8th Grade Curriculum

Unit: Ancient Americas (PDF - Print Version)

Highlighted Questions - Thematic Essential Questions focused on during this unit.

Ancient Americas Unit Website

 

GSTEQ

History Alive!

Medieval Times Textbook

Supplemental

Assessments

Standards*

 

1. Why do people live and move where they do?

1.1 Mapping Latin Americas Physiographic Features

Ch. 3.1 Cultures of Middle America (Maya, Aztecs)

Ch. 3.2 The Incas

Check with Geography Curriculum – Old Stuff

 

RIGSE: 5-1 – Many ways Earth’s people are interconnected

RIGSE: 5-2 – Interconnected World

RIGSE: 5-3 – Choices Interconnected world

RIGSE HP 2

Era 1 WH 1,2

Era 2 WH 1,2,3

Era 4 WH 5,6,7

Era 5 WH 1

 

2. Why do people live the way they do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.2 Life Under Inca Rule

Ch. 3.1 Cultures of Middle America (Maya, Aztecs)

 

 

RIGSE G&C 1-4
RIGSE HP 1-3

Era 1 WH 1,2

Era 2 WH 1,2,3,4

Era 3 WH 1,2,3,4,5

Era 4 WH 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Era 5 WH 1,2

 

3. How and why do human societies organized the way they do?

3.2 Life Under Inca Rule

Ch. 3.2 The Incas

 

 

RIGSE – G&C 1-2, 4

Era 1 WH 2

Era 2 WH 1,2,3,4

Era 3 WH 1,2,3,4,5

Era 4 WH 1,2,3,4,5,6

Era 5 WH 1,2

 

4. How does technology affect people’s lives?

 

Ch. 3.2 The Incas

 

 

RIGSE – G&C 5

RIGSE – HP1

Era 1 WH 1,2

Era 2 WH 1,2,3,4

Era 3 WH 1,2,3,4,5

Era 4 WH 1,2,6

Era 5 WH 1,2

 

5. How has conflict and cooperation shaped human history?

 

 

 

 

RIGSE – G&C 1,3,5

RIGSE – HP1,2,3

Era 2 WH 1,3

Era 3 WH 1,2,3,5

Era 4 WH 1,2,3

Era 5 WH 1,2

 

6. How has the quest for resources affected human history?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RIGSE – G&C 1,5
RIGSE – HP 1,2,3

Era 1 WH 1,2

Era 2 WH 1,2,3

Era 3 WH 1,2,3,5

Era 4 WH 1,2,3,4,5

Era 5 WH 1,2

 

7. How do we know what we know about human history?

 

 

 

 

RIGSE – HP 1,2,3

Era 1 WH 1,2

Era 3 WH 1,4

Era 4 WH 1,5,6

 

8. Why do civilizations rise & decline?

2.1 The Rise of the Mayan Civilization

2.3 Solving the Mystery of the Lost Maya

3.1 Expansion of the Inca Empire

4.1 The Development of the Aztec Empire

 

Video: Engineering an Empire – Maya Death Empire

Video: The Last Days of Maya

Book: Broken Spears

 

RIGSE – G&C 1,5
RIGSE – HP 1,2,3

Era 2 WH 1,2,3

Era 3 WH 1,2,3,4,5

Era 4 WH 1,2,3,5,6,7

Era 5 WH 1,2

 

 

Standard Strands – Historical Depth of Knowledge

 

Assessment – Applying Essential Questions Ancient History to Today

Portfolio: 8 Questions – Find a modern day example, reflect upon these questions as time goes on.

 

Keep portfolios as folders, binders, match to questions.