Y5 Ancient Maya 1 - When and Where?

Ancient Maya - Lesson 1: Where and When? (Year 5)

Engage your pupils from the very start of your Ancient Maya topic with this clear and accessible introductory lesson. Designed for Year 5, this resource builds the essential geographical and chronological foundations pupils need before exploring Maya life, culture and achievements.

In this lesson, pupils will:

Understand the term civilisation

Locate Central America on a world map

Identify where the Ancient Maya civilisation settled, linking past and present-day countries

Place the Maya on a timeline, developing an understanding of the rise and fall of the Maya era

Compare Ancient Maya to Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greek chronology

What’s included:

A ready-to-use presentation with clear explanations and visual support

Map-based activities to reinforce geographical skills

Structured tasks that encourage discussion, map work, reasoning and historical thinking

Why teachers love this resource:

Perfect as the first lesson in an Ancient Maya unit

Saves planning time with clear objectives and logical progression

Meets UK National Curriculum requirements for history and geography

Accessible for a range of abilities and ideal for whole-class teaching