Exploring Civilizations in Central America: Form 3’s Immersive Journey

At Lorien Wood, hands-on exploration is a cornerstone of our Form 3 curriculum, where students actively engage with history, geography, and cultural studies in a rich, immersive way. This fall, our fourth and fifth grade students have embarked on an exciting journey into Central America, asking a fundamental question: What is a Civilization? Through our study of the Aztec civilization, students are examining the foundational elements that define a civilization, while also creating and developing their own Central American-inspired societies.

Building Blocks of Civilization

The unit began with a focus on geography and boundaries, exploring how natural landmarks such as mountains, rivers, coastlines, and deserts shape civilizations. These features not only mark territory but also influence how communities develop, defining resources and relationships within and beyond their borders. To connect this with their immediate environment, students took a nature walk around our campus, observing and reflecting on the natural and man-made boundaries within our own learning space. This hands-on experience allows students to grasp how boundaries operate on both a macro and micro scale, from the layout of a region to the formation of a neighborhood or even a family.

The Journey Continues: Establishing Civilizations

After understanding the importance of boundaries, students formed “Civilization Teams” and began the creative process of establishing their own unique societies. Each team claimed resources, created their own languages, and learned the value of cooperation and teamwork. They examined how societies organize through social structure, job specialization, government, law, and trade—all key elements for a civilization to thrive.

Through simulations, students experienced firsthand the dynamics of resource scarcity, trade, and social roles. Assigned to Aztec social classes, they explored the privileges and responsibilities tied to their positions, learning how such structures impact daily life. In a lively trading simulation, teams bartered resources with one another to gain what their civilizations needed, applying real-world skills in communication, strategy, and decision-making.

Developing Unique Cultures

As students continued to expand their civilizations, they added layers of detail to their societies, such as social structures, customs, languages, and even laws—writing their own “10 Commandments” for governance. Each student took on specific roles within their civilization, contributing to aspects like clothing, inventions, and games. This focus on specialization fostered individual creativity while enhancing teamwork, as students learned to value each member’s unique contribution to their civilization.

Celebrating Ancient Civilization Day

To culminate their studies, Form 3 celebrated “Ancient Civilization Day,” a festive event where students experienced activities from ancient Central American cultures. From shelter building and clay mosaics to corn grinding and spear throwing, students immersed themselves in the customs and survival techniques of the past. They even sampled indigenous foods, including cornmeal porridge, black beans, papaya, and yuca root, as well as freshly harvested produce from our school garden. This event offered a hands-on taste of history, bringing their learning to life in meaningful ways.

Art and Cultural Reflection

To round out their exploration, students will engage in a picture study, focusing on the work of Diego Rivera, a renowned Mexican artist. By examining Rivera’s mural, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park, students will explore Mexican history from the Spanish Conquest through the Mexican Revolution. This picture study not only enhances visual literacy and appreciation but also serves as a powerful reflection on the enduring influence of history on modern culture.

Our Form 3 Central America Unit is designed to nurture curiosity and empathy while providing a rich foundation in cultural and historical studies. By creating their own civilizations, experiencing ancient practices, and reflecting on art, students gain an integrated, hands-on understanding of what makes a civilization unique and resilient. We invite families to follow our journey as our students discover the power and beauty of diverse cultures and the principles that shape societies across history through our integral curriculum approach.

Learn more about our unique integral curriculum.