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Plazas and ball courts

Topics Year 4/5
This unit is part of Maya Cities and Architecture

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Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
  • Understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
  • Undertake an in-depth study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history- The Maya civilisation.

PE

  • Play competitive games, modified where appropriate and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending.
  • Take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team.

Lesson Planning

Learn about the organisation of Maya buildings around a plaza; make temples and a class plaza; learn about the rules of the Maya ball game Pok-ta-Pok and play this ritual game.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To understand the basic structure and layout of a Maya settlement.
  • Learn about the Maya Ball Game, Pok-ta-Pok and understand the ritual importance of the game for the Maya.

Children will:

  • Understand that the Maya organized their buildings around a central plaza and why it was an important part of the city.
  • Learn about the Maya ball game Pok-ta-Pok and understand its ritual importance for the Maya.

Provided Resources

  • The Maya city of Tikal in Guatemala
  • How to play Pok-ta-Pok

You Will Need

  • Lego and Lego bases
  • Large sand timers
  • Hoops
  • Soft ball, tennis ball and beach ball
  • Tape
  • Chalk
  • Tiddlywinks

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