Social+Studies

=Content Area: Social Studies =

Curriculum Standard:

 * Sixth grade, History ** Describe the characteristics of Maya, Inca, Aztec, and Mississippian civilizations including: location, government, religion, agriculture, and cultural and scientific contributions.

Technology:
Video clip, Internet, Microsoft PhotoStory

Image from []

Description:
Students will watch an introduction PhotoStory presentation comparing the cultural practices, products, and perspectives of Maya, Inca, Aztec, and Miss​issippian civilizations. Students will then use the internet to find and save images that depict each of the civilizations’ location, government, religion, agriculture, and cultural and scientific contributions. Students will create their own version of the introductory presentation by organizing, editing, and adding text to their saved images into a PhotoStory presentation. 

Supporting Resource:
An article available from www.newhorizons.org describes recent studies performed by organizations such as North Central Educational Lab, Edutopia, and Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology. These organizations have found evidence that using technology in the classroom will increase academic achievement. Their studies are indicating that not only will students have higher standardized test scores, but their overall academic success will increase. This activity uses a variety of technology in order to improve comprehension and success in academics.

Foltos, Les. (2002). //Technology and Academic Achievement.// Retrieved October 25, 2009 from > @http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/technology/foltos.htm

Tried and True or New and Innovative:
This activity is new and innovative because it not only combines technologies, but it allows students to be introduced to a new and better way to create presentations, through PhotoStory. Students will watch a video clip as the hook in order to get them interested in the topic. Students then get to express their knowledge and creativity by searching the internet and creating a presentation using a fairly new software.