HISTORY'S HISTORIES
You are history. We are the future.
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Unit Lessons
    • Early Humans >
      • Early Humans Ardipithecus and Australopithecus >
        • Early Humans Activity
      • Early Humans Homo Habilis
      • Early Humans Homo Erectus
      • Early Humans Homo Neanderthalensis
      • Early Humans Homo Sapien
      • Early Human Videos
    • Mesopotamia >
      • Mesopotamia Geography >
        • Mesopotamia Geography Activity
      • Mesopotamia Early Pioneers >
        • Mesopotamia Early Pioneers Activity
        • Mesopotamia Early Pioneers Self-Test
      • Mesopotamia 5 Traits of Civilization >
        • Mesopotamia 5 Traits Activity
      • Mesopotamia Sumerian City-States >
        • Mesopotamia Sumerian City-States Activity
      • Mesopotamia Cuneiform >
        • Mesopotamia Cuneiform Activity
      • Mesopotamia The Epic of Gilgamesh >
        • Mesopotamia Epic of Gilgamesh Activity
      • Mesopotamia Daily Life in Sumer
      • Mesopotamia Religion >
        • Mesopotamia Religion Activity
      • Mesopotamia Daily Life in Babylon >
        • Mesopotamia Babylon Activity
      • Mesopotamia Daily Life in Assyria
      • Mesopotamia Videos
    • China >
      • China Geography >
        • China Geography Activity
      • China Early Dynasties
      • China Three Philosophies
      • China Qin Dynasty >
        • China Qin Dynasty Activity
      • China Han Dynasty >
        • China Han Dynasty Activity
      • China Silk Road >
        • China Silk Road Activity
      • China Project >
        • Silk Road Instructions >
          • Silk Road Caravans
          • Your Silk Road Adventure
        • Silk Road Links >
          • Silk Road City Links
          • Silk Road Religions
          • Silk Road Travelers
        • Silk Road Souvenirs
        • Silk Road Trade Routes & Transportation >
          • Silk Road Overland Route >
            • Silk Road Transportation: Overland Route
            • Silk Road Transportation: Maritime Route
          • Silk Road: Maritime Route
        • 2021 Silk Road Travels
      • China Videos
    • India >
      • India Geography >
        • India Geography Activity
      • India 5 Traits of Civilization >
        • India 5 Traits of Civilization Activity
      • India Indus Valley Civilization >
        • India Indus Valley Civilization Activity
      • India Aryan Civilization >
        • India Aryan Civilization Activity
      • India Buddhism >
        • India Buddhism Activity
      • India Mauryan Empire >
        • India Mauryan Empire Activity
      • India Gupta Empire >
        • India Gupta Empire Activity
      • India Videos
    • Greece >
      • Greece Geography >
        • Greece Geography Activity
      • Greece The Minoans >
        • Greece The Minoans Activity
      • Greece The Age of Heroes >
        • Greece The Age of Heroes Activity
      • Greece The Rise of the City-State: Athens >
        • Greece The Rise of Athens Activity >
          • The Trial of Socrates
      • Greece The Rise of the City-State: Sparta >
        • Greece The Rise of Sparta Activity
      • Greece The Persian Wars >
        • Greece Persian Wars Activity
      • Greece Videos
    • Egypt >
      • Egypt Geography & the Gift of the Nile >
        • Egypt Geography Activity
      • Egypt The Double Crown and the Three Kingdoms >
        • Egypt the Double Crown and the Three Kingdoms Activity
      • Egypt Hieroglyphs and the Rosetta Stone >
        • Egypt Hieroglyphics Activity
      • Egypt Religion, Gods, and Goddesses >
        • Egyptian Gods & Goddesses Activity
      • Egypt Burial Practices >
        • Egypt Burial Practices & the Afterlife Activity
      • Egypt Tombs >
        • Egypt Tombs Activity
      • Egypt Temples >
        • Egypt Temples Activity
      • Egypt Life on the Nile: Jobs >
        • Egypt Life on the Nile Activity
      • Egypt Project: Gift of the Nile Tour >
        • Egypt Project Links >
          • Egypt Project Cities
          • Egypt Project Temples & Tourist Sites
          • Egypt Project People
          • Egypt Project Souvenirs
      • Egypt Videos
    • Rome >
      • Rome Geography >
        • Rome Geography Activity
      • Rome Early Settlers >
        • Rome Early Settlers Activity
      • Rome The Roman Republic >
        • Roman Republic Activity
      • Rome From Republic to Empire >
        • Roman Empire Activity
      • Rome Life in Ancient Rome >
        • Rome Daily Life Activity
      • Rome Early Christianity >
        • Rome Early Christianity Activity
      • Rome The Byzantine Empire >
        • Byzantine Empire Activity
      • Rome Barbarians Inside the Gates
      • Rome The Legacy of Rome >
        • Rome's Legacy Activity
      • Rome Videos
    • The Americas >
      • The Maya >
        • Maya Geography >
          • Maya Geography Activity
        • Maya Master Builders >
          • Maya Master Builders Activity
        • Maya Writing >
          • Maya Writing Activity
        • Maya Religion >
          • Maya Religion Activity
        • Maya Daily Life >
          • Maya Daily Life Activity
        • Maya Society >
          • Maya Society Activity
        • Maya Government >
          • Maya Government Activity
        • Maya Achievements and Inventions >
          • Maya Achievements and Inventions Activity
        • Maya The Collapse of Maya Civilization >
          • Maya The Collapse of Maya Civilization Activity
      • The Inca >
        • Inca Geography >
          • Inca Geography Activity
        • Inca Early Settlers >
          • Inca Early Settlers Activity
        • Inca The Sapa Inca >
          • Inca Sapa Inca Activity
        • Inca Government >
          • Inca Government Activity
        • Inca Daily Life >
          • Inca Daily Life Activity
        • Inca Religion >
          • Inca Religion Activity
        • Inca Science, Innovation & Technology >
          • Inca Science, Innovation & Technology Activity
      • The Americas Videos
      • The Americas Student Tutorials
  • Important Stuff
    • Syllabus
    • Student Jobs
    • Get Good Grades
    • IF Project
    • Essential Themes
    • Research Tips and Tricks
    • Writing a Strong Paragraph
    • Current Events
    • Game of Chrons
  • H.I.T. Picks of the Week!
  • Game of Chrons Leaderboard
  • 2020 Mesopotamia Projects
  • 2022 Silk Road Travels
    • Silk Road Randomizers
  • The Achilles Rap Decider
  • The Athens Vs. Sparta Decider
  • Create A Greek City State
  • 2022 Greek Olympics
  • The Age of Explorers Decider
  • ...with liberty and justice for all Decider

