English National Curriculum - History
Mission Objectives
Name foods that the Maya ate and farmed
Explain the importance of specific foods to the Maya
Evaluate the impact of one of these crops failing
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Words and meanings to learn
slash-and-burn
a farming method involving clearing land by cutting down and burning trees to create fertile soil for crops
cultivate
to prepare and use land for growing crops
cacao
the seed from a tree that is used to make chocolate and cocoa
maize
a plant that grows a yellow seed that can be ground into flour (also called sweetcorn)
raised fields
a farming method where islands are built in wetlands to grow crops
Resources: Pens and pencils, flipchart paper notes about the rainforest from Lesson 1. Optional: Food to taste, e.g., tropical fruits, cacao nibs, sweetcorn and corn tortillas
Research tool: DE has provided a selection of primary and secondary resources about maize and cacao beans.
Support Handout (1): This handout provides a structured, scaffolded space for children to write their arguments.
Core Handout (2): This handout provides a structured space for children to write their arguments.
Stretch Handout (3): This handout provides a space for children to write their arguments independently.
Challenge Handout (4): This handout provides space for children to write a response to the question ‘What might have happened to Maya civilisation if either maize or cacao crops failed for several years in a row?’.
Expert film
Mission assignment film
Archaeologist
An archaeologist studies the past by finding and examining objects left by people long ago. They ...
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