Today’s Walking Classroom podcast talks about the Maya Civilization that began almost 2000 years ago. The Maya were an advanced civilization that lived in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico as well as present-day Guatemala and Belize. The Maya created a complicated calendar system based on advances in astronomy. Recent research suggests that the fall of the Mayan Civilization had to do with changes in climate and destruction to the ecosystem.
Character Value: Respecting nature
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Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RH.6-8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
The Maya Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
The Maya Slide Deck
Features interesting facts about Mayans. (**Contains one graphic drawing of a human sacrifice**)
Discusses how archeologists learn about civilizations like the Maya.
Explore Chichen Itza, an ancient Mayan city, in this National Geographic video.
Answer questions about the Maya to play Tic-Tac-Toe.
Build a pyramid similar to those the Maya might have built.
Search for terms relating to the Maya.
Design your own Mayan-style hieroglyphs in this Kids Discover activity.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Social Studies
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Native Cultures