Floating Gardens of
A Global
History
Webquest
Design by
“. . . It is
the duty of all farmers
to increase
the production of
maize, maguey,
squash,
chiles, beans
and all edible flowers . . .”
Codex Mexsoto
Introduction
At various times in global history,
human activity has altered the land people live on and their surrounding
environments. These changes in physical geography have affected society.
The year is 1265
The ruler Acatonalli (first
Xochimilcan Lord, 1256-1279) has order the increase of taxes and tributes. All
Macehaltin must contribute to the Imperial Coffers. You, as part of the common
people want to please your lord. However, there is a problem, the scant farming
lands in Xochimilco have been replace by
Your goal is
to investigate, How did Mesoamerican civilizations resolve the problem of scant
farming lands?
Task
You and your classmates will:
I. be responsible for Building a
II. Design a Codex in order to illustrate and record
the invention of the
III.
Generate a power point presentation
IV.
Present your final product to the class
Process
In order to complete the task your
group will have to:
II. Gather Evidence
III.
Determine the Causes
V. Analyze & Compare the Outcome
Click on the
Underlined Text above;
This action
will direct you to the required Worksheets your group needs to complete
Your Class will be divided into 3 groups:
Each Group
will be responsible for producing the Following:
I.
Miltequitque: Comprised by Farmers and Engineers will be
responsible for Building a
·
Your group is going to build a physical model of a
·
Look for examples of how did Mesoamerican Civilizations construct
the floating gardens
·
Make a list of all the materials needed to build your Replica
·
Construct your floating Garden
II. Topixque: Comprised by Priests and Artists,
will design a Codex in order to illustrate and record the invention of the
Chinampas
·
Mesoamerican Civilizations developed a pictorial system of
writing; your group has to create a series of drawings explaining: how did
Mesoamerican Civilizations solve the problem of land scarcity?
·
Look for examples of Mesoamerican Civilizations pictorial
writing, notice the colors and shapes used
·
On a Poster board draw a series of pictures illustrating the
development of the floating gardens
·
Your drawings should reflect why did the Mesoamericans develop
the floating gardens? Where they locate them? And how did the floating gardens
help solve their problems?
II.Temachticatzen:
Comprised by Archeologists and historians will generate a power point presentation and present their findings on
ancient Mesoamerican floating gardens.
·
You are responsible for creating a power point presentation of 6
to 8 slides covering all 5 components of the Public Policy Analyst
·
In order to have a successful presentation you must collaborate
with the other 2 groups
·
Your presentation should include text, maps, photos, and pictures
·
Be creative, include pictures of your classmates working in their
respective projects
Resources
Use the Following Web links to help in your quest
Remember that you are not limited to these resources
Evaluation
You will be evaluated based on the following rubric:
|
Task |
Deficient 1 |
Satisfactory 2 |
Proficient 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
|
Research
& Analysis |
Minimal
understanding of social problem, causes, and public policy. Failed to complete worksheets |
Satisfactory
understanding of social problem, causes, and public policy. Successfully
completed some worksheets |
Good
understanding of social problem, causes, and public policy. Completed all worksheets |
Fully
understand the social problem, its causes and public policy that arose from
it, and fully completed all worksheets |
|
Organization
& Collaboration |
Group
did not work well together, did not collaborate with other groups |
Group
worked together on most projects and assisted other groups |
Group
worked together on all projects and collaborated with other groups |
Group
worked diligently on all projects, collaborated and offered guidance to other
groups |
|
Creativity
& Design |
Poor
visual presentation. Visually unprepared, poor or no Drawings |
Somewhat
good visual presentation. Needs improvement attempts to tell the story of the
invention |
Good
visual presentation. Drawing are sequential and narrates the development of
the invention |
Exceptional
presentation of visual resources and materials. Drawings are well sequenced
and captures the essence of the invention |
|
Technical
Quality |
Partially
completed power point presentation.
Lack of pictures, graphics, and/or meaningful text |
Completed
power point presentation with some pictures, graphics and meaningful text |
Good
looking power point presentation, with at least 6 slides, plus some pictures,
graphics, and meaningful text; discuss PPA process |
Full
completion of 8 power point slides with pictures, graphics and meaningful
text; discuss 5 step PPA process |
|
Language
and Communication |
Students
were not clear: noticeable poor careless quality of presentation |
Students
were somewhat clear; quality of presentation needs effort and careful
preparation |
All
Students participated; Good, clear presentation |
All
Students participated; exceptional, clear, thorough and intelligent oral
presentation |
Grade
Conversion
|
From |
To |
Grade |
|
20 |
17 |
A |
|
16 |
14 |
B |
|
13 |
11 |
C |
|
10 |
4 |
U |
Standards
|
World |
Geography |
Living
Environment |
Visual |
Commencement |
|
|
2.1 Students will Analyze important
ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs,
and traditions. examines the ways different
people view the same event or issue from a variety of
perspectives. |
3.1 Students will analyze
important historic, geographic,
economic, and environmental questions and issues related
to natural resources, human systems, environment and society, and
the use of geography. |
4.6 Plants and animals,
including humans, depend on each other and their Physical environment. |
1.1 Students will understand and
use sensory elements, organizational
principles, and expressive images to communicate their
own ideas in works of art. |
1.1 Students will be reading to
acquire information and Understanding; collecting
data, facts, and ideas; discovering
relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and using
knowledge from oral, Written and electronic
sources. |
3.1 Students will read to
analyze and evaluate Experiences, ideas,
information, and issues based on different sets of criteria. |
|
2.4 Students will investigate
differing and competing interpretations of the theories of history. |
3.2 Students will be asking and
answering geographic questions;
analyzing theories of geography; and acquiring, organizing,
and analyzing geographic Information. |
4.7 Students will Analyze Human
decisions and activities which have had a profound impact on the physical and
living environment. |
-- |
1.2 Students will Speak and write
to acquire and transmit Information. |
3.2 Students will be Speaking
and writing for critical analysis and evaluation |
Conclusion
During this virtual quest you have:
·
Identify why did Mesoamerican Civilizations Constructed a System
of Floating gardens.
·
Describe how did the physical environment of
·
Discuss how did the invention of the Chinampas affected
Society.
·
Compare the Ancient practice of the construction of Chinampas
with today’s use of floating gardens as a form of sustainable agriculture.