Scientists have found a really old city in the Amazon rainforest that was hidden by lots of plants. This is a big deal because it changes what we thought about how people lived in the Amazon a long time ago. We used to think they moved around a lot or lived in small groups, but this city shows that they actually lived in big, complex societies.
The city was built about 2,500 years ago and people lived there for around 1,000 years. It's hard to know exactly how many people lived there, but scientists think it could be tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands. They used special technology to find 6,000 rectangular platforms that were probably the foundations of houses and important buildings. The platforms were arranged in groups around open spaces, and there were also long roads that connected everything.
The roads were really well planned and built with right angles. They think the roads were important for ceremonies or beliefs. They also found evidence of canals to manage water and signs that the city was under threat from other groups. The scientists have been studying this city for 25 years, and it's different from other ancient civilizations we know about. They think the people who lived there focused on farming, especially growing corn and sweet potatoes.
This discovery changes what we thought about ancient people in the Amazon. It shows that they had big cities and complex societies. It's important because it helps us understand the history and culture of the Amazon region. The scientists want to keep exploring the area around the city to learn even more about this ancient civilization.
Original news source: Huge ancient lost city found in the Amazon (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will read the article and write a summary of the main points. They should focus on the discovery of the ancient city in the Amazon rainforest and its significance in changing our understanding of the region's history and culture.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Students will form pairs or small groups and discuss their opinions on the discovery of the ancient city in the Amazon rainforest. They should consider questions such as: What do they think about the discovery? How does it change their understanding of the region? Do they think there are more ancient cities waiting to be discovered? Each group will then share their opinions with the class and a poll can be conducted to see the overall opinions of the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will choose 5-10 vocabulary words from the article and draw pictures to represent each word. They can then take turns showing their drawings to their partner or group, who will try to guess the word. This activity will help students practice vocabulary related to the discovery of the ancient city and its features.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article in one minute or less. The listener should pay attention and provide feedback on the accuracy and clarity of the summary. After a few rounds, students can switch partners and continue the activity. This activity will help students practice their summarizing skills and improve their ability to convey information concisely.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss the pros and cons of the discovery of the ancient city in the Amazon rainforest. They should consider both the positive and negative aspects of the discovery, such as the new knowledge gained about the region's history versus the potential impact on the environment or indigenous communities. Each group will then present their findings to the class and engage in a class discussion to explore different perspectives.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Scientists have a really old city in the Amazon rainforest that was hidden by lots of plants. This is a big deal because it changes what we thought about how lived in the Amazon a long time ago. We used to think they moved around a lot or lived in small groups, but this city that they actually lived in big, societies. The city was built about 2,500 years ago and people lived there for around 1,000 years. It's hard to know exactly how many people lived there, but scientists think it could be tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands. They used special technology to find 6,000 that were probably the foundations of houses and important buildings. The platforms were arranged in around open spaces, and there were also long roads that everything. The roads were really well planned and with right angles. They think the roads were important for ceremonies or . They also found evidence of canals to manage water and signs that the city was under from other groups. The have been studying this city for 25 years, and it's different from other ancient civilizations we know about. They think the people who lived there focused on farming, especially growing corn and sweet potatoes. This discovery changes what we thought about ancient people in the . It shows that they had big and complex societies. It's important because it helps us the history and of the Amazon region. The scientists want to keep exploring the area around the city to learn even more about this ancient civilization.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think it would be like to live in a city hidden in the rainforest?
2. How would you feel if you discovered an ancient city like this?
3. Do you think it's important to learn about the history and culture of different regions? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the people in this ancient city did for fun or entertainment?
5. How do you think the people in this city managed to build such complex societies without modern technology?
6. Do you think it would be difficult to live in a city with tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the roads and canals were used for in this ancient city?
8. How do you think the people in this city managed to grow enough food for everyone?
9. Do you think it's important to preserve and explore ancient civilizations? Why or why not?
10. What do you think we can learn from studying ancient civilizations like this one?
11. How do you think this discovery will change our understanding of the Amazon region?
12. Do you think there are more ancient cities hidden in the rainforest? Why or why not?
13. What do you think it would be like to be an archaeologist studying ancient civilizations?
14. How do you think technology has helped us discover and learn about ancient cities like this one?
15. Do you think it's possible for ancient civilizations to still exist in remote parts of the world? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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