Social+Studies

=**The following is an example of how you would take notes on an article and then turn that article into a journal entry. Notice how in your notes, you look for what's most important and then turn it into your own words. When you craft a journal entry, you tuck in as many facts as you can and use content vocabulary, while showing your readers what a person who lived in that time & place might think.**=

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 * EXCERPT FROM WORLD BOOK INCA ARTICLE **

= = = = = = The Inca regarded many places and objects as //huaca// (sacred). Mummies of important ancestors, temples, and historical places were all worshiped as huaca. Natural features on the landscape, such as springs, boulders, caves, and mountain peaks, were also sacred and called//apu.// Each household also had one or more small statues, or //illa,// that were sacred to the family. = =
 * Religion ** was important in the public and private lives of the Inca. The Inca believed that the world was created by a god they called Viracocha. The ruling family claimed descent from the sun, Inti. The earth goddess, Pachamama, was one of the most important female gods, and the sea and the moon were also worshiped as goddesses. These gods spoke to people through //oracles// (prophets) and expressed their anger by sending natural disasters, such as earthquakes and droughts, to punish those who displeased them.

= = The Inca believed that the will of their gods and spirits could be understood through //divination,// the study of magic signs. The Inca would divine whether a certain day was good for activities, such as planting crops or going to war. The mummies of the dead Inca kings were maintained by their descendants in the palaces they lived in during life. On occasion, the mummies were brought to Cusco to be consulted by the emperor. = = Religious ceremonies marked important calendar events as well as events in the life of a ruler. One of the annual events was Inti Raymi, which was held on the June solstice, when the sun is at its most northerly point. Inti Raymi is still celebrated in Cusco today. Capac Raymi, held during the December solstice, when the sun is at its most southerly point, was perhaps the most important annual celebration. Both of these events included dancing, feasts, games, songs, and parades. = =

= = Sacrifices and offerings were important in all Inca religious ceremonies, especially at the death of the emperor. The Inca sacrificed crops and animals, mainly llamas, to ensure adequate rainfall and keep the earth fertile. Human sacrifices were made under special circumstances. For example, young children would travel from various parts of the empire to take part in the //capac ucha// (royal obligation). These children were blessed by the emperor and then returned to their home province to be sacrificed. Most people considered it a great honor to be chosen for sacrifice. = =

= = Priests were important in Inca society. The most powerful priests were often close relatives of the royal family. Priests made offerings, performed sacrifices, and maintained the temples. //Aclla// (chosen women) prepared sacred foods to be used in religious ceremonies and wove the cloth worn by the rulers and priests. = = Priests treated the sick in curing ceremonies and used herbs and other plants as medicine. Surgeons operated on the skull to release evil spirits or relieve pressure on the brain caused by injury. This operation, called //trephining,// was often successful in treating wounds that would otherwise have caused death. = =

= = The Inca believed in three worlds: an underworld of the ancestors, a celestial world of the gods, and an earthly world where people live. The Inca believed that beings in the other worlds could affect their lives in the living world. Important people were buried in stone chambers above ground. Others were buried in pits, caves, or other kinds of graves. = =

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= = __My Notes__ = = This section is mostly about how religion was an important part of life for the Inca and the different ways that they worshipped. = =

= = __Things and places that were worshipped__ = = = =
 * many places and objects were thought of as //huaca// (sacred) and were worshipped – things like mummies of important ancestors, temples, and historical places.
 * springs, boulders, caves, and mountain peaks, were also sacred and called //apu.//
 * Each house also had one or more small statues (//illa),// that were sacred to the family.
 * o **The Inca believed in three worlds: an underworld of the ancestors, a celestial world of the gods, and an earthly world where people live.**

= = __Sacrifices__ = = = =
 * The Inca sacrificed crops and animals, mainly llamas, to keep the earth fertile and make sure it rained
 * Sometimes humans were sacrificed. It was thought of an honor to be sacrificed.
 * Sacrifices and offerings were important in all Inca religious ceremonies, especially at the death of the emperor.
 * o **The mummies of the dead Inca kings were maintained by their descendants in the palaces they lived in during life and were sometimes brought to Cusco to be consulted by the emporer!**

= = __Priests__ = = = =
 * o Priests were important and were often close relatives of the royal family.
 * o Priests made offerings, performed sacrifices, and maintained the temples, and treated the sick in curing ceremonies using herbs and other plants as medicine.

= = __Ceremonies__ = = = =
 * o Religious ceremonies marked important events like the Inti Raymi, ( June solstice), when the sun is at its most northerly point or Capac Raymi, ( December solstice,) when the sun is at its most southerly point, was perhaps the most important annual celebration.
 * o events included dancing, feasts, games, songs, and parades.

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= = Journal Entry = = = = = =
 * 4. What role does religion play in your life? **
 * Where do people worship?
 * How do you worship?
 * What gods/stories do you believe in?
 * Are their priests? What to they do?

= = Like all of our people, religion is very important to our family. We have a sacred statue, an illa, in our home that is sacred. The beautiful sacred land around us, or apu – the mountains and caves, are worshipped too as well as the most important huaca like the mummy of Huayna Capac. At the last Inti Raymi, (June solstice), the mummy was brought to our capital and was there during the dancing, feasts, games, songs & parades that took place on this sacred day when the sun is highest in the sky. We have priests here as well that are very important people, and are sometimes related to the royal family. They know how to cure the sick and sometimes perform sacrifices that help the crops to grow well. Most of the time, they sacrifice llamas, but for very important events, a lucky chosen person may be sacrificed as well. It is very important that our ancestors in the underworld and the gods in the celestial kingdom are happy so that we on earth get to live well. = =      @http://aztecs.mrdonn.org/index.html  @http://incas.mrdonn.org/index.html  @http://mayas.mrdonn.org/index.html

@http://www.ducksters.com/history/aztec_maya_inca.php

Geography Project Websites:

List of Olympic Events

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List of major countries within each region

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Travel Sites

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ipl2 (Internet Public Library) – country profiles

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CHES Library Site

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Culturegrams

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Scholastic GO

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=How do geographic features influence people's lives?= Native American Links http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/index.html Another picture of a wigwam: http://www.primitivetechnologies.com/wigwam.jpg



=Use this map to think about themes of geography in the Western Hemisphere= = = == = =

The Preamble to the Constitution ... Sung as a farewell to Mrs. DeLucia's amazing student teacher, Miss Hagin. She is hidden in the back with the balloons floating over her head!

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 * [|__http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blcanada.htm__] **


 * [|__http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/kids/index-e.html__] **


 * [|__http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/canada__] **