GRADES K–2 EDUCATOR GUIDE Revised on November 19, 2018 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Table of Contents Teacher Guide ............................................2 Exhibition Map ........................................... 3 Student Exhibit Exploration: Chaperone Guide ... 4 Student Exhibit Exploration: Student Sheet .......6 Student Writing Prompts ..............................8 Classroom Extension Activities and Resources ....9 Physical Education .............................9 Art ................................................9 Science ........................................ 11 Social Studies ................................ 12 Mathematics ..................................12 Literature ..................................... 13 Music ...........................................13 Teacher Resources .................................... 14 Vocabulary .................................... 17 Stories ......................................... 19 To the Maya, the Sun, Moon, and other celestial Special Thanks ..........................................26 bodies represented powerful gods that influenced human events. Scribes developed their sophisticated calendar by watching the skies. Fixed observation points, such as this pyramid at Tikal in Guatemala, were constructed to align with astronomical events and features on the landscape. 1 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Teacher Guide Overview This document will help educators guide learning experiences through the Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed special exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Before Your Visit 1. Choose one or more of the extension activities to do as a class before your visit. 2. Give each student a copy of the Student Exhibit Exploration: Student Sheet. You may want to give students clipboards. 3. Give EACH ADULT a copy of the Exhibition Map and Student Exhibit Exploration: Chaperone Guide. They can be printed in black and white, although the color coding may be helpful for navigation if you print it in color. The activities are adult-led. During Your Visit 1. Suggest to chaperones to stagger their entry into the exhibit so that a new group enters every 10 minutes or so. 2. Ask your students to name a few things they are curious about or questions they have about the Maya exhibit. Alternatively, you could provide the questions for them to consider while exploring. 3. Suggestion: Due to the size of the exhibit and time constraints, students may not be able to see everything they would like to. The activities presented here could work as a jigsaw activity where each group does part of the Student Exploration and reports back to the class on their findings. Or, instruct your chaperones to choose one activity or question from each area to focus on. Possible Post-Visit Activities 1. Collect the drawings and photos from the students and chaperones. Display these “artifacts” in a collage or on a bulletin board. 2. Debrief with students. What was their favorite part? Did they learn something new? 3. If students could make their own special exhibit about Utah, what might they put in it? 4. Decide if you would like students to do a writing/drawing activity, and either use the writing prompts provided or create your own. 5. Read Museum of Me by Emma Lewis. 2 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 3 Exit The Dead Tell Tales Death and Rebirth Story in Pictures Making a Living Exhibition Map Watching the Skies Playing for Your Life Histories in Stone Master Builders Unlocking the Maya Past Enterance <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Student Exhibit Exploration: Chaperone Guide Instructions to Chaperone: You will be guiding the students throughout these activities. Check with the teacher about any specific instructions. See the Exhibit Map for section locations – it is color-coded. Unlock the Maya Past Stelae (singular: stela) are stone pillars that tell important stories. Have students pick a stela (could be anywhere throughout the exhibit) and draw it. What do they think is its story? Who would have used it and for what purpose? Is there anything in their neighborhoods like this? Master Builders Tumplines were used to carry heavy objects while keeping the hands free. Have students try the activity as a group. Discuss with students how this is different than using a backpack. Would they prefer a backpack or the tumpline to carry their school supplies? Why? Histories in Stone Glyphs are pictures that the Maya used to write. Maya artists would draw glyphs differently, like handwriting. Have students create and draw ‘glyphs’ that would represent their name in pictures. Playing for Your Life Have students try to lift the ball. Would the students like to play games with this ball? Why or why not? Can they think of other things they use that are made of rubber? Watching the Skies A codex is a book with calendars, instructions, and other important information (like a textbook!). Have the students draw a codex page. Death and Rebirth Have the students gather by the big, colorful cave picture. For the ancient Maya, being in caves like this was a sacred place, like being in a church for some people. Do the students have similar places or activities in their lives? 