Teaching ancient civilizations is one of the most exciting parts of the Social Studies curriculum. Students are often fascinated by the innovation, culture, and mystery that surround these early societies. But while the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations are rich with opportunities for exploration, it can be a challenge to find resources that are both engaging and easy to implement. That’s where our ready-to-use  Aztec, Maya & Inca activities come in! They are designed to make your job easier while helping students connect with the past in meaningful ways.
Doodle Style Notes: Aztec, Maya & Inca Summary Organizers
Let’s start with a student favorite! These doodle-style note organizers combine creativity and content mastery in the best way possible. Students summarize key elements of each civilization such as geography, religion, achievements, government, economy, and social structure while adding their own creative flair. It’s a great way to engage both the analytical and artistic sides of their brains.
Perfect for visual learners, early finishers, or review days. This doodle notes activity also makes a great low-prep lesson for busy days (or sub plans!). Teachers love the structured format that reinforces key concepts, while students enjoy the opportunity to get creative and personalize their work.
Bonus: They look fantastic as a classroom display!
Looking for more activities like this? We offer more doodle-style organizers covering a wide range of topics. If you enjoy this type of interactive resource, you’re sure to find more you’ll love!
Maya, Aztec, Inca Social Studies Activities & Readings Unit
Additionally, If you’re looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one solution, this 320+ page Maya, Aztec, Inca Social Studies unit is for you! Packed with ready-to-use materials, this bundle provides everything you need to teach a full unit on the Ancient Americas.
What’s included:
- Detailed readings and informational texts
- Station activities
- Exit tickets and assessments
- Comprehension questions and graphic organizers
- Printable and digital formats
- Organized folders for easy navigation
This unit follows the GRAPES framework (Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics/Government, Economy, and Social Structure), making it easy for students to draw comparisons across civilizations and build deep understanding.
Whether you’re teaching in-person or online, this flexible resource allows you to differentiate with ease. You can simply pick and choose what fits your class best, or follow the unit start to finish. The doodle-style notes activity mentioned above is also included in this bundle!
How to use these Maya, Aztec and Inca Activities & Resources:
We would suggest starting by using the readings, information slides and activities from the unit bundle to build foundational knowledge. Once students have a good grasp on the content, use the doodle note-taking organizers as a creative way to summarize, reinforce and review what they’ve learned.
You can wrap up your unit with a summative assessment piece that suits your teaching style and student needs. With these tools, you’ll have everything you need to run a well-rounded, engaging unit.
Together, these Aztec, Maya, Inca activities provide an extremely well-rounded approach to teaching the Ancient Americas. Whether you’re introducing the Ancient Americas for the first time, or looking to refresh your existing unit, these resources will help your students connect with the past in ways that are meaningful, memorable, and fun.
Looking for more Engaging History Lessons?
Be sure to check out our full collection of Ancient Civilizations resources on TpT- perfect for keeping your students curious, engaged, and inspired all year long.
If you enjoy Instructomania lessons, check out our history teacher membership. With this membership, you have access to all curriculum content through a single login.
