{The Conquest of Tenochtitlan – image via Wikipedia, Public Domain}
Welcome back! We hope your Thanksgiving week was spent with loved ones and filled with thankfulness, and that you are ready to dive into Trimester 2!
As we always do at the beginning of a new trimester, we would like to remind all of our parents to come out for the History and Literature Parent Training tonight at 6:30 pm in the MPR. This engaging presentation is something special we offer each trimester, and the content covered in this meeting is so very valuable to your understanding of where we are headed over the next several weeks. It will help you feel more confident and engaged on your home days, and more connected to what your students are learning. You don’t want to miss it!
For today’s Mix-ins, we jump over to the Aztec Empire. Here are a few links you might want to explore for fun and for further E&E. As always, the following are meant to be family friendly, but parents should preview or watch along to ensure they are suitable for your children. Though not too graphic, human sacrifice (which was central to the Aztec religion) is mentioned in many of the following:
VIDEOS:
Hernan Cortez – Mini Biography:
Tenochtitlan (The Impossible City) – a 5-minute documentary:
25 Facts About the Aztecs that Might Surprise You – see how many of these actually do surprise you, after we learn about them.
Ask History: What Happened to the Aztecs? by the History Channel:
Angry Aztecs Historical Masterchef – this is one of the “Horrible Histories” spoofs, which are always super silly and good for a laugh:
WEBSITES:
The Aztec World – from the Field Museum, this website has lots of info about the Aztec civilization. Click on “Photo Gallery” for images.
Aztec Calendar – see how the Aztecs would have written your date of birth (or any date).
Aztec Coloring Pages that can be printed or colored online
Craft idea: Aztec-inspired painted rocks (pictured, right) from Decor Hacks