The Aztecs Topic

#TheCompleteTopic16lessons

This Aztecs KS2 cross-curricular topic contains lessons for History, Geography, Art, DT and Computing, meaning your children can get the full Aztec experience! Each of the lessons comes with a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow for the whole-class teaching input, differentiated activity ideas to cater for different learners in your class, and a range of handy printable resources to support your children as they carry out their independent learning activities.

All you need to do is download, teach and enjoy learning about the Aztecs with your class!

#AllARTLessonsinTopic

Download these fun Aztec Art KS2 lessons to use as part of your Year 5 or Year 6 Aztecs topic. Each lesson contains a fun Aztec Art project for your children to undertake, as well as providing more in-depth learning about Aztec life and culture.

Challenge them to some do some Aztec weaving, create a colourful and creative Aztec calendar and make a diorama to show a particular aspect of Aztec life.

Each of these Aztec Art lessons comes completely ready for you to download and teach. There's a lesson plan for each one, along with a slideshow for the whole-class teaching input, differentiated activity ideas, and a range of printable resources, such as worksheets, picture cards and instruction sheets, to support your class as they carry out their Aztec art activities.

#AllCOMPUTINGLessonsinTopic

These two Aztecs Computing lessons for KS2 children in Year 5 or Year 6 contain two fun and engaging Computing projects to help immerse your class in the world of the Aztecs. The first lesson challenges them to make digital information books about the Aztecs while the second lesson gives them the chance to try their hand at film-making as they create an A-Z explainer video about different aspects of Aztec life – one for each letter of the alphabet!

These two Aztec Computing planning packs come completely ready for you to deliver to your class. Each one has a lesson plan with differentiated activity ideas, a slideshow for the whole-class teaching input, and a range of printable worksheets and other resources to support them in their Aztec Computing challenges.

#AllDTLessonsinTopic

These two Aztec DT lessons for KS2 children will challenge your Year 5 or Year 6 class to complete two Aztec DT projects. The first lesson explores the Aztec game of patolli and challenges your class to design, make and evaluate their own patolli games. In the second lesson, they will have the chance to taste and prepare some Aztec food.

Each of these two DT Aztec lessons are fully prepared so you can get on with teaching these fun DT projects without having to spend hours on planning. Each lesson comes with a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable resources.

#AllGEOGRAPHYLessonsinTopic

Our KS2 Aztecs Topic comes with these three Aztec Geography lessons to help your class identify where in the world the Aztecs lived and what it is like there. The first lesson locates both Mesoamerica and Mexico on a world map and challenges your class to explore this location. In the second lesson, they will further explore the physical and human geography of Mexico, before planning a Mexican holiday in the final lesson using all the information they have found out.

Each of these three Aztec Geography lessons has a lesson plan, a slideshow presentation for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable resources, such as worksheets, picture cards, maps and challenges. Everything you need is prepared for you so you can deliver great Aztec lessons to your class...without having to do any of the prep yourself!

#AllHISTORYLessonsinTopic

These Aztecs lesson plans for KS2 children will teach your Year 5 or 6 class all they need to know about the history of the Aztecs. They will find out who the Aztecs were, where and when they lived, discover what Aztec society was like, explore the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, investigate Aztec religious beliefs, and lots more!

Each of these Aztecs History lessons comes with an easy-to-follow lesson plan that includes three-way differentiated plus an alternative activity, an engaging and informative slideshow for the whole-class teaching input, and a range of handy printable resources, such as worksheets, picture cards and information sheets, to help them complete their History learning tasks.

#Lesson1ArtWeaving

This fun Aztec Weaving KS2 Art lesson teaches your class how Aztec women used looms to weave fabric to make cloth. It then shows your class a simple step-by-step process for making their very own looms and weaving Aztec artefacts, such as a bookmark or bracelet.

The included slideshow presentation leads your class through everything they need to know to give them the skills to tackle Aztec weaving independently.

This Aztec Weaving KS2 planning pack comes with a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow presentation for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and some helpful printable resources.

