Now we get to the pre-Columbian societies in Central and South America. Here are the chapter books about Aztecs, Maya, and Incas.
The chapter book selection was slim pickings! We mainly studied these civilizations using picture books. You’ll see that I pulled a lot of fun chapter books with themes relating to the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan societies. The 2nd, 4th, and 7th graders read the books that were at their level!
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Books about the Maya
Duncan Tonatiuh has some wonderful picture books about the pre-Columbian Maya.
A fun, kids movie with loose ties to pre-Columbian society in Central America is The Road to El Dorado
And, we played a board game, Tikal, about building pyramids the region where the Maya civilization had once flourished.
Books about Aztecs
It was really tempting to leave off what looks like sillier books to me. However, my 2nd and 4th graders excitedly shared facts about the Aztecs after reading them. The first two books listed are choose-your-own-adventure type of books, which also adds interest.
Books and Movies about the Incas
- Secret of the Andes
- The Mystery Across the Secret Bridge, Greetings from Somewhere Series
- Late Lunch with Llamas, Magic Tree House
- The Khipu and the Final Key, Boxcar Children
- Quest for the City of Gold, Treasure Hunters Series
- Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas, Addison Cooke Trilogy
We also watched a movie, Pachamama, which is a Netflix original, and probably the best way to watch it. It was about the Incan empire around the time of the Spanish conquistadors.
Other fun movies set in Peru and relating to the Incan empire are Dora and the Lost City of Gold and The Emperor’s New Groove.
Related to Books about Aztecs, Maya, and Incas
- Middle Ages Books for Kids
- Chapter Books about Vikings
- Chapter Books about Merlin and Arthur
- Picture Books about Medieval Illuminations
- Chapter Books Set in Medieval Europe
- Chapter Books Set in Medieval Asia
- Chapter Books and Art in the Italian Renaissance
- Review of AmblesideOnline Year 7: Including Medieval History and Literature
- Review of AmblesideOnline Year 2: Medieval History
- Review of My Father’s World: Rome to the Reformation (Ancient Rome and Medieval History)