When asked about the “Aztec, Inca, and Maya In-depth” class, Instructor Marti Frank said, “the main goal is for students to learn more about Mesoamerican societies, their impact, and how their influence is still around today.” Students were introduced to the cultures of Aztec, Inca, and Maya the first week and were charged with comparing one of these three Mesoamerican civilizations to another society of their choosing.
On the final days in class, campers were busy completing their artwork to go with their final presentations. Charlotte was completing her mural representing Aztec culture which she is comparing to ancient Egypt. She wrote a paper to describe the similarities in architecture in the two societies. Sam—a second-year SCATS camper– was also painting a mural; it was a picture of the mountains where the Incas lived. Her research and presentation compares the Incas to China. She developed an interest in how they grew similar crops. When asked about the research, Sam said, “It’s been really cool. In school you just touch on the subjects, but here, we could dive deeper into the subjects.”
Grant had painted a mural of an ancient pyramid. His project is comparing the Mayan culture to the Roman Empire. He has always been a fan of ancient mythology, originating from reading Percy Jackson books.
Students were very happy to discuss their projects, the Mesoamerican civilizations they learned about, and how these societies are relevant to us today.
