NY Social Studies 5.2a

Social Studies5th GradeKey Idea 5.2

The Standard

Civilizations share certain common characteristics of religion, job specialization, cities, government, language and writing systems, technology, and social hierarchy.

New York State K–12 Social Studies Framework

Key Idea 5.2

COMPLEX SOCIETIES AND CIVILIZATIONS: Between 1100 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E, complex societies and civilizations developed in the Western Hemisphere. Although these complex societies and civilizations have certain defining characteristics in common, each is also known for unique cultural achievements and contributions.

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students locate the Maya, Aztec, and Inca on maps and place each society on a timeline. They compare cities, government, religion, jobs, writing, technology, and social ranks using evidence.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can identify where and when each civilization developed. They can name several shared features and explain at least one difference among the three societies.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the Maya, Aztec, and Inca lived in the same place and during the same years. They may assume shared features mean the cultures were identical.
How to Assess It: Give students a blank map and a three-row comparison chart. Ask them to label each civilization's region, add its time period, and compare one shared feature.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Give pairs a blank map, civilization cards, and date strips to place the Maya, Aztec, and Inca in location and time.
Ask students to write: How were Maya, Aztec, and Inca societies alike, and what made each one distinct?
Play a clue sort where teams match government, technology, writing, religion, and social roles cards to each civilization.
Compare each society's roads, farming, or record keeping with a modern system serving a similar need.

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