This informational text/reading comprehension focuses on the important trade center and site of Chaco Canyon. This reading introduces the Ancestral Puebloans, Indigenous cultures, and the history of the ancient southwestern United States. It covers topics such as trade, Great Houses, astronomical observations, food, and issues of preservation.

This informational text/reading comprehension on the ancient Southwestern United States covers topics such as geography, farming, architecture, petroglyphs and rock painting, and materials and trade. It talks about sites like Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Paquimé (Casas Grandes). For ease of reading, the text is in one full-color PDF and is similar to a textbook chapter. It is beautifully illustrated with photographs, many taken on-site, to make the ancient Southwestern world come alive.

Students will love designing their own black-on-white vessel from the ancient southwestern United States! Students do NOT need any prior knowledge to complete this activity!