On this page: General Resources | Maya | Inca | Aztec | Myths & Legends
general resources
📖 Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491 by Charles Mann and Rebecca Stefoff. Adapted from Mann’s adult bestseller, 1491, this heavily illustrated 100-page book describes the vibrant cultures of the Americas prior to 1492 and dispels many prevalent myths about the Pre-Columbian Americas. A terrific, comprehensive resource; highly recommended. – Elementary • Middle
📖 The Ancient American World from Oxford University Press. Here’s a terrific spine for an in-depth middle school study of Pre-Columbian Central and South American history. The 21 short chapters discuss the Olmecs, Maya, Aztecs, and Inca. – Middle
🔗 Content Connections: First Americans. Learn about the first humans to settle North America.
maya
📖 Tikal: The Center of the Maya World by Elizabeth Mann. This Wonders of the World book takes readers to the Yucatan Peninsula during the first millennium AD, where we learn about the prosperous Mayan city of Tikal. With clear, engaging text and lovely illustrations, this is a great choice for older students studying the Maya culture. – Elementary • Middle
🖐️ The Maya: Activities and Crafts from a Mysterious Land by Arlette Braman. Looking for crafts projects to supplement your study of Mayan culture? This book is full of fun activities—make corn cakes, play some traditional games, try glyph writing, and much more. The front material includes a brief history of the Maya people. –Elementary
inca
📖 Incredible Incas by Terry Deary. Illustrated in a comic strip style, this Horrible Histories book provides an irreverent yet information-packed introduction to the Inca civilization. Chapter titles include Evil Emperors, Terrific Temples, Live Like an Inca, and Groovy Gods. A timeline provides historical context. – Elementary • Middle
📖 Machu Picchu by Elizabeth Mann. This entry in Mann’s excellent Wonders of the World series details the rise of the Inca and the building of the city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes mountains. Includes some disturbing imagery; best for older elementary or middle. – Elementary • Middle
📖 Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark. Here’s a fine literature link to enrich a study of the Inca: “Cusi, a modern-day Native American boy, lives in the Andes Mountains, where he herds llamas with his guardian, Chuto. When it’s time for Cusi to explore the wider world and his family’s past, a story about ancient Peruvian culture unfolds alongside a story of his search for belonging.” A Newberry Medal Book. – Elementary • Middle
🖐️ The Inca: Activities and Crafts from a Mysterious Land by Arlette Braman. This book of projects is a good choice for families who enjoy incorporating hands-on activities into their history studies. Projects include Record Keeping (experiment with quipu), Toys (make a balsa raft), and Food (make a quinoa snack or an Andean stew). The front material includes a brief introduction to the Inca Empire. – Elementary
🔗 Content Connection: Exploration. Read about the European Age of Exploration and the Spanish conquistadors.
▶️ A day in the life of a Peruvian shaman from TED-Ed. This TED-Ed animation imagines an episode in the life of a seaside village shaman in Peru in 1400 BCE (well before the rise of the Inca Empire). – All
▶️ The rise and fall of the Inca Empire from TED-Ed. “It was the western hemisphere's largest empire ever, with a population of nearly 10 million subjects. Yet within 100 years of its rise in the fifteenth century, the Inca Empire would be no more. What happened? Gordon McEwan details the rise and fall of the Inca Empire.” – All
aztec
📖 Angry Aztecs by Terry Deary. In this entertaining Horrible Histories title, Deary brings the Aztec civilization to life with all sorts of memorable tidbits: “why the Aztecs liked to eat scum, when the world is going to end, and their horrible habit of drinking live toads in wine.” – Elementary • Middle
▶️ A day in the life of an Aztec midwife from TED-Ed. Join the Aztec midwife Xoquauhtli as she tends to her patients and honors the warrior goddess Teteoinnan at a festival ushering in the season of warfare. – All
myths & legends
📖 The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh. Here’s a nice retelling of the Mexican legend of the two volcanoes—Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl—that tower over Mexico City. The colorful Aztec-inspired collages and simple text make this a great option for younger children. Back material includes a glossary of terms. Preschool • Elementary
📖 Love and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains by Barbara Knutson. Here’s a fun Andean folk tale that stars a guinea pig, Cuy, as the titular trickster. The end material lists a few “New Words to Say” in both Spanish and Quechua. An ALA Notable Children’s Book. – Preschool • Elementary
▶️ NEW • The myth of the stolen eyeballs from TED-Ed. “Deep in the Amazon rainforest in the river Nea’ocoyá lived a school of particularly big and tasty fish. When the rains came and the water rose the fish appeared, and swam away as the waters fell. Villagers along the river followed them to a lagoon and set up camp. But their young shaman soon sensed they might not be completely alone.” – All
▶️ The Maya myth of the morning star from TED-Ed. “Chak Ek’, the morning star, rose from the underworld to the surface of the eastern sea and on into the heavens. His brother K’in Ahaw, the sun, followed. Though Chak Ek’ had risen first, K’in Ahaw outshone him, and the resentful Chak Ek’ descended back to the underworld to plot against his brother and his allies. Gabrielle Vail details the Maya myth of the morning star.” – All
▶️ The Taino myth of the cursed creator from TED-Ed. “Before the world of humans began, there was the world of the gods. Four brothers wandered this celestial realm. One day, the brothers snuck into a spirit’s house and spotted a giant gourd hanging in the corner. But as they tried to look inside the gourd, they dropped it. It broke apart, releasing a deluge that formed a new world. Bill Keegan details the Taino myth of Deminan and the sea.” – All
▶️ Central and South American Floods from Crash Course. “Mike Rugnetta is talking once again about floods. We’re looking at ancient flood myths in the Americas, and what they can tell us about the stories that people tell, and how they can look similar, even in cultures separated by large swathes of time and space. We’ll talk about floods from Mayan and Aztec traditions, and as always, see if we can find something in these tales that gives us some insight into what it means to be a human.” – All