History - ancient Maya (Upper KS2) Lesson 3 BUNDLE

**This lesson introduces a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history - the ancient Maya civilization. **

Included in the bundle:
-Lesson Slides
-Student Reader
-Source Pack

This is Lesson 3 of a series of four, knowledge-rich curriculum lessons.

Each lesson combines an accessible student reader with high-quality historical sources, explicit vocabulary instruction and regular retrieval opportunities.

Activities encourage pupils to think like historians: examining evidence, making inferences, asking questions and connecting new learning to prior knowledge.

Lesson 3 introduces the following key knowledge:

-The Maya ball game was an important part of Maya society.

-It was played in purpose-built ballcourts in major cities, and they were often found at the centre of cities.

-It is believed players were not allowed to use their hands or feet.

-There are ruins of ballcourts still at Copán and Chichén Itzá.

-The Popol Wuj (poh-POHL wooh) means Book of the Community/People and includes stories about creation, gods, ancestors and rulers from Maya traditions.

-Archaeological evidence helps us understand how the game was played, including the use of a heavy rubber ball, protective clothing and particular parts of the body.

-The ball game had religious and ceremonial significance, with evidence connecting it to sacrifice and Maya ideas about life, death and renewal.

-Historians compare different types of evidence and recognise their limitations, including using the later Popol Wuj alongside Classic Maya carvings, paintings and inscriptions.