KS2 Maya - Beliefs

This unit of lessons immerses your pupils in the spiritual world of the ancient Maya through engaging outdoor exploration and historical enquiry. Children will bring ancient beliefs to life by investigating powerful deities, experiencing the traditional ball game, and collaborating to recreate a vibrant festival of worship.

Lesson Plans

Maya creation story

Immerse your pupils in the captivating Maya creation story from the Popol Vuh. This hands-on lesson plan uses storytelling and creative reflection to help children explore ancient beliefs and cultural diversity in a memorable way.

Learning objective:

To know the Maya creation story and explore what this suggests about the beliefs of the Maya people.

Maya gods and goddesses

Discover the powerful deities who ruled every aspect of Maya life, from the rising sun to the growing crops. This engaging outdoor lesson invites pupils to decode ancient symbols and use natural materials to create their own divine sculptures.

Learning objective:

To understand the roles and importance of Maya gods and goddesses and how this influenced daily life.

Playing pok-ta-pok

Explore the cultural significance of the ancient Maya ball game, Pok-ta-Pok, through this engaging outdoor history lesson. Your pupils will use historical enquiry skills to examine primary sources before heading outside to experience the sport for themselves.12

Learning objective:

To understand the importance and purpose of the game of Pok-ta-Pok in Maya society.

Understanding how Maya worshipped their gods

Deepen your pupils’ understanding of Maya culture by exploring the various ways this ancient society worshipped their gods. Through a mixture of historical enquiry and hands-on preparation, children will collaborate to recreate the vibrant atmosphere of a traditional Maya festival.

Learning objective:

To understand how and why the Maya worshipped their gods.

Before you get started

Safety and sustainability is super important!