museum display to the class.