Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Maya
Take a deep dive into the art, architecture, archaeology, and history of the ancient Maya (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize) in this 10-week course.
Melissa Amaral, M.Ed.
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5.0
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What's included
10 live meetings
9 hrs 10 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Each lesson will include a brief handout (fill-in-the-blanks) to help summarize major points from the class. We review the answers at the beginning of the following class as a review. I can share additional resources between classes for students who want to learn more.Assessment
Students are assessed informally throughout class. I embed multiple-choice or true/false questions throughout my presentation to review important concepts and check for understanding. I also provide handouts and graphic organizers for students to take note of information learned and may ask students to share what they've written or drawn.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 9
Hello and welcome future Mayanists! In this course, we will travel through thousands of years of ancient Maya history, from their Preclassic origins through the Postclassic period, highlighting this magnificent civilization's art, architecture, writing, and achievements. We will pay special attention to the art and material culture of the ancient Maya by examining wall paintings, ceramics, and stone stelae and altars. Students will learn about the Maya writing and number systems and practice reading and writing some basic glyphs and symbols. Students will learn to recognize symbols associated with Maya royalty, city-states, and both the natural and supernatural worlds. By taking this course, students will have a deeper understanding of ancient Maya history as well as their intellectual and artistic advancements. They will also build their social studies vocabulary along with knowledge of words related to the ancient Maya and the field of archaeology more specifically. No prior knowledge is needed. My teaching style is conversational, collaborative, and encouraging. My goal is to motivate curiosity and enthusiasm about our subjects. I blend direct instruction with conversation, activities, and opportunities for students to apply what they learn. I like to show large images and ask students to make observations before sharing much information. I ask questions and challenge students to make connections and draw their own conclusions. I also encourage students to ask their own questions and be active participants in the learning process. I assess learning by asking open-ended questions and weaving pop quiz questions into the presentation.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to locate the geographic area inhabited by the ancient Maya (southeastern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador) and differentiate between the natural features of the Highland and Lowland areas.
Students will compare and contrast ancient Maya monumental architecture with that of other societies, past and present.
Students will be able to read and write the numbers 0-20 (and possibly beyond) in the Maya base-20 number system.
Students will be able to recognize ancient Maya symbols and imagery associated with Maya royalty, city-states, and both the natural and supernatural worlds.
Students will be able to describe the structure of ancient Maya society and the relationships between city-states.
Syllabus
10 Lessons
over 10 WeeksLesson 1:
Who Were the Ancient Maya and How Do We Know?
In our first week, we will introduce the ancient Maya civilization and its setting in Mexico and Central America. We will place the ancient Maya on a timeline of world history and recognize that millions of Maya people live today. We will discuss sources of information that teach us about the ancient Maya, including archaeological evidence, Maya texts (codices, monuments, and pottery), and accounts from the time of the Spanish Conquest and from modern-day Maya. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
The Earliest Maya
How did the Maya civilization come to be? We will travel back in time thousands of years to trace the early history of the Maya from hunter-gatherers to the development of permanent settlements and agriculture. We will explore some of the earliest Maya cities such as Kaminaljuyu, Nakbe, San Bartolo, and El Mirador, and examine evidence of their early political, religious, and economic institutions. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Breaking the Maya Code
How did the ancient Maya keep records? What remains of their writing? How was it deciphered, and can we read it all now?
This week, we will examine the ancient Maya writing system, which is made of about 800 glyphs. The glyphs can represent both logograms and syllables, and the Maya liked to mix and match for artistic effect. After learning about the structure of Maya writing and its relatively recent advances in decipherment, students will write an approximation of their names in Mayan glyphs. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
The Maya Calendars and Number System
Did you know that the ancient Maya were one of the few civilizations with a symbol for zero? Did the ancient Maya really believe the world was going to end in 2012? This week, students will learn to read and write the symbols for zero, one, and five, which can be combined to make any possible number! Students will also learn about the ways that the ancient Maya recorded time, including the 365-day Haab' calendar, the 260-day Tzolkʼin ritual calendar, the calendar round, and the Long Count. 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
There will be mentions of Maya warfare, human sacrifice, and ritual bloodletting, but we will not go in-depth on these topics.
Supply List
Handouts will be provided.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Sources include:
Coe, Michael D. (2012). Breaking the Maya Code. Third edition. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Coe, Michael D. and Houston, Stephen. (2015). The Maya. Ninth edition. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Coe, Michael D. and Van Stone, Mark. (2005). Reading the Maya Glyphs. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Martin, Simon. (2000). Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Miller, Mary Ellen. (2014). Maya Art and Architecture. Second edition. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Miller, Mary Ellen and Martin, Simon. (2004). Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Sharer, Robert J. (2006). The Ancient Maya. Sixth edition. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Sharer, Robert J. (2009). Daily Life of the Ancient Maya. Second edition. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Additional information and images from:
Dumbarton Oaks Museum: https://www.doaks.org/
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies (FAMSI): http://www.famsi.org/
Google Arts and Culture: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/exploring-the-maya-world
Maya Vase Database: https://www.mayavase.com/
Joined March, 2021
5.0
99reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
I double-majored in Anthropology and Archaeology at Brown University, where I took several courses related to the ancient Maya and Mesoamerica, including two semesters of Ancient Maya Writing, Mesoamerican Archaeology, The Classic Maya, and an independent study on the use of quatrefoils in ancient Maya art.Reviews
Live Group Course
$15
weekly1x per week, 10 weeks
55 min
Completed by 9 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-15
2-5 learners per class