4 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The Dead Tell Tales Have the students examine the tomb. Much of the knowledge we have about the ancient Maya comes from tombs like this one because the objects symbolized what mattered most. What do the students think the objects tell us about what was important to the ancient Maya? What items would the students choose to put in their tombs to show what is important to them? Story in Pictures The ancient Maya modified their teeth, had tattoos and elaborate jewelry and hairstyles, and altered their appearance in many ways to tell specific stories about themselves. Have students take part in the Maya ‘dentist’ activity. What do people today do to change their appearance and tell stories about themselves? What do the students do to make their appearance unique? Making a Living The pictures and designs in Maya weaving both ancient and today tell stories. Have students create and draw their own weaving pattern. What story does it tell? 5 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Student Exhibit Exploration: Student Sheet Draw a Stela Draw your name glyphs 6 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Draw a codex page Draw a weaving pattern 7 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Student Writing Prompts 1. What was your favorite part of the Maya Exhibit? Draw a picture and write a few words or sentences about what you liked. 2. What do you think Maya children did for fun a long time ago? Draw a picture and write a few words or sentences. 3. Did you see any animals in the Maya Exhibit? What kind of animal? Draw a picture and write a few words or sentences. 4. Some of the foods Maya people eat are avocados, corn, beans, squash, potatoes, tortillas, tamales, and chocolate. Do you like to eat any of these foods? If you were cooking a Maya meal for your family, what foods would you serve, and why? Draw a picture and write a few words or sentences. 8 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Classroom Extension Activities and Resources Physical Education Play the Maya Ballgame Introduction The ballgame was a significant part of Maya life, with political, religious, and social implications. The ballgame gave neighboring cities an alternative to war for settling disputes. Players would wear protective gear and elaborate headdresses that resembled animals players may have identified with. The spiritual story most associated with the ballgame is that of the Maize Gods and the Hero twins. The story goes that the Maize Gods were killed and buried on the ballgame court for being noisy and bothering the Lords of Xibalba (the Underworld). One of the Maize Gods had children with the daughter of the Lord of the Underworld. These twin sons were known as the Hero Twins, and they resurrected their father and uncle on the ballgame court. The Hero Twins went on to many adventures, and the Maize Gods remained on the court for humans to honor. The Maya, therefore, believed that the ballgame was necessary to their survival, for the Gods would punish them otherwise. Kid-Friendly Version You will need two hula hoops and a ball. For indoor activities, a soft ball is best. The hula hoops need to be held upright, either by adults or perhaps taped to the wall, across the playing area from each other. The height of the hoops can be adjusted to the children playing, as low as the floor for Kindergarteners. Split the class in two teams and have them try to get the ball through their team’s hoop without using hands or feet. Art God’s Eye Craft Introduction The God’s Eye, or Ojo de Dios, was a ritual tool that was believed to protect a person while they prayed. Ancient Maya made one for each child, with a large Ojo surrounded by four smaller Ojos, one added each year on the child’s birthday. Supplies 00 Popsicle sticks 00 Glue 00 Yarn 00 Pipe cleaners 9 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Instructions 1. Take two popsicle sticks and glue them together in the center (this can be done prior to the activity for younger students). 2. Take a length of yarn and wrap it around the center diagonally one way and then the other, making an “X” on the popsicle sticks. 3. Wrap the yarn around one leg of the popsicle sticks, and then the next. 4. Continue on until the popsicle sticks are as covered as you’d like. 5. Attach a pipe cleaner to one leg to create a hanging loop. 6. To change colors, cut the yarn and tie on a new color. 7. Pipe cleaners can be used instead of yarn for younger students Worry Dolls Craft Introduction According to Maya legend, when worrying keeps a person awake, he or she can tell the worry to a Worry Doll and then place the doll under his or her pillow. The doll then takes over the worry so the person can sleep peacefully through the night. Materials 0 Popsicle sticks 0 Pipe cleaners 0 Clothespins 00 Twigs 0 Yarn 0 Thread 0 Fabric scraps 0 Beads 0 Bells 0 Glue 0 Markers 0 Other art supplies Instructions 1. Pick a body. a. Popsicle sticks or twigs can be attached together to create a body.