The American Journey © 2012

Chapter 1: The First Americans

Web Activity Lesson Plans

"The Maya World View"

Introduction
In this opening chapter students learned about the first Americans. As these people spread across North and South America they developed unique cultures. Each culture developed political and economic systems, as well as art, language, and spiritual beliefs. The Web site for Native American cultures contains many articles, photographs, and documents that provide a wealth of background information on a variety of cultural topics.

Lesson Description
Students will visit a Web site devoted to information about the ceramics of the Classic period of Maya civilization. After perusing the Web site they will answer several questions and use critical thinking to identify some of the reasons that certain ceramics tend to have specific images. Discuss the relationship between uses of different types of pottery in a culture (for example, contrasting practical pieces with "luxuries" like flower vases) to help students shape their arguments.

Instructional Objectives

1. The learner will be able to identify the location of Classic Maya civilization.
2. The learner will be able to explain the kinds of images appearing on Maya ceramics.
3. The learner will be able to propose reasons why the Maya painted specific images on certain types of pottery.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. southeastern Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and western El Salvador
2. gods, monsters, heroes, rulers, animals, plants
3. They show wear around the rims, bases, and the interiors.
4. bowls
5. Answers will vary but may draw parallels between the function of the ceramic and how that function connects to certain kinds of images.