Manchester College
Department of Education
Lesson: Mesoamerica to Present day Mexico
Lesson by: Carl Hartstein
Grade: 6th
Length: 30 minutes
Standards:
SS.6.1.10: Examine and explain the outcomes of European colonization on the Americas and the
rest of the world.
SS.6.1.18: Create and compare timelines that identify major people, events, and developments
in the history of individual civilizations and/or countries that comprise Europe and the Americas.
Performance objectives:
Students will create a timeline, and turn it in, on their own identifying key people, events,
developments, and outcomes in Mexican history with 80% accuracy.
Assessment:
Students will do exit slips to help me know what they learned from the lesson, and to find out
what they are confused by or what needs to be explained a little more tomorrow. For tomorrow the
students will work to complete a timeline reaching back to ancient Aztec culture all the way to present
day Mexico and how sports (The Aztec ball game and Soccer) have impacted their cultures then and
today.
Advanced Preparation:
1. Watch The Road to Eldorado.
2. Look for exciting soccer video clips on YouTube.
3. Make sure all technology is working in the classroom.
Procedure:
Hook:
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Close your eyes, lights are off, imagine your standing in an arena. Fans cheering,
cameras flashing, the opposing team starring you right in the face. Imagine the bright
lights hitting you as you hit the winning run in or score the winning shot. Everyone
screaming your name cheering for you! (Gardner: Verbal/Linguistic)
o How would you feel in this situation?
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o Why would you feel this way?
Now imagine you are now in a new arena, but the problem is this one is located in the
ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. This arena is made of stone, with a sand court in the
middle. There are no domes no inside courts, you are out in the dead of summer the
sun beating down on you and right before the game begins the ropes that bound your
hands are taken off, and guards stand armed with weapons at each end of the court.
You look to your teammates and at the other team, this time there are not any cheers
for great performances, only for death. The only way to keep your life is to win your
match, if you lose; you face the harsh punishment of death. (Gardner: Verbal/Lingustic)
o How does this scenario make you feel?
o Why do you feel this way?
Step-by-Step:
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Firstly, Chad is going to give a quick quiz. He is showing me how to use the clickers on
the smart board. He said it will take about 15 minutes.
After the quiz do the hook.
Show a short clip from the movie Road to El Dorado, of the ball game. (53:28) (Gardner:
Visual/Spatial)
o Would this be an exciting game to play if it was not a game to the death? Why?
(Bloom: Comprehension)
o In what other ancient culture were their games that pitted two people against
each other, to the death? (Bloom: Knowledge)
o How do you believe these games satisfied their gods? (Bloom: Evaluation)
o What are some similarities between the two types of games dedicated to satisfy
the gods? (Bloom: Analysis)
o What are some differences? (Bloom: Analysis)
o Do you think the people enjoyed these games? (Bloom: Evaluation)
Show soccer clips if possible. (Gardner: Visual/Spatial)
We are going to look at how through history and time have changed games and the
culture surrounding games.
o We saw clips of soccer and the passion that surrounds the sport in present day
Mexico.
o Take out a piece of paper and list:
 What are some similarities between soccer and the ball game of ancient
Aztec culture? (Bloom: Analysis)
 What are some differences between the two? (Bloom: Analysis)
 Allow students to give some answers.
What we are going to do for homework is create a timeline beginning with Ancient
Aztec culture finishing in present time.
o In the timeline you need: (Gardner: Naturalistic?, Visual/Spatial, and
Intrapersonal)
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Key people
 Cortes
 Montezuma…etc
Key events
 Fall of Aztec culture
 Mexican Civil War
 Mexican American War
Developments/Achievements
 Architecture
 Conversion to Catholicism
 Democratic movement
Outcomes
 Cortes conquers Aztec
 Mexican’s defeat Spain
 Mexican’s become democratic nation
Closure:
Today we learned about the ball game of ancient Aztec culture and how it relates to present day
soccer. We also compared the ball game to ancient Roman gladiator games. We also connected the
ancient Aztec culture to its present day Mexican culture. Tomorrow we are going to dive right into the
history of the Mexicans and how it has shaped them to who they are today. Before we go though, I
need you to take out a half sheet of paper, share with your neighbor so we are not wasting paper. What
you are going to do on your half sheet of paper is write one of three things:
1. What did you learn today?
2. What did you find confusing?
3. What do you think needs to be explained better?
Enrichment/Adaptations:
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For my autistic students: This lesson is adapted for these students because it is fast
pace, and really does not deviate from their daily routine. Autistic students love
routine, they do not like when it is broken and disregarded. I believe that this lesson will
fit well into their routine and also interest them, in some minor differences that are
done. We watch student news almost every day, but today we watched a few short
clips from a movie and the internet. While it is not student news the routine of
watching a video is still upheld in a new way.
For my emotionally disabled students: This lesson is adapted well for them because it
does not overwhelm them with information. We have been working hard on projects
these past couple weeks, so a light information based activity is going to be well
appreciated. Also, this lesson is at a pace that these students will not get frustrated
with missing information.
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For my ADD/ADHD students: This lesson is adapted well for them because it is
comprised of many quick aspects. Since Chad is doing a quiz in the beginning of the
period, the lesson will move along at a pace that will help keep the ADD/ADHD students
engaged. Starting off with the simple eyes closed activities will really be a challenge for
these students but, I think it will benefit them because they need to challenge
themselves in new ways. I think that this activity challenges them to really stay calm
and focus on what I am saying so that they can come to their own conclusions.
Those are the types of students I have.
Self-Reflection:
What did I do well?
What could be improved?
Were the students engaged?
Did the lesson flow? If not how could I fix it?
Did my adaptations and enrichments work for the students?