Teaching Literacy Through Digital Storytelling

Cortes and the Aztecs

Recall: Remember factsWho were the Aztecs and what were they known for?

Where did they live?What is a conquistador?

Warm Up:

Hernan Cortes

Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar

Santo Domingo (aka Dominican Republic)

What kind of man was Velaquez?

How do you know?

Infer: make a conclusion based on the information given

Cuba

Sailing from Cuba…

…to Mexico

In past cultures we have studied, what happened when Europeans travel to “discover” or explore a “new” place?

Reflect: To think back

• What has the interaction been like between the native people and the European settlers?

February of 1519

Present-day Cozumel Island, Mexico

Potonchan (present-day Tabasco)

Veracruz

Aztec Empire

Aztecs greet Spanish

Cortes sunk his ships

What do you think Cortes is going to do? What is his plan?

Predict: to declare in advance

Old Map

Cortez Heads Inland

Cortes 1519-1521

Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital

Moctezuma II

Give your opinion:Do you think he was smart to be so kind?

Infer: make a conclusion based on the information givenWhat do Montezuma's actions say about his values?

Cortes takes Moctezuma IIcaptive

You are CortesYou have the capital city of the Aztec Empire

under control and have taken their leader captive. The Aztecs are unhappy with you and now a fleet of the Spanish navy is sailing to arrest you.

What is your plan?

Empathize: Put yourself in someone else’s shoes

Cortes attacks Spanish

You are the AztecsThese strangers have come into your city. Your

leader gave them your gold and other precious gifts, and these strangers took your leader hostage.

Now, the leader of the Spaniards, Cortes, and 300 of his best soldiers have gone to battle the Spanish army at the shore 200 miles away, but left the rest of his army in your city.

You are angry with your leader for letting them in and angry with the Spanish for trying to take over your empire.

What is your plan?

Empathize: Put yourself in someone else’s shoes

Aztecs attack Spaniards

Cortes attacks

How did Cortes and the Spanish conquer the Aztecs?

Explain: to make something clear

New Spain

If Cortes and the Spaniards never entered Mexico, how might Mexico be different today?

Analyze Cause and Effect: Examine in detail

Bullying the Bully:The Aztecs used to conquer other

kingdoms and native groups and collect tribute from them. Now the Spanish conquered and collected tribute from the Aztecs.

Does the fact that the Aztecs bullied other groups into doing what they wanted make what the Spanish did to the Aztecs okay?

Evaluate: Determine the significance