Download Context for Learning: The Aztecs

Class: Primary 4 to 7
Term: 4 (April to July)
Context for Learning:
The Aztecs
What the pupils know….
 They lived in Mexico for 300 years.
 They had human sacrifices.
 They were ethnic groups interested in art.
 They built pyramid type structures.
 They worshipped the God of Flaying.
 They were well known for cocoa distribution.
 They were wiped out by European diseases.
Activities the pupils would like to do…..
 Art activities
 Make a costume
 Build model houses
 Make a play
 Make chocolate
 Make Aztec food
 Make articles/weapons
 Study Aztec legends
What the pupils would like to find out….
 What did they eat?
 Why were they allowed to have more than one wife?
 What were the empires?
 How did they do the human sacrifices?
 What was their life like?
 How did they live?
 What traditions did they have?
 Did they have rulers?
 What weapons did they have?
 What did they wear?
 What were their houses like?
 What did they invent?
 What kind of art did they produce?
 What kind of diseases caused them to die?
The pupils would like to show what they have learnt by….
 Poster
 Power point
 Make a movie
 Make a fact file
 Make a story
 Do a blog on the school website
 Make an info book
 Hold an assembly for parents
Main outcomes to be covered:
Social Studies – People, past events and societies
First
 I understand that evidence varies in the extent to which it can be trusted and can use this in learning about the past.
SOC 1-01a
 I can compare aspects of people’s daily lives in the past with my own by using historical evidence or the experience of
recreating a historical setting. SOC 1-04a
 Having selected a significant individual from the past, I can contribute to discussion on the influence of their actions, then and
since. SOC 1-06a
Second
 I can use primary and secondary sources selectively to research events in the past. SOC 2-01a
 I can compare and contrast a society with my own and contribute to a discussion of the similarities and differences.
SOC 2-04a
 I can discuss why people and events from a particular time in the past are important, placing them within a historical
sequence. SOC 2-06a
Learning intentions and success criteria set in weekly planning.
Other CfE areas that will be touched on are highlighted in termly planning.
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Learning Intentions
To find out who the Aztecs were and when they lived.
To find out how the Aztecs built the city of Tenochtitlan.
To investigate how Aztec society was organised.
To find out what the Aztecs believed and how this impacted on their lives.
To investigate what daily life was like for the Aztecs.
To find out about the fall of the Aztec empire.
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To be able to locate where the Aztecs lived on a map.
To investigate the geographical features of Mexico.
To investigate Mexico as a holiday destination.
To be able to weave an Aztec artefact.
To create an Aztec calendar.
To be able to create a diorama representing an aspect of Aztec life.
To be able to design, make and evaluate an Aztec patolli board.
To be able to plan, make and evaluate an Aztec meal.
To be able to use ICT to create an information book about the Aztecs.
To be able to use digital cameras to convey knowledge of the Aztecs.
Possible areas of study
Areas highlighted in red are not directly linked to the Aztecs IDL Topic Planning
Literacy and Languages:
Reading
 Film Study – The Fox and the Child
 Comics/Cartoon strips – Fall of the Aztec empire
 Novel Study – Group choice
Writing
 Letter/Diary entry – describe what they have just seen in
the city of Tenochtitlan. (Stain with tea bags)
 Poetry (variety) – describing Aztec life/beliefs
 Playscript– Fall of the Aztec empire
 Report (Create class information booklet) – What I have
learned about the Aztecs.
 For-Against Discussion – Pupil choice
Numeracy and Mathematics:
Numeracy (Miss Watson)
 Addition and Subtraction
 Multiplication and Division
 Fractions, Decimal Fractions and Percentages
 Money
Mathematics (Mrs Legg)
 3D Shape
 Time
 Angle
Talking and Listening
 Variety of group work across all subjects and activities.
 Prepare and deliver a short presentation about an aspect of
Aztec life.
French
 Adjectives
 Appearance
 The Body
Health and Well-being:
Sciences:
 The Solar System (Mrs Legg)
Physical education, physical activity and sport
 Athletics
 Tennis
 Golf
Social studies:
Expressive Arts
People, past events and societies
 Who were the Aztecs and when did they live? (Timeline)
 Aztec society. (Costumes/Short play)
Art and design
 Create a large wall hanging made from looms.
 Create an Aztec calendar.
 Create a diorama for “museum” display.
 Create a bird’s-eye view of the city of Tenochtitlan.
People, place and environment
 Case study – Location and Landscape of Mexico
 Mexico as a holiday destination – (Travel agents, prepare a
portfolio to show a customer about different things they
can see and do in Mexico.)
Drama
 Aztec society. (Costumes/Short play)
 Perform short silent mime from comic strips.
Dance
 Miss Wood
Music
 Miss Wood
Religious and Moral Education:
Technologies:
World Religion
 Aztec beliefs.
 Buddhism (Mr Weidner)
ICT to enhance learning
 Use graphics or word processing programme to design a
patolli board.
 Create an A to Z film about the Aztecs.
Food and textiles context for developing technological skills
and knowledge
 Prepare an Aztec meal – Make salsa, guacamole, tortilla
wraps and make hot chocolate from an ancient recipe.
 Potato and Pumpkin growing competition