Discover the World: Guatemala & the Quetzal

This class is taught in English.

The student will be able to:
	Identify natural characteristics of places (e.g., climate, topography).
	Describe simple maps to identify the location of Guatemala in Central America.
	Investigate the achievements and advances of the Ancient Civilizations. 
	Investigate the contemporary Maya and how they live and work in Guatemala.
	Recognize that there are more than 30 Mayan languages still used today.
	Identify and classify characteristics of places as human or natural.
	Identify and compare components that make up Guatemala's Culture such as language, food, and history.
	Create their own Quetzal Bird Craft.
	Recognize designing is a creative process and everyone can design solutions to problems.
	Use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate art elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in art. 
	Understands that historical events can be interpreted differently by different individuals, families, and communities.
	Demonstrate the importance of listening to other points of view in the classroom.

I am a Pennsylvania certified Social Studies teacher and I taught 6th and 7th grade Social Studies/World History. I also had the opportunity to participate in a service-learning trip to Guatemala with the Pennsylvania State University in 2012, which had a humanitarian foundation. I assisted in teaching a kindergarten lesson to Guatemalan schoolchildren at The Robert Muller L.I.F.E. International School in Panajachel, Guatemala. I met with The Mayan Families Organization, where I helped build stoves with adequate venting to improve the air quality in local homes. I had the opportunity to learn about the Guatemalan textile and folk art industries at The Ixchel Museum of Mayan Textiles. I also spoke with and visited the home of the Mayordomo responsible for the care of the image, Maximon, a Mayan deity. Additionally, I attended class at the Jabel Tinamit Spanish School in Panajachel. I completed multiple required cultural studies courses with a grade of 4.0 before traveling to Guatemala and a capstone project after returning home.  I have a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences-Education from the Pennsylvania State University. This is where I took multiple researched-based classes and coursework in American History, European History, World History, Cultural Geography, and World Regional Geography.

Students will be required to assemble their interactive learning notebook before class. That way, learners can follow along with the lesson and document their findings. Students will also need to gather their art project supplies before the class. 

1 hour 50 minutes per week in class, and maybe some time outside of class.

Sources that were referenced to create this course:
•	The Maya | Living Maya Time. (n.d.). Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://maya.nmai.si.edu/maya
•	National Geographic Society. (2012, November 9). Modern Day Maya. Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/modern-day-maya/
•	S.N.M. (n.d.). Calendar | Living Maya Time. Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://maya.nmai.si.edu/calendar
•	Morton, P. E. (2014b). Tortillas: A Cultural History (First ed.). University of New Mexico Press.
•	Resplendent Quetzal | National Geographic. (n.d.). Animals. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/resplendent-quetzal
•	Publishers, H. S. (2007). Harcourt Social Studies: Student Edition World History 2007 (2007th ed.). HARCOURT SCHOOL PUBLISHERS.
•	UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.-c). Tikal National Park. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/64/
•	Serras-Herman, H. (2021, December 13). What is Guatemalan Jade? Rock & Gem Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2022, from https://www.rockngem.com/guatemalan-jade/
•	Jade Maya. (n.d.). Jade Maya Museum - Linda Schele Museum ( Antigua Guatemala ). Retrieved March 2, 2022, from https://jademaya.com/pages/jade-museum
•	UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.-a). Antigua Guatemala. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/65