This document provides a weekly lesson plan for a social studies class focusing on early American civilizations. The plan covers four lessons from April 26th to 30th, 2010. Lesson 1 explores early migrants to Asia and hunter-gatherers and farmers. Lesson 2 examines the Olmec civilization including elite and common people. Lesson 3 looks at the Maya civilization such as agriculture-based economy, priest kings, and achievements. Lesson 4 compares the Tiwanakan and Moche cultures including their environments, farming, and ways of life. Formative assessments include writing, drawings, and descriptions to demonstrate understanding of the early civilizations.

1. B Bryant Academy Weekly Lesson Plan April 26th – 30th 2010
Theme: Social Studies
Learning Strand: How humans have expressed themselves in different surroundings and at different times, revealing the many commonalties and differences
shared by the world's peoples past and present.
Grade Span: 5 - 8
Essential Question: Early American Civilizations
Standards Process Skills Activity Formative Assessment
SS:WH:6:2.2: Explore the Standard SS:WH:2: Lesson 1: Choose a different event from the
spread and impact of ideas Contacts, Exchanges & Text Resources: lesson, and write a description of the experience.
and technology. International Relations: [A] Houghton Mifflin Across the Centuries
Students will demonstrate [B] Houghton Mifflin America Will Be Lesson 2: Create a pair of drawings to compare
SS:WH:6:2.3: Describe their understanding of the [C] Houghton Mifflin A More Perfect Union and contrast the lives of “Elite” with those of
major migrations. (Themes: interactions of peoples and “Commoners”.
People, Places and governments over time.
Environment; Patterns of [A] Chapter 15, Lesson 1: Origins (pp. 396-399) Lesson 3: Describe aspects of Mayan culture such
Social and Political Standard SS:WH:3: • Migrants from Asia as city life, farming methods, religion, and arts at
Interaction.) World Views and Value • Early Hunter-Gatherers the height of Mayan civilization and/or create a
systems and their • Early Farmers detailed drawing of important Mayan features
SS:WH:8:3.1: Demonstrate Intellectual and Artistic [A] Chapter 15, Lesson 2: The Olmec (pp. 400-403) such as terraced hills, pyramids, and hieroglyphs.
an understanding of how art, Expressions: Students will • Elite and Commoners
music and literature often demonstrate their • Power and Religion Lesson 4: Compare and contrast cultures by
influence or reflect major understanding of • Trade and Competition writing a dialogue between a Tiwanakan and a
ideas, values and conflicts of conceptions of reality, [A] Chapter 15, Lesson 3: The Maya (pp. 404-409) Moche, Topics covered should include location,
a particular time. (Themes: ideals, guidelines of • Economy Based on Agriculture environment, farming, and way of life.
Cultural Development, behavior and their forms of • Priests as Kings
Interaction, and Change, expression. • Mayan Achievements
Human Expression and [A] Chapter 15, Lesson 4: The Tiwanakans and the
Communication) Moche (pp. 412-415)
• Adapting to the Land
• Living and Working
2009/2010