Why Learn about the First Americans?
It is important to learn about early American civilizations—Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations—to expose students to the gradual development of cities in the New World by these advanced early Americans as well as their contribution to humanity. Students need to learn about the fundamental features of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca, including farming, the establishment of cities and government, as well as religion. By studying this unit, students will be encouraged to compare and contrast each of these societies and their elements. Students will be exposed to big ideas such as the first people in the Americas arrived thousands of years ago and that physical geography played an important role in the development of these civilizations. Also, students will consider the importance of farming, and how it led to the growth of civilizations in what is now Mexico, Central America, and Peru. Specifically, students will learn about Moctezuma, the Aztec ruler, and about the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. For the Inca, students will hear about the city of Machu Picchu and the role the Inca runners played in Incan society. Last, students will learn that much of what we know about the Maya, the Aztec, and the Inca today is due to the work of archaeologists and historians. Students will analyze primary sources, which will allow them to develop high level thinking skills, at the same time that they learn about history by looking at such import historical documents.
Furthermore, by analyzing primary sources, students will learn to differentiate between different historical perspectives and to identify bias. By studying this unit, students will be able to answer critical questions such as how and where did the first people came to the Americas? And, why did Columbus sail west across the Atlantic? In this unit, students will learn about Spanish letters and records that provide information about early American civilizations. Why were the Spanish in the Americas? Starting about 500 years ago, they came in search of riches. Students will learn that they were looking for gold and silver, spices and silk, adventures and conquest. Furthermore, after studying this unit, students will be able to make connections to the Mesopotamian and Ancient Egyptian civilizations students just studied in 6th grade’s Ancient History. |
Consequently, in later grades, students will build upon the knowledge of civilizations that they gain in this unit; the concepts and factual information that they learn now will also serve as building blocks for later, more in-depth, learning. For instance, students will learn to examine geographical features in maps; work in class activities collaboratively and individually; apply learning techniques that enhance cognitive development, such as graphic organizers and cause and effect diagrams. Thus, studying this unit is crucial to the enhancement of students’ knowledge about the history/origin of the continent that they live in. It is important to know that the first Americans did a lot of great things, and that they were a very sophisticated civilization. Also, I think that learning about this unit is a huge part of multicultural education. I see it this way, a lot of our students in public schools are of Hispanic/Latino background. Learning about the first Americans in world history enables them to know more about their roots, where they come from and the history of their ancestors. Teaching this unit, in my opinion, is being inclusive. Students deserve to learn about other cultures’ history as well, not just European history.