Maya Master Builders Activity
It's all Part of the Plan

Picture
Now that you know a bit more about the great city-states created by the Maya, I want you to put your knowledge to work. Think about the common features found in each Maya city-state and then draw up a plan for a brand-new Maya city, one of your own design.

Before beginning to create your city-plan, make a plan. You are welcome to further your knowledge by completing some focused online research about Maya city-states. Then, think about location. Maya city-states were spread across a wide area of Central America. What are the natural features of the landscape of your new Maya city-state? Think about the size of your city-state. Location and size - large or small - for instance, may determine how you source or build your city's water supply, as well as the number of cenotes or temples you include in your Maya city-state plan. 

While planning your city, think about scale and how the different elements of a Maya city-state fit together. When you are ready to begin sketching, please grab two sheets of 11" X 17" paper. On the first sheet draw your city plan. Be sure to include and label all of the city-plan elements listed below. On your second sheet of paper, complete a sketch of at least one part of your new city. You may work with one partner on this activity.

Please include all of the following and label them on your city's plan: temple(s), pyramid temple(s), palace, plaza(s), cenote(s), ball court(s), marketplace, stela (stelae).
Picture

Site Seeing

Maya city-states were magnificent. And, while they all shared common characteristics, the features of the landscape and the its access to natural resources and to other city-states would have helped determine each city's own unique qualities.

For this part of the activity, you will work with partners to research a major Maya city-state and collaborate to create a travel brochure for it. Your travel brochure should highlight the special features of the city-state you choose.
With your partners, choose from one of the cities listed below.
  1. Coba
  2. Copan
  3. Calakmul
  4. Carakol
  5. Chichen Itza
  6. El Pilar
  7. Palenque
  8. Tikal
  9. Tulum
  10. Uxmal
​If you can't make up your mind, test your luck and use the widget to the right to decide for you.
Picture
MAYA CITY-STATE BROCHURE REQUIREMENTS:
  • Brief summary of the city-state's setting, with highlights of important places
  • Location, including a map
  • Geographical features (mountains, rivers, ocean, for example)
  • Historic sites and landmarks
  • Things to do, including festivals, entertainment, recreation and outdoor activities
  • Climate and overall weather conditions
  • Arts and culture, including unique political, religious and social details
  • Food
  • Pictures/Graphics
  • Quotes from previous "visitors" to your city-state.

​Before you begin to design your your city-state brochure, as team you should divide up research duties. Each team member will post notes and research information on the brochure organizer provided. There is enough work to share. Every group member is responsible for completing their assigned tasks.
Picture
Things to Do: Photos need to be gathered and short articles and photo captions need to be assigned and written.
  • Articles should have a good lead sentence that draws the reader into the adventure of visiting your city-state. Include at least three details in your short article and vary your sentence structure to make your writing more interesting. Tie up your writing with a solid concluding sentence that leaves the reader/traveler wanting to find out more. Before posting to your brochure, all work needs to be revised and edited. Be sure to check spelling and punctuation.
  • ​Photos should relate to the topics of your research. Include 5-10 photos in your brochure. Each photo of set of photos should have a caption and contain information not included or evident in the photo(s).
  • Once a team member has completed his or her individual tasks, work may begin on the final team product. Work from every team member must be included.
Proudly powered by Weebly