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Overview:
This lesson will introduce students to the ancient Inca people and the land on which they lived. They will learn basic facts about the Inca and be able to show where they lived on a map. Students will also look at pictures of the Andes mountains and Inca ruins and discuss the geography of the area. Finally, they will talk about how the Inca lived and compare the Inca way of life to their own.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, social studies
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 1: "How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective"
Standard 4: "The physical and human characteristics of places"
Time:
Two to three hours
Materials Required:
Objectives:
Students will
- find the United States on a world map and review North and South America on the map;
- discuss the Inca people of South America and talk about how they, like the Native Americans of North America, lived a very long time ago, before Christopher Columbus or any Europeans came to the Americas;
- point out on a map of South America where the Inca lived;
- look at pictures of the Andes mountains and Inca ruins and describe the geography of the area; and
- discuss the Inca way of life and compare certain aspects of it to their own lives.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Answering Geographic Questions
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Ask students to find the United States on a world map. Next, ask a student to point out North America. (You may wish to review the difference between a country and a continent.) Now ask students to find South America on the world map. With your finger, trace the outline of South America and name some of the countries that make up the continent.
Development:
Ask students to identify the people who lived in North America a long, long time ago—even before Christopher Columbus came to America: the Native Americans. You may wish to have students share what they know about Native Americans and their way of life. Explain that, like the Native Americans of North America, groups of people lived in South America a long time ago too, before explorers from Europe came to the continent. One of these groups was called the Inca. Explain that the Inca Empire, or nation, began about 800 years ago. In this empire, many tribes were united under one king. The Inca Empire was a large, powerful nation in South America.
On a map of South America, point out the area where the Inca ruled: along the western part of South America, down the Andes mountains, from what is now Colombia to Chile. Ask students what geographical feature is most dominant along this stretch of land (the Andes mountains).
Next, show students pictures of the Andes mountains and ruins from Inca cities. Ask them what they notice about the land. (It is very mountainous.) Where were many of the buildings and cities built? (Near the tops of mountains.) What were they made of? (Stone.) You may want to share other interesting facts about the Inca with your students:
- The Inca farmed on the mountainside by cutting terraces or "steps" into the slopes, where they grew corn and potatoes.
- Higher up in the mountains, the Inca herded llamas and alpacas (animals similar to sheep). These animals provided wool and food.
- The Inca built long roads along the mountains to connect the villages. Special runners sent messages along these roads.
- The Inca temples and fortresses were made of huge stones. Their houses were made of stone and mud, with grass roofs.
- The Inca were skilled craftsmen.
The Inca were very religious and believed that gods or goddesses were responsible for everything in nature. They believed the sun god was the father of man.
Closing:
Have students compare the Inca way of life to their own. For example, have them think about the geography of their own hometown, the types of houses they live in, where they get their food, how they communicate and travel in and out of their own town, and what animals are commonly found in their community.
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students draw one picture depicting the "Life of the Inca."
They may choose to show the geography, the architecture, the crafts, or any aspect of Inca life they learned in class.
Extending the Lesson:
Have students learn more about Inca crafts. Using resources on the Inca, such as the following, find images of pottery, masks, or tapestries:
Have students draw their own crafts using an Inca pattern. Encourage them to use colors similar to those of the Inca crafts. Hang their images on the wall to create a "Gallery of Inca Treasures."
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