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Upper Key Stage 2 Maya
Religion

Find out about the legends of the Maya people. Explore the famous creation story of the Hero Twins and the Lords of the Underworld. Use a variety of software on a range of digital devices to create a podcast of the Maya creation myth and a stop-motion animation. Replicate Maya ceremonies and celebrations and upload these to the class website.

block outcomes

Session 1 Creation

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Objectives

History

  • Undertake an in-depth study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history- The Maya civilization
  • Address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.

English

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role-play, improvisations and debates.

Computing

  • Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Lesson Planning

Explore the creation myth of the Maya and retell it as a podcast in children’s’ own words, adding sound effects.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To learn about the creation myths of the Maya.
  • To retell the creation myth in their own words.
  • To create a podcast.

Children will:

  • Explain the story of the Maya creation myth.
  • Work out what it tells us about what the Maya thought was important.
  • Use sound recording and editing software.

Provided Resources

  • The Maya creation story
  • Images of the Maya creation story
  • Audio recording and editing using Audacity

You Will Need

  • Devices with voice recording software, e.g. Audacity (free to download)

Session 2 The Hero Twins

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Objectives

History

  • Undertake an in-depth study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history- The Maya civilization
  • Address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.

English

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role-play, improvisations and debates.

Computing

  • Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Lesson Planning

Explore the story of the Hero Twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque and recreate it in small world using stop motion animation.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To learn about the Hero Twins in more depth.
  • To recreate the story of the Hero Twins with small world figures.
  • To create a stop motion animation.

Children will:

  • Retell the story of the Hero Twins.
  • Explain the importance of the Hero Twins story to the Maya people.
  • Use stop-motion animation software.

You Will Need

  • Popol Vuh: a Sacred Book of the Maya, by Victor Montejo
  • Small world figures (e.g. Lego or Playmobil)
  • Devices with stop motion animation software, e.g. MonkeyJam

Session 3 Kings or gods?

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Objectives

History

  • Undertake an in-depth study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history- The Maya civilization
  • Address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.

English

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role-play, improvisations and debates.

Computing

  • Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Lesson Planning

Explore the objects that show us some of the kings and gods of the Maya, make replicas and recreate a Maya ceremony of giving offerings to the gods. Take photos of the ceremonies.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To explore the role of kings in the Maya civilization.
  • To discuss the evidence in the sources.
  • To use digital cameras.

Children will:

  • Explain what happened during Maya religious festivals.
  • Take part in a role-play of one of the festivals.
  • Take photos with a digital camera.

Provided Resources

  • Evidence about Maya kings and their religious festivals
  • How Maya kings tried to be like the gods
  • How to take good digital photos

You Will Need

  • Digital cameras or devices with a built-in camera

Session 4 Celebrations

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Objectives

History

  • Undertake an in-depth study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history - The Maya civilization.
  • Address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.

English

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role-play, improvisations and debates.

Computing

  • Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Lesson Planning

Explore the ancient and modern celebrations that form the Maya religious calendar and re-enact one of them. Video the celebration.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To find out about Maya celebrations.
  • To recreate a religious festival.
  • To learn how to make videos.

Children will:

  • Demonstrate understanding of ancient and modern Maya festivals.
  • Take part in a role-play.
  • Take a video with a digital camera.

You Will Need

  • Digital camera or device that can take videos

Session 5 Make a website

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Objectives

History

  • Undertake an in-depth study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history- The Maya civilization.
  • Construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

English

  • Identify the audience for and purpose of writing, selecting the appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their own.

Computing

  • Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Lesson Planning

Set up a web page to share all the work you have done.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To create a website about Maya religion.
  • To write informational text for a website.
  • To make a website.

Children will:

  • Write for an online audience.
  • Synthesize information about Maya festivals.
  • Upload digital resources to a website.
  • Create a blog post.

Provided Resources

  • How to set up a Wordpress website
  • Uploading videos to Vimeo and audio files to Soundcloud
  • Writing a blog post on Wordpress

You Will Need

  • Devices with internet access and access to the digital resources the children have created throughout the block

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