The document provides instructions for an activity where students will present on and compare cities. Students will be placed into groups and each group will present on a different city, discussing details like founding date, population, notable companies and cultural contributions. The document lists 14 cities for the groups to choose from. It also includes background information on the Mayan cities of Chichen Itza and Palenque and prompts students to answer questions about Mayan cultural norms and architecture based on a map of Palenque.

1. Bellringer
1. What is the most impressive city you have ever
visited?
2. Describe what impressed you about that city.

2. Impressive City “battle”
• You and a group of 3 will try to impress the class with
your city
• (We will vote and winners get +5 Bellringer points)
• Talk to the class about:
• Date founded
• City population
• Major companies headquartered
• Cultural contributions to USA
• Maybe: tallest building, major events, universities,
climate

3. For Example:
• Tucson, Arizona
• Founded 1776
• Population: 525,000
• Tallest building: Bank of Am
tower (1976)
• Company HQ: Buffalo
Exchange, Unisource Energy
• 55 miles north of Mexico, adds
Mexican culture to USA
• Mild winter

4. Take notes on each city and turn in
with Maya questions at end of class
Las Vegas, Nevada
Chicago, Illinois
New York, New York
Los Angeles, California
Houston, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Miami, Florida
Seattle, Washington
Boston, Massachusetts
Phoenix, Arizona
San Francisco, California
Atlanta, Georgia
Cincinnati, Ohio
Denver, Colorado

6. Mayan cities
• Independent city states
• Religious and culture centers

7. Chichen Itza, Mexico

10. Palenque

11. Palenque

12. Palenque

13. On the back of
your city paper
1. Based the
political features,
identify two
Mayan cultural
norms.
2. Why do you
suppose the
Maya chose this
place to build
Palenque?
3. Predict what the
other buildings
might have been
on the right side
of the map.
Support your
answer with
something else
from the map.

14. On the back of
your city paper
1. Based the
political features,
identify two
Mayan cultural
norms.
2. Why do you
suppose the
Maya chose this
place to build
Palenque?
3. Predict what the
other buildings
might have been
on the right side
of the map.
Support your
answer with
something else
from the map.

15. Las Vegas, Nevada
Chicago, Illinois
New York, New York
Los Angeles, California
Houston, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Miami, Florida
Seattle, Washington
Boston, Massachusetts
Phoenix, Arizona
San Francisco, California
Atlanta, Georgia
Cincinnati, Ohio
Denver, Colorado