Trade goods

Topics Year 4/5
This unit is part of Maya Trade

Objectives

History

  • Undertake an in-depth study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history- The Maya civilization.
  • Regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.
  • Construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.
  • Understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.

Design and Technology

  • Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.
  • Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.
  • Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to accurately perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing).

Geography

  • Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle.
  • Describe and understand key aspects of human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water.

Lesson Planning

Research the trade goods that Maya people exchanged, including cacao beans, feathers, jade, obsidian; design and make some game counters of these goods.

Teaching Objectives:

  • To find out what trade goods Maya people moved around.
  • To design gaming pieces based on goods the Maya traded.
  • To learn about the distribution of natural resources in the Maya world.

Children will:

  • Make assumptions about where natural resources could be found using maps
  • Use maps to understand the physical and human geography of a region
  • Design and make gaming pieces

You Will Need

  • Card
  • Tracing paper
  • Air-drying clay
  • Computers with Paint software or similar