SOCIAL STUDIES 8:
Worldviews in Conflict
Major Project: CJA Geographic
You are a photojournalist for National Geographic and you have finally been
given your first major assignment. You have been asked to assemble a team of
writers, photographers and videogaphers to portray a realistic view of the World
of the Ancient Aztecs. You must focus on what their culture was like before their
conflict with the Spanish and how it changed as a result of the Spanish conquest
of the Aztec people. You will also need to show how the Aztecs and Spanish
contributed to the Worldview of modern Mexico. Finally, your work must
provide an answer to the question: How did intercultural contact
between the Aztecs and the Spanish affect the worldviews
of those societies?
In small groups, chosen BY THE TEACHER, your group must create a
project that includes ALL of the following requirements. The different elements
of this project must all come together as ONE, COHESIVE presentation. For
example, you can include text, pictures, videos, music, etc within PowerPoint,
Google Presentation, Prezi, iPhoto, etc. so you can incorporate lots of different
elements into one presentation.
Divide the requirements up between your group members.
Use this assignment sheet as a checklist to make sure ALL requirements
are met.
Remember, a bibliography MUST be included with your project.
Group Members:
_________________________________________________________
Due Date:
_______________________________________________________________
General Info:
____A timeline spanning from the time when the Aztecs claimed Tenochtitlan as their new
home to the time Mexico claims
independence from Spain.
____This time line must include at least 20 dates and at least 5 pictures for any chosen dates.
____Two events that are highlighted in detail.
Who is responsible for what:
Chapter 7 info:
____A world map that shows the Aztec Empire (including Tenochtitlan), and
Spain and the route Columbus sailed to discover Mexico.
____A close-up map of the Aztec Empire that includes the swampy islands that
the Aztecs called home.
____A visual representation and explanation of the Aztec chinampa systems and
how this system helped the Aztec culture flourish.
____A codex that illustrates the Aztec’s religious beliefs. This must include at
least 6 Gods and their roles, an example of an Aztec temple and an explanation
of at least 2 Aztec celebrations.
____An original picture that reflects the Aztec’s views of the cultures around
them.
____A poem, set to music, that reflects the Aztec’s view that Tenochtitlan was the
centre of the world.
Who is responsible for what:
Chapter 8 info:
____You must create a collage that depicts a day at the Tlatelolco market. This
collage must somehow show examples of each level of the Aztec social hierarchy,
at least 3 different types of calpolli’s, at least 4 different types of vendors
including goods they sell and cost of the goods and at least 3 examples of what
goes on at the market besides the sale of goods.
____Create 2 journal entries. Each one will describe, in detail, a day in the life
of an Aztec student. The diary for the calmecac student must be written from the
point of view of a boy; the telpochalli entry may be from a boy or girl’s
perspective.***The way in which the diary is “written” should reflect how each
type of student was taught.***
____The Aztec nobles are holding a contest! They are searching for their ideal
citizen. Create a one page advertisement explaining what the requirements are
to win the contest and become the Aztec’s “ideal Aztec citizen.” Be sure to give
the contest a name, you can award a prize/title if you like, be creative and try to
make it seem realistic!
____Create a cartoon that reflects an Aztec trial. You decide on the person being
charged, what they are being charged for and their punishment (make them
guilty of course!). There must be at least 3 frames on the cartoon and the
information must be relevant to the time period.
Who is responsible for what:
Chapter 9 info:
____Display an historical map (or series of maps) that follows the Spanish
Reconquista. Be sure it shows Spain BEFORE 1085, the changes in the areas in
and around Spain during the Christian reconquest and how the area looked
after the capture of Granada in 1492. You must also include a written
discussion of how and why the Muslim's took over power in the Iberian
Peninsula in 711, how that changed and affected the Spanish Empire and how
and when the area was finally reclaimed by Christians.
____In 1492 Spanish reserves of precious metals was running low. As a result,
Spain wanted to conquer new lands that would offer them riches in this area.
Today, Spain uses the Euro as its form of currency. Create a commemorative
Euro (yes, you will have to research what a Euro is) that depicts the main ways
in which Spanish nobles gained personal wealth during this era. Your Euro
must be two sided and include a motto that reflects a Spaniard's view of how they
triumphed over the Muslims. This phrase must be in Spanish and English on the
Euro.
____Create a sculpture that shows how EITHER geograpy, God, gold or glory
led to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella's decision to create an overseas
Empire.
Who is responsible for what:
Chapter 10 info:
____Create a short biography for BOTH Hernan Cortes AND Moctezuma
(Montezuma).
It MUST include AT LEAST the following:
Birth info: where, when
Background info:
Rise to power:
Explanation of their Worldview before and after the Aztec/Spanish conflict:
What happened to them because of AND after the Spanish/Aztec conflict:
A picture:
A paragraph discussing the SIMILARITIES and DIFFERENCES of the two
men.
