A Maya global studies unit for homeschool, worldschool or just for fun.
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Tikal ruins in Guatemala (because they're the tallest and I've been there twice) but everyone seems care more about Chichen Itza in Mexico so that's where a lot of source material comes from. We focused on Maya civilizations in general this week. Be warned, with this fascinating topic comes a fair amount of violence.
Printables
All of this week's information in an easy-to-read printable.
On the Dining Room Wall
This map from Uncovered History.
A few personal pictures of mine from when I've visited Maya sites.
The insert from the Who HQ book, Where is Chichen Itza? (We own the book.)
A Chichen Itza trivia card from a similar pack to this.
Books
I usually aim for one non-fiction book, one fiction chapter book, a random assortment of picture books and a You Choose book for the end of the week. I usually list multiple books on the blog, but unless your kids are incredibly into a topic, one from each category is just perfect.
Library Haul
Non-Fiction Books & Mythology:
Read every word or simply flip through and reach what catches your eye.
Top Pick:
Where is Chichen Itza? (Who HQ Book) As always, these books are a great overview of the topic. Easy to digest information in clearly outlined chapters.
Other Ideas:
If You Were Me and Lived in... The Mayan Empire (If You Were Me and Lived in Books) Some people love these books but I find them a bit dry. Still, we read it and it had some interesting content.
Base Fiction Chapter Book:
Younger Learners:
(Some of these books are part of a series but all of them work as stand alone books.)
Shadow of the Shark (Magic Treehouse #48) Jack and Annie think they're going on a modern, Mexican vacation but actually travel back to the time of ancient Mayans.
Treasure of the Maya (Geronimo Stilton #83) These books are a little two chaotic for me but a lot of people really like them. Fast-paced stories and engaging illustrations keep little's attentions.
Older Learners:
Mystery in Mayan Mexico (by Marcia Wells) We didn't actually read this book but it seems to fit the bill.
Other Notable Chapter-Type Books:
Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Maya* Colorful pictures and easy to digest overviews of some Maya deities. *Sensitive learners will want to skip the Gods of sacrifice and suicide.
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Mayan Soothsayer! (You Wouldn't Want to Be Series) These books are entertaining and are easy to flip through and just read what appeals to you.
Secrets in Stone: All about Maya Hieroglyphs This was a book we just flipped through but it had some pretty interesting tidbits and pictures.
Picture Books
Search these keywords at your local library: Mayas, Mayan, Chichen Itza, Tikal
Rain Player A beautifully illustrated story about a boy who challenges the rain god to a game in order to end a drought.
Abuela's Weave This is one of the few books I found about modern Maya people. It's a colorful book about a girl and her grandmother and their journey to sell their traditional textiles.
The Boy Who Wouldn't Obey A retelling of a myth about a boy who finds himself working for the God Chac.
Things to Watch*
*Always vet material before watching it with your kids, especially if they are sensitive viewers. I try to note any potential issues but everyone has different parenting thresholds of what they consider appropriate.
Interactive Learning: Crafts, Food, Activities
This Greeking Out Podcast about Maya Mythology (S7E2 - Me Oh Maya: The Lords of Xibalba vs The Hero Twins) The kids discovered this podcast on their summer camp's bus last summer and it's a real winner. Like most mythology, this includes a fair amount of violence but it is made for kids so it's not too bad. This was the only episode that I could find on the Maya.
Google's Arts and Culture for Ancient Maya is fun to click around on for a few minutes.
End of Week Movie Night Ideas
The Road to El Dorado (PG, 2002) This isn't exactly the best fit for this week's theme but it's the best I could find. It's about what you might expect from an early 2000 movie.
Segue Ideas... Mexico, Machu Picchu
Wrap Up
All of this material would work great for a global studies Maya homeschool unit or, in our case, just some fun, extra learning. I personally haven't been to Chichen Itza but I have been to other Maya sites; Tikal in Guatemala twice and Copan in Honduras once. Here's a picture of Andy and I with some friends in Tikal circa 2009.
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