Table of Contents
*Uncovering an Ancient Legacy
*Kings
*Priests & Healers
*Merchants
*Farming & Food
*Women & Weaving
*Children
*Gods & Sacrifices
*Pok-A-Tok
*Numbers
*Calendars
*Majestic Builders
*Hieroglyphs
*The Maya Codices
*Artistic Flair
*Jewelry
*Pottery
Activities
*Mexican Hot Chocolate
*Royal 'Jadeite'
Burial Mask
*Play Bul!
*Homemade Tortillas
*Cornhusk Hat
*Rain Stick
*Spindle Whorl
*Mexican Atole
*Replica of a Maya Child's Toy
*Musical Gourd
*Clay God Fetishes
*Rubber Ball
*Play Pok-A-Tok
*Maya Counting Flash Cards
*Tzolk'in Calendar Wheel
*Sand Art Picture of the Cosmos
*Ruin Map of the Maya Homeland
*Pyramid Model
*Soap Glyph Carving
*Pacal the Great War Banner
*Make Your
Own Paper
*Codex Replica
*Royal 'Jaguar' Cape
*Replica of a Royal 'Jadeite' Necklace
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Note: the following suggested presentations can be adapted to fit into classroom curriculum. Teachers may choose to include a craft activity, based on time constraints and classroom budget.
Click Here to See Sample Chapter/Activities
Click Here for Teacher Guide
Jump to Sheri's Website for Kids
Taking a Peek at the Amazing Ancient Maya
*Option A: Daily life of the Maya: (all or part of this, based on teacher preference)
Discussion of farming and hunting practices, including how the Maya made chewing gum from chicle and harvested cacao beans to make the frothy chocolate drink loved by Maya kings. Talk about differences in home construction, fashions, and daily duties of commoners, slaves, merchants, and the royals. Discussion of Maya warring practices--and the factors that eventually led to the downfall of the once-great Maya cities. Comparison of contemporary Maya life with that of their illustrious ancestors.
Suggested activity component:
Elementary school: Frothy chocolate drink OR Soap glyph carving
Middle school: Cornhusk hat or Pacal war banner
*Option B: How the Maya Worshipped: (all or part of this, based on teacher preference)
Discussion of Maya religious beliefs, including that their gods made the first Maya from corn. To include sacrifice practices (treatment of sacrifice victims as well as the royals' practice of self-mutilation), and the popularity of large musical processions during comunity-wide sacrifices. Discussion of differences in roles of shaman and priests. Highlight of important coming-of-age rituals for boys and girls, which signaled their readiness for marriage. Mention of Maya underworld, tree of life, the most important gods, and Maya burial practices. Discussion of the Spanish conquest of the Maya that led to the hybrid Maya/Christian religion the Maya follow today--and how the actions of one Spanish priest led to the destruction of centuries of carefully preserved Maya history and knowledge.
Suggested activity component:
Elementary school: Musical gourd OR Pyramid model
Middle school: Clay god fetish OR Replica of royal burial mask or ceremonial necklace
*Option C: Maya Advances in Language, Math, Stargazing and Pottery (all or part of this, based on teacher preference)
An overview of all the amazing advancements used by the ancient Maya, including their base-20 counting system, their use of the zero as a place holder in mathematical equations, their highly advanced written language, their process for making paper, books, and pottery, and their tracking of the cosmos--without the wealth of technology we rely on today.
Suggested activity component:
Elementary school: Maya counting flash cards OR Sand art picture of the cosmos
Middle school: Maya counting flash cards OR Pottery bowl OR Soap glyph carving
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