Curriculum Alignment

Pre-Columbian Societies

 Aztec, Inca, and Maya Civilizations

Research Process

Directions to Students

  Scenario

Imagine you have traveled back through time to a Pre-Columbian period in what is now Latin America. Upon your return, you decide to share the excitement of your discoveries with your classmates.

Essential Question:

How can the criteria used to define a civilization be applied to Pre-Columbian societies?

Task and Product

Archeologists, like other scientists, like to find general rules that will bring some order and meaning to the vast amounts of material they dig up. Because scientists are uneasy when every object they uncover is seen as unique, they work to find general principles that explain seemingly unrelated objects and events. They look for regularities in the material they study. One archeologist, V. Gordon Childe, sought to understand the emergence of civilizations by examining archaeological material for evidence of such regularities. On the basis of his study, he proposed a set of criteria or characteristics which he believed defined a civilization. These criteria are:

  • Large and thickly populated settlements
  • A variety of specialized occupations
  • The ability to produce and store surplus food and other goods
  • Large public buildings
  • A variety and ranking of social positions
  • Writing and a system of notation
  • The beginning of science
  • The development of an important art style
  • Trade over long distances
  • The beginning of social control based on a central government rather than kinship.

Print out a copy of the Civilization Criteria Sheet (pdf format) to keep in your notes for reference.

You will research the Pre-Columbian culture you have been assigned to determine if your culture can be defined as a civilization. Use at least three resources of information: one electronic resource (Internet or feebased database), one nonfiction book, and one encyclopedia (CD-ROM or print).

When researching and creating a product, keep in mind these questions.

You are to use the information you collect to create a visual presentation in one of the following formats. Click on each format for tips and suggestions.

Assessments

Your grade will be based on the following:

  • Presentation should cover all of the topics in the subsidiary questions.
  • Presentation needs to include a picture or a symbol for each topic in the subsidiary questions.
  • Your finished project should also include a bibliography.

You will be graded on your daily work on the research process as well as on your final product using one or more of the following tools:

Question

Essential Question:

How can you apply criteria used to define a civilization to the Pre-Columbian societies?

Subsidiary question

Organizational Helps - graphic organizers, calendars, etc.

Gather and Sort

Gather information from a variety of sources.

Sort your findings using a graphic organizer when taking notes. Click on eache topic for a notes organizer.

Remember to cite your references. Check the MLA guidelines and examples for citing resources; however, your school may use a different format.

To avoid risking plagiarism, properly paraphrase and quote in your writing.

Organize

Analyze your research notes to determine how to apply criteria used to define a civilization to the Pre-Columbian societies.

Share with your group of experts - the other students in your class who researched the same culture.

During the sharing phase with experts, continue to record the most relevant and important information about your culture.

Now you should have the information you need about different aspects of your Pre-Columbian civilization in order to create your product for your audience.

Synthesize your findings by creating the first draft one of the above products for disseminating your information to your audience:

  • What new insights have emerged about your topics?
  • Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on your audience?

Create the first draft of your presentation.

Evaluate the effectiveness of your presentation.

  • Have you presented sufficient details about your topic?
  • Are your details organized in the right categories or sub-topics to make sense for your audience?
  • Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on an audience?

Conclusion

 

Presentation

Make your presentation to your class.

During the presentations, use this chart to record the most relevant and important information.

Reflection

Choose one Pre-Columbian society and write an essay showing how it does or does not fit the criteria for a civilization.

Write a paragraph explaining what you have learned from your experience with the research process and what you plan to do differently next time. Scoring tool for Brief Constructed Response html version MS Word version

Author: Phyllis Fullem <pfullem@bcps.org> Cockeysville Middle Baltimore County Public Schools
Last update: August , 2003
Created by..., Library Media Specialist, BCPS Summer Curriculum Development Workshops, July 2001
BCPS Research Module, Copyright 2001, Baltimore County Public Schools, Copyright information