#Lesson2ArtTheAztecCalendar

This Aztec Calendar KS2 Art lesson starts by looking at how the Aztecs measured time and takes a close look at the Aztec sunstone to gather ideas for images and patterns.

Your class will then create their own Aztec calendar so that they can measure the days the Aztec way. Is today '2 crocodile', '4 house' or '7 lizard'?! After this lesson your class will be able to tell you! The included slideshow presentation goes through some step-by-step photos for how children can create their own calendars before giving them the chance to have a go for themselves.

A lesson plan, slideshow and printable resources are all included in this Aztec Calendar KS2 planning pack.

#Lesson3ArtDioramas

This Aztec Diorama Art lesson for KS2 children explores what a diorama is and shows your Year 5/6 children some examples. It then goes on to challenge them to create their own diorama showing an aspect of Aztec life.

The slideshow presentation gives your class a few ideas for how to get started before children are challenged to design and make their own creative Aztec dioramas.

This lesson comes fully planned and ready to deliver to your class. There's a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable teaching resources.

#Lesson4DTLetsPlayPatolli

This Let's Play Patolli lesson for KS2 children takes a look at the popular Aztec board game of patolli and gives your class the chance to not only design, create and evaluate a patolli board, but also to create packaging to put it in.

The included slideshow presentation explores the game itself and how children can create their own version. A variety of printable teaching resources are then available to support your Year 5 or Year 6 class as they make their own Aztec patolli board game.

#Lesson5DTAztecFood

This Aztec Food KS2 DT lesson give your Year 5 or Year 6 class the chance to taste some of the foods Aztecs would have eaten, follow recipes to make Aztec guacamole, salsa and hot chocolate, as well as design, make and evaluate their own Aztec-style tortilla wrap. Plenty for a couple of DT lessons if you'd like to spread it all out!

This Aztec Food KS2 planning pack comes with a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable resources. Everything you need in order to deliver a great Aztec food lesson is included...all you need to do is provide the food itself!

#Lesson6GeographyWheredidtheAztecslive

Where did the Aztecs live? Your KS2 children will explore the answer to this question in this lesson as they find out about the location of the Aztec empire, both as Mesoamerica (as it was known then) and Mexico (as it is known today).

By the end of the lesson, your class will be able to identify and place Mesoamerica and Mexico on a map, as well as use a map to answer questions about the continents, countries and seas surrounding Mexico.

This lesson contains an easy-to-follow lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable teaching resources.

#Lesson7GeographyMexico

This Mexico lesson plan pack for Year 5 or Year 6 takes a close look at the country of Mexico and gives your class the chance to investigate its geographical features, such as landscape, size, population and climate, using a variety of sources, including photographs and graphs.

The slides for the teaching input show your class a variety of photos of Mexico to get the children thinking about what kind of country Mexico is. During their independent learning time, they can then use a variety of sources, including those included within this pack, to answer questions about the geographical features of Mexico.

This Mexico lesson plan pack comes with a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of helpful printable teaching resources.

#Lesson8GeographyHolidayTime

This lesson explores why Mexico is such a popular holiday destination for tourists and gives your Year 5 or Year 6 class the opportunity to investigate some of the most popular tourist attractions in Mexico, such ancient ruins, beach hotspots, museums and much more.

With a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of engaging printable teaching resources, this Holiday Time Geography lesson is a great way for your class to become more familiar with the country of Mexico.

#Lesson9HistoryWhoWeretheAztecs

Who were the Aztecs? When and where did they live? What do we know about them? During this ready-to-teach lesson, your KS2 class will explore the answers to these questions as they are introduced to the Aztecs and their empire.

The included slideshow presentation goes over the basic facts of who the Aztecs were, including how they ended up at Lake Texcoco, before looking at a timeline of world history periods that the children will be familiar with and placing the Aztecs on that timeline.

During their independent learning time, your class can then work do some further work with timelines to help them put the Aztec civilisation into context.

