Aztec Day Teaching Ideas

Whether you’re planning a day of Aztec-themed activities or looking for teaching ideas for your Aztec topic, we have a HUGE list for you to explore!

If you have any of your own ideas, we would love to hear them too. Please add your own suggestions in the comments below.

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

• Find out about the life of Moctezuma II and write a biography of his life.
• Imagine that you were a child during the Aztec period. Write a diary entry that explains what your life is like.
• Write your own version of an Aztec folk tale.
• Research Aztec writing and make an information booklet about it.
• Write a report about the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs.

Maths

• Find out about the Aztec number system using this free resource.

Science

• Explore changing states of materials by heating and cooling chocolate.
• Millions of Aztecs died of European diseases, such as smallpox, as they did not have any immunity. Find out about how immunity protects us from disease.

Computing

• Explore the Aztec sunstone on this great site and find out more here.

Design Technology

• Make some Xocolatl (hot chocolate) by following these instructions.
• Cook up an Aztec feast using tortillas with different fillings.

Art

• Make your own Aztec masks using papier mache and black marker pens!

Music

• Watch this video of some Aztec music. Can you create something similar using percussion instruments?

• Listen to some traditional Aztec music while you are working.

Geography

• Look on a map to find the location where the Aztecs lived. How far away is it from where you live? How could you travel there?
• Make your own version of the beautiful 1524 map of Tenochtitlan.

History

• Imagine that you can travel back in time to the Aztec period. What would you like to find out? How is life similar / different to your own?
• Where does the Aztec civilisation fit into a timeline? What was happening in other parts of the world at the time? (c. 1345-1521 AD/CE)
• Have a go at playing the Aztec board game, Patolli.
• Learn some fascinating facts about the Aztecs with our free fact cards. Could your children find out other facts about this period of history?

Physical education

• Play an adapted version of the rather dangerous game of Tlachtli. The Aztecs played this with a heavy rubber ball, which they had to get through a stone hoop. Try getting it through a netball or basketball hoop instead, but remember you cannot touch the ball with your hands and the ball isn’t allowed to touch the ground! Find out more about the game here.