____Create a visual that depicts the final battle between the Aztecs and Spanish.
This must be historically accurate – that means the participants in the battle
must be dressed right and armed right, the appropriate side must be in control,
the setting must be appropriate and the diorama must have a paragraph with it
that describes the scene.
____Your ENTIRE GROUP must WORK TOGETHER to write, act in and
produce a news broadcast focusing on the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs from
1519-1521. The broadcast will be based on a time immediately following the fall
of the Aztecs but will also include excerpts/interviews of Aztec citizens from just
before the arrival of the Spanish (what was their Worldview like before the
Spanish arrived), interviews of Spanish visitors and Aztec citizens in
Tenochtitlan before the Aztecs demise (what was their Worldview like at this
time), finally, a review of the Aztecs fall from power and an interview with an
Aztec warrior and a Spanish soldier after the Spanish have defeated the Aztec
(what were their Worldviews like at this time).
____Your broadcast should be between 5 and 10 minutes long and is told from
the perspective of Aztec broadcasters. You should have a name for your t.v.
station, all your interview sources, and your news reporters that reflect their
heritage.
Who is responsible for what:
Chapter 11 info:
____Create a graphic organizer (chart or web for example) that includes the
seven Worldview icons. For each icon describe how that icon reflects the
worldview of the Aztec, the Spanish and the Modern Mexicans. Refer to page 4
of your text for some help with what to discuss under each icon.
____Present five visual representations of how Aztec and Spanish influences are
evident in Mexico today (five for each). These visual representations must be
ranked in order of importance and an explanation for their ranking must
accompany each.
____Write THREE poems that reflect how each of the following groups would
describe their Worldviews today. Be sure the poems have some references to the
historical events you have been learning about as well as references to these
groups views of the World today. If you are really creative you can combine all
of these views into one poem also. The groups are:
1) The Mestizo’s
2) The Indigenous Peoples
3) The Creoles
____Based on the information you gather for your graphic organizer and from
the other information you have learned throughout this project, create a
response that answers the question:
How did intercultural contact between the Aztecs and the
Spanish affect the worldviews of those societies?
Who is responsible for what:
SOCIAL STUDIES 8:
Worldviews in Conflict
Major Project: Mitford Geographic
Requirement Tracking Sheet
Group members names:
____________________________________________
General Info:
1) Timeline:
Minimum 20 events_____
Minimum 5 pictures:
_____
Chapter 7 info:
2 )A world map that shows the Aztec Empire (including Tenochtitlan), and Spain
and the route Columbus sailed to discover Mexico. _____
3) A close-up map of the Aztec Empire that includes the swampy islands that the
Aztecs called home. _____
4) A visual representation and explanation of the Aztec chinampa systems and how
this system helped the Aztec culture flourish.
Paragraph: _____
Picture: _____
5) A codex that illustrates the Aztec’s religious beliefs. This must include at least
6 Gods and their roles, an example of an Aztec temple, and an explanation of at
least 2 Aztec celebrations.
Minimum 6 gods: research: _____
on final product: _____
Minimum 2 celebrations: research: _____ on final product: _____
Minimum 1 templet: research: _____
on final product: _____
6) An original picture that reflects the Aztec’s views of the cultures around
them._____
7) A poem, set to music, that reflects the Aztec’s view that Tenochtitlan was the
centre of the world. _____
Chapter 8 info:
8) Collage that depicts a day at the Tlatelolco market. _____
9)2 journal entries. Telpochalli _____
taught.***
Calmeacac _____ student was
10) Ideal Aztec Poster: _____
11) Cartoon that reflects an Aztec trial.
Chapter 9 info:
12) Historical map (or series of maps) that follows the Spanish Reconquista. ____
Paragraph: _____
13) Euro: _____
14) Sculpture that shows how EITHER geograpy, God, gold or glory led to King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella's decision to create an overseas Empire._____
15) Cortes Biography: _____
Moctezuma Biography: ______
Paragraph discussing the SIMILARITIES and DIFFERENCES of the two men. ___
16) 3-D diorama that depicts the final battle between the Aztecs and Spanish. ___
Paragraph: _____
17)Aztec news broadcast: _____
Chapter 11 info:
18) A graphic organizer (chart or web for example) that includes the seven
Worldview icons. For each icon describe how that icon reflects the worldview of
the Aztec, the Spanish and the Modern Mexicans. _____
19) Five visual representations of how Aztec and Spanish influences are evident in
Mexico today. Spanish: _____
Aztec: _____
20 THREE poems. The Mestizo’s: _____ Creoles: _____
Indigenous: ____
21) A response that answers the question: How did intercultural contact
between the Aztecs and the Spanish affect the worldviews of
those societies? ____