MAYA SCAVENGER HUNT
You will be learning about the Mayan culture by searching sites on the internet. To create required graphics, use Microsoft Paint. Enjoy the search!
1. Facts About the Maya
· Go to http://www.indians.org/welker/maya.htm and read the section called The Mystery of the Mayans by Michael D. Lemonick.
· With a partner, define these words from context:
Obsidian (adj.)
Piqued (verb; past tense of pique)
Effaced (verb; past tense of efface)
Inscrutable (adj.)
Fratricide (noun)
Admonishing (verb)
Terrain (noun)
Shunned (adj.)
Catastrophically (adv.)
Deterred (verb; past tense of deter)
Anthropologist (noun)
Ethnohistorian (noun)
Linguist (noun)
Esoteric (adj.)
Inscriptions (noun)
· Read the selection again.
2. Draw your own Mayan temple.
· Use Microsoft Paint and draw a simple triangle. With the line tool, draw horizontal lines on your temple so it has five levels.
· On level 1 of the drawn pyramid/temple (bottom level), write three important facts about the Maya from reading “Facts about the Maya.” To do this open Paint and use the font tool (A).
Above is a photo of a temple at Chichén Itzá in the Yucatán Peninsula of southern Mexico.
3. Maya Writing
The Maya did not write using letters; they use symbols that represented words or syllables called glyphs. To the Maya, writing was considered sacred, a gift the gods gave to them.
· Go to http://maya.errolandanna.com/showAll.php. Open both tabs at the top of the glyphs.
· Find five glyphs about which you can create a story. Add your glyphs to level 2 of the pyramid (the next level up).
· Open Microsoft Word. Write your story, inserting the glyphs as graphics. Write at least one page. Save to your folder on the server. Later you will tell your story to the class, using your glyphs as visuals.
The Maya did not write using letters; they use symbols that represented words or syllables called glyphs. To the Maya, writing was considered sacred, a gift the gods gave to them.
· Go to http://maya.errolandanna.com/showAll.php. Open both tabs at the top of the glyphs.
· Find five glyphs about which you can create a story. Add your glyphs to level 2 of the pyramid (the next level up).
· Open Microsoft Word. Write your story, inserting the glyphs as graphics. Write at least one page. Save to your folder on the server. Later you will tell your story to the class, using your glyphs as visuals.
4. Your Name in Mayan Glyphs
· For fun go to www.ancientscripts.com/maya.html.
· Use the Paint drawing tool (pencil symbol) your name in Mayan glyphs. (Nicknames are acceptable.)
· Use Paint to draw a border around your name.
· Add your name in glyphs to level 3 of the pyramid.
5. Mayan Folktale
· Go to http://cantaremusic.com/stories/rabbit.htm and read “The Rabbit and the Crab” and “The Hare and the Tortoise” stories.
· Using Paint, draw a T-chart and compare elements of this story. Label one half of the chart similarities and the other half differences.
· On level 4 of the temple, insert a graphic of a crab and a rabbit. Include a sentence which tells the moral of the story. (See #4 below.)
· Answer these questions about the Mayan tale (rabbit and crab).
1. Which of the animals was the most honest? Why?
2. Predict what would have happened if the rabbit would have discovered the crab clinging to his tail?
3. Assess which animal is the cleverest and give evidence for your answer.
4. Determine a moral to this story. What lesson does the story teach?
· Choose a different ending for the story. In one-half page of writing, write your alternate ending. You must have an intro, body, and conclusion. Your writing will be scored using the state Writing and Scoring Guide.
6. Mayan Food
· Find an easy-to-prepare authentic Mayan recipe on the internet.
· Your recipe must include an indigenous plant of Mexico, such as: squash, beans, peppers (chiles), cocoa, avocado, corn, peanuts, and tomatoes.
· Write out your recipe. (Word document)
· Find a graphic of each ingredient if possible. Then insert them into your recipe.
· On level 5 of your temple, write the name of your recipe with one of the graphics.
· Prepare your food at home. Bring it to school on Mayan Foods Day.
On the due date for this project, you will present your temple graphic to the class and tell your glyph story Your presentation may be scored for a state informative speaking sample.
Due Date:
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· For fun go to www.ancientscripts.com/maya.html.
· Use the Paint drawing tool (pencil symbol) your name in Mayan glyphs. (Nicknames are acceptable.)
· Use Paint to draw a border around your name.
· Add your name in glyphs to level 3 of the pyramid.
5. Mayan Folktale
· Go to http://cantaremusic.com/stories/rabbit.htm and read “The Rabbit and the Crab” and “The Hare and the Tortoise” stories.
· Using Paint, draw a T-chart and compare elements of this story. Label one half of the chart similarities and the other half differences.
· On level 4 of the temple, insert a graphic of a crab and a rabbit. Include a sentence which tells the moral of the story. (See #4 below.)
· Answer these questions about the Mayan tale (rabbit and crab).
1. Which of the animals was the most honest? Why?
2. Predict what would have happened if the rabbit would have discovered the crab clinging to his tail?
3. Assess which animal is the cleverest and give evidence for your answer.
4. Determine a moral to this story. What lesson does the story teach?
· Choose a different ending for the story. In one-half page of writing, write your alternate ending. You must have an intro, body, and conclusion. Your writing will be scored using the state Writing and Scoring Guide.
6. Mayan Food
· Find an easy-to-prepare authentic Mayan recipe on the internet.
· Your recipe must include an indigenous plant of Mexico, such as: squash, beans, peppers (chiles), cocoa, avocado, corn, peanuts, and tomatoes.
· Write out your recipe. (Word document)
· Find a graphic of each ingredient if possible. Then insert them into your recipe.
· On level 5 of your temple, write the name of your recipe with one of the graphics.
· Prepare your food at home. Bring it to school on Mayan Foods Day.
On the due date for this project, you will present your temple graphic to the class and tell your glyph story Your presentation may be scored for a state informative speaking sample.
Due Date:
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