Pre-Assessment: Mayan Unit (Ancient Civilizations)

Student will be broken up into five groups (three people in each group). Each group will be
given three pictures of Mayan artifacts. The pictures will consist of a combination of either
the Mayan calendar, a spear-head, a sculpture of the Mayan Jaguar god, Mayan
hieroglyphics, sculpture or painting of the twins from Mayan myth, and a painting of Mayan
sacrifices. Students will have to figure out when they think these artifacts are from, what
civilization they think they are from, and what importance they had during the time the
civilization existed.
Below write what the artifacts are, what civilization you think they come from, if they
remind you of anything that exists today, and/or something you have already learned
about, and the importance the artifact might have held during the time the civilization
existed.
Artifact 1:

Artifact 2:

Artifact 3:

Informal assessment
Students can complete a K.W.L. chart as an exit ticket out of class, where they write what
they knew before the lesson, a couple of things they would like to know more about and
what they believe they learned from the lesson.

What I knew

What I want to know more

about

What I Learned

Formal Assessment
Each student will be given a topic that relates to what they have learned about the Mayans.
They will need to further research their topic. There are nine options of how each student
will show their expertise on their topic. They must choose three, and either a vertical,
horizontal, or diagonal line on the board below must connect the three options a student
chooses.
Write a poem it must
highlight the main points
of your topic and show off
your poetic skills

Design a video could be

a music video, an
advertisement, or a snip-it
of a tv show. As long as it
relates to your topic we
can enjoy it. No longer
than a minute and a half.

Create a play ask a few

students to preform it
with you in front of the
class. Remember to clearly
show off pieces of your
topic. Keep it to at most
two minutes.

Arts and Crafts- have the

students create something
that relates to your topic,
or create something to
show the class that relates
to your topic.

Teach a lesson talk to me

about a lesson that you
would like to teach about
your topic. It must be at
least ten minutes long and
cannot exceed twenty
minutes

Get a discussion going

ask the students questions
and we will have a
discussion that
incorporates your topic.

Write a song if you

would like to preform it
for the class with an
instrument you may. The
song must be about a
minute long. (a page and a
half written)

Create a game that

incorporates the main
idea of the Mayans that
relates to your topic. For
example, if your topic was
on Mayan occupations,
you could create a bingo
board the lists jobs and
corresponding
descriptions of the jobs on
the boards.

Write a short story that

incorporates pieces of
your topic into it. For
example: if your topic is
on Mayan occupations you
will need to have direct
details and verifiable
information about Mayan
occupations in your story.

Common Core connections

Pre-Assessment:
RI. 5. 7 draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating
the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
W.5.1b write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with
reasons and information. Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by
facts and details.
SL.5.1b,d engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in
groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building
on others ideas and expressing their own clearly. Follow agreed-upon rules for
discussions and carry out assigned roles. Review the key ideas expressed and draw
conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions.
Informal Assessment:
L.5.2 demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization,
punctuation, and spelling when writing.
L.5.4 determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words
and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of
strategies.
Formal Assessment:
RI.5.9 integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write
or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
W.5.7 conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge
through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
SL.5.4 report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically
and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas
or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.