Contextualization

America housed several exuberant civilizations long before the arrival of Europeans. These civilizations, with their unique cultures, beliefs, and knowledge, formed the basis of what we now know as the indigenous peoples of America. Unraveling the history of these peoples is not only a journey into the past, but also a way to better understand the present and build a more respectful and diverse future.

The indigenous peoples of America consist of a variety of ethnic groups that inhabited the American continent before the arrival of European explorers. The indigenous peoples of the Americas include many different cultures with distinct social, religious, and political systems. Learning about these peoples is essential to understanding the history of our continent and valuing the cultural diversity that characterizes it.

The Mesoamericans, such as the Maya, Aztecs, and Incas, are well known for their pyramids, calendars, and fantastic monuments. But beyond that, they also had advanced writing systems, impressive astronomical and mathematical knowledge, and creative agricultural practices. Our goal with this project is to explore, in a playful and interesting way, these and other fascinating characteristics of the cultures that preceded the arrival of Europeans in America.

Importance

Indigenous peoples are a fundamental part of our history and our present. Even today, millions of people are part of indigenous communities in America and are fighting to keep their culture and rights alive. Knowing and valuing these cultures is a way to respect and reaffirm the identity of these peoples.

Furthermore, the study of indigenous peoples offers us the opportunity to better understand the interaction between societies and their environment, the development of agricultural and construction techniques, and the flourishing of philosophies and belief systems. This understanding can enlighten our own relationship with nature, technology, and spirituality.

Reading Recommendations

To delve deeper into the study of indigenous peoples of America, we recommend the following readings:

• "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus" by Charles C. Mann. This is a comprehensive work that offers an overview of life in America before the arrival of Europeans.
• Britannica Encyclopedia - Mesoamerican Civilizations
• History of the Americas - Brazil History Project

Practical Activity

Project Title: "Recreating Mesoamerica: A Journey to Pre-Columbian Civilizations"

Project Objective:

The objective of this project is for students to research and represent, through a model, one of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica: the Maya, Aztecs, or Incas. In addition, students should produce an explanatory documentary about the chosen civilization, addressing its cultural, social, and technological aspects.

Group of Students:

This project is to be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students.

Project Duration:

The project should be completed within one month, with an estimated working time of 5 to 10 hours per student.

Detailed Project Description:

Students will choose one of the Mesoamerican civilizations (Maya, Aztecs, or Incas) to study in depth. They will be responsible for creating a model representing a city or significant landmark of the chosen civilization and a documentary explaining the culture, history, social practices, technological achievements, and challenges faced by that civilization.

Required Materials:

1. Materials for the model: Cardboard, glue, paint, fabrics, clay, toothpicks, etc.
2. Camera or smartphone for recording the documentary.
3. Computer with video editing software to assemble the documentary.
4. Books, articles, and reliable websites to research the chosen civilization.

Step by Step:

1. Students should divide tasks among group members. Each should have a defined role, whether in research, model construction, recording, or editing of the documentary.
2. Research the chosen civilization. Students should seek information from reliable sources and take note of important information to be used in the documentary.
3. Plan the model. Students should choose a specific aspect of the civilization to represent (e.g., a temple, market, house, or ballgame court).
4. Build the model. All group members should be involved in this process.
5. Record the documentary. Students should develop a script based on their research. The documentary may include images of the model, narration about the civilization, and perhaps even reenactments of some aspects of daily life.
6. Assemble the documentary. One group member should be responsible for editing the video, adding narration, music, and credits.
7. Write a project report including the following main topics: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used.
8. Present the project to the class and submit the report to the teacher.

Project Deliverables:

1. Model representing an aspect of the chosen Mesoamerican civilization.
2. Documentary describing the chosen civilization.
3. Written project report divided into the following topics:

• Introduction: Describe the choice of civilization and the relevance of studying these pre-Columbian civilizations.
• Development: Explain the theory about the chosen civilization, the creation of the model and documentary, the methodology, and the results.
• Conclusion: Summarize the main points, explain the learnings obtained, and draw conclusions about the project.
• Bibliography: Indicate the sources used for research and project implementation.

4. Presentation of the project to the class.