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Upper Key Stage 2 Maya
Everyday Life

Learn about the family orientated society of the Maya community in this creative and practical block. Find out about the childhood of the Maya and how skills were passed down from parents. Learn about the importance of music to the Maya and discover foods eaten by the Maya community. Research Maya clothing, headdresses and hairstyles and go on to discover the modern culture and struggles of the Maya people.

block outcomes

Session 1 Life as a Maya child

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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.

Art

  • Gain an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
  • Improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials.

Lesson Planning

Learn about the childhood of the Maya and how skills were passed down from parents; draw murals of everyday life; weave simple and elaborate mats ready for the class celebration.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To learn about childhood in Maya society.
  • To study examples from Maya art and draw scenes of everyday life on a class mural.

Children will:

  • Learn about the differences between childhoods for the rich and for the poor Maya.
  • Understand that life and trade skills were passed down from parents to children and that family life was extremely important.
  • Gain an understanding of Maya life and draw scenes of everyday life on a class mural.

Provided Resources

  • Maya daily life
  • Maya murals
  • How to weave a Maya mat

You Will Need

  • Large cardboard boxes covered in white paper
  • Felt tips
  • Markers
  • Coloured card (A4)

Session 2 Music and instruments

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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.

Design and Technology

  • Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks accurately.
  • Select from and use a wider range of materials and components.

Music

  • Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.

Lesson Planning

Find out about the importance of music to the Maya by studying images and listening to Mayan music; make a Maya instrument from a choice of panpipes, a drum and an ocarina.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To understand the importance of music in Maya culture & in their relationship with the gods.
  • To make a Maya instrument to play at the celebration.
  • To play a Maya instrument in a small group.

Children will:

  • Learn more about the music of the time using images of scenes drawn by the Maya.
  • Have a greater understanding of the importance of music in the Maya culture and in their relationship with the gods.
  • Make a Maya instrument to play at the celebration.

Provided Resources

  • Maya musical instruments
  • How to make a Maya musical instrument

You Will Need

  • Pieces of paper and pencils
  • Rulers
  • Knife
  • Drill bit and hand or electric drill
  • Balloons
  • Tin cans
  • Drinking straws
  • Tape

Session 3 Food and clothing

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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.

Art

  • Gain an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
  • Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials.

Design and Technology

  • Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks accurately
  • Select from and use a wider range of materials and components.

Lesson Planning

Learn about foods eaten by the Maya community; research Maya clothing, headdresses and hairstyles and make a Maya headdress.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To learn about the foods eaten in the Maya community.
  • To research Maya clothing, headdresses and hair styles.
  • To design a Maya headdress.
  • To make a Maya head dress.

Children will:

  • Learn about the foods eaten in the Maya community.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of Maya clothing, headdresses and hair styles.
  • Design and make a headdress suitable for a Maya celebration.

Provided Resources

  • Maya head dresses
  • Maya research questions
  • How to make a Maya head dress

You Will Need

  • Gourds (ornamental or actual) or alternatives, e.g. squash, small turnips, swede
  • Poster paints and brushes
  • Long ribbons or strips of material
  • Hair bands
  • Glue gun
  • Craft feathers
  • Strips of thick material/leather
  • Flowers or other accessories
  • Modroc

Session 4 Maya celebrations

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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.

Music

  • Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts.
  • Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes.
  • Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.

Lesson Planning

Discover the modern culture and struggles of the Maya people; learn about a modern Maya school; research modern Maya celebrations; organise a Maya celebration to raise money for the modern Maya; entertain guests with music and food; inform them about all you have found out in this block.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To learn that the Maya people are still in existence and understand something of their modern culture.
  • To make Maya foods for the celebration, play instruments and dress up in headdresses.

Children will:

  • Understand that the Maya people are still in existence in modern culture and that Maya children go to school in some areas.
  • Organise and host a Maya celebration during which they play instruments and dress up in headdresses.

Provided Resources

  • Modern Maya research questions
  • How to make flour tortillas

You Will Need

  • Place mats
  • Head dresses and instruments from previous sessions
  • Flour, baking powder, salt, lard for tortillas
  • Instant chocolate drinking powder and cups
  • Cardboard boxes

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