#Lesson10HistoryTenochtitlan

This fascinating lesson looks at the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and explores how the Aztecs turned a swampy island surrounded by grumbling volcanoes into one of the biggest cities in the world at the time through the use of aqueducts, canals, causeways, chinampas, and more...and all without the wheel!

This Tenochtitlan lesson planning pack contains an easy-to-follow lesson plan, an informative slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable teaching resources to support children in their independent learning.

#Lesson11HistoryAztecSociety

This KS2 History lesson explores how Aztec society was organised and looks at the roles and positions of various groups of people, from the emperor, nobles and priests down to farmers and slaves. It also explores how families were organised into groups called 'calpullis' and how people of different positions had different expectations within society.

This Aztec Society planning pack contains a detailed lesson plan, an informative slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable teaching resources to support your Year 5 or Year 6 class as they carry out their independent learning tasks.

#Lesson12HistoryReligionandBeliefs

Religion was central to the Aztecs and their way of life, and this lesson takes a look at Aztec religion and beliefs, and how this impacted on their life, including the practice of one of the most controversial customs in history - human sacrifice.

Your class will find out about the gods the Aztecs believed in, how they were worshipped and why it was felt that they had to be fed with human hearts.

This fascinating Aztec religion lesson comes fully planned and ready to deliver to your class. There's an easy-to-follow lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable teaching resources. Just download, teach and enjoy learning about all the gruesome religious practices of the Aztecs with your class!

#Lesson13HistoryDailyLife

Give your Year 5 or Year 6 class the chance to research Aztec daily life in this KS2 History lesson as they explore what life was like for the average Aztec. Your children will use their research skills to investigate areas such as food, clothes, homes, markets and more.

This lesson starts by challenging your class to think about how their daily routine might be different to that of an Aztec. The included slideshow presentation than provides some brief information about Aztec daily life before challenging your children to carry out some further research of their own.

This Aztec Daily Life planning pack comes with a lesson plan, slideshow, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable teaching resources.

#Lesson14HistoryFalloftheAztecEmpire

The final lesson in this KS2 History series teaches your Year 5 or Year 6 class about the fall of the Aztec Empire. They will be introduced to Cortés and the Spanish conquistadors, and find out about the chain of events that led to the death of the Aztec king, Moctezuma, and the fall of the empire. It also looks at why the two different sides represent the events in two different ways.

This Fall of the Aztec Empire lesson pack is completely planned and ready for you to deliver to your class. All the teaching resources you need are included so all you need to do is download, teach and enjoy!

#Lesson15ComputingInformationBooks

Your KS2 class will plan and create their own information books about the Aztecs using word processing software in this fun Aztecs Computing lesson for Year 5/6 children. Drawing on everything they have learnt about the Aztecs, your children will plan, compile and present the information on computers before printing out and binding to create their very own information books.

The included slideshow presentation leads your class through everything they will need to think about when creating their Aztec information books. They can then work individually or in groups to show off all their Aztec knowledge while enhancing their Computing skills.

This planning pack contains a lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable teaching resources.

#Lesson16ComputingAtoZFilms

Turn your classroom into a film studio and your children into film directors as they use digital cameras to film their own Aztec A to Z movies. They will need to think about settings, scripts and props, as well as the added challenge of finding a word relating to the Aztecs for every letter of the alphabet (and 'z' is quite a challenge!).

The included slideshow presentation goes through some handy hints and tips to get them started. It's then up to then to plan, produce and edit their A to Z films.

This planning pack contains a detailed lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and some handy printable teaching resources.

Free Overview (Medium-Term Plan)

Download a free overview to support your teaching of this scheme of work.

Free Assessment Grid

Download a free, editable assessment grid to support your teaching of this scheme of work.

Curriculum Objectives covered

• KS2 - to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing with a range of materials
• KS2 - to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including sculpture with a range of materials

• KS2 - select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information

• KS2 - use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
• KS2 - generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
• KS2 - select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
• KS2 - evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
• KS2 - prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques

• KS2 - locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the location of Russia) and North and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries, and major cities
• KS2 - describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle
• KS2 - use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied