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El Misterio de la Matemática Maya - Escape Room (Spanish Immersion)

Discover the Mesoamerican ball game and Maya mythology, and try to escape from the Underworld by solving Maya Math problems! Upper intermediate & advanced Spanish speakers welcome! [fun, geography, story, puzzle, sport, Waldorf, bilingual]
WONDERSTAND by Ms. Karin
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(421)
Star Educator
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

US Grade 2 - 5
Intermediate - Advanced Level
This is the Spanish-language version of my popular course, “Maya Math Escape Room.” It is a full immersion course taught by a native Spanish speaker. It is designed for students with an upper intermediate to advanced level of Spanish. Students with basic reading abilities will manage completing the escape room as the emphasis is on the Maya numbers. Some students choose to complete the escape room alone on Google Forms while others can work with me in a small group.

This fun class provides an interactive exploration of Maya mythology. At the same time, it offers an entertaining challenge which will help the student develop flexibility in mathematical thinking.

The Mesoamerican ballgame might have been the first team sport ever played 3,000 years ago. It represented the battle between the forces of light and darkness, a concept central to Maya civilization.  

Students will listen to the story of the Hero Twins who descend to the Underworld (Xibalbá) to play a fateful ballgame. They are confronted with many obstacles and pulled into the deceits of the Lords of the Underworld. To escape the Underworld, students will complete an Escape Room by solving Maya Math problems.

Students will learn about the intricate caves and water holes (cenotes) of the Mesoamerican region which were viewed as windows to the Underworld. They will learn Mayan numbers up to 40 and understand how the notation represents a vigesimal (base 20) positional numeral system.


PLEASE NOTE:
The stories will make mention of death and rebirth/transformation in the context of the cyclical transition of day and night. Students will follow a link and work independently on Google Forms to solve the Escape Room. There will be no breakout rooms. 

The preceding class “¡Que Delicia! The Story of Chocolate” introduced the Maya number system. In this class, they will learn the Maya numerals from 20 to 40. If students are comfortable with the concept of place value and can assimilate a new mathematical concept in a short time, they are welcome to enroll in this class without having taken the prerequisite course.  


***If you don't see a convenient class time, please write to me***

Learning Goals

Studying myths can be a first step towards appreciating ancient cultures. Students will learn about Maya mythology, the Mesoamerican ballgame and the geography of the region. They will learn about the Underworld as the Maya might have imagined it. The Maya Math challenges will invite them to be flexible in their thinking, as they work with a base 20 numeral system. 

This is a full immersion course taught by a native Spanish speaker.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Mythology will be presented in a historical context. While presenting the myths and beliefs of the Maya people, there will be mention of gods, Lords of the Underworld and trickery (related to caves, bats, death, ashes and rebirth).
Language of Instruction
Spanish
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined July, 2020
5.0
421reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Ms. Karin
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Ms. Karin
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Queen's University
Ms. Karin
I taught at Guatemala’s first Waldorf School located in an isolated indigenous Mayan village on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Over the three years I lived on Lake Atitlan, I developed a good understanding of the local cultures which today allows me to bring Mayan mythology and imagery to the classroom. I adapted to a school play the stories of the "Popol Vuh", a Quiché Maya narrative about creation relayed down orally for many generations. This includes the story of the Hero Twins descending to Xibalbá. My grade 4/5 class presented the play to the village community. 

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Live One-Time Class
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$14

per class
Meets once
50 min

Completed by 19 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-12
2-6 learners per class

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