Mesoamerica divides North from South America and includes Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Many cultures have inhabited Mesoamerica. One of the earliest was the Olmecs which are notable for their great stone faces, masks of jade, temples, ball courts and tall pyramids. The Maya civilization followed and thrived during the Classical era or "Golden Age" (AD 150-900) of Mesoamerica. During this time, the Mayas developed a system of writing, various calendars and made advances in technology, architecture, mathematics and medicine. The Post-Classical period was dominated by the Toltecs, a civilization known for its strong emphasis on military power, and the Aztecs in Northern Mexico. Today many of the descendants of these ancient cultures still live in Mesoamerica.
The teaching kit contains:
- Actual examples of tools, food and a wealth of carvings and ceramics representative of the cultures of Mesoamerica
- Jade and ceramic human and animal figures
- Reference works and children's books
- Audio and video tapes highlighting the various cultures
- Posters, slides and overheads
- Lesson plans and activities
Move the cursor over the image below to download .pdf files of the lesson plans and activities
