| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Art |
| What topic | Mayans |
| What length (min) | 60 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 6 |
| Class size | 28 |
| What curriculum | uk |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
Mayans
Year 6
Art
28 students
60 minutes
This lesson corresponds with the UK National Curriculum for Art, encouraging creativity while understanding cultural influences.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Mayans | 10 min | Introduction to the Mayan civilization. Show images of their art and discuss its significance. |
| 2 | Art Analysis | 15 min | Analyze examples of Mayan art styles. Discuss common motifs and techniques used. Students will take notes. |
| 3 | Distribution of Cards | 5 min | Hand out printable cards to each student. Explain the prompts and how to use them during the lesson. |
| 4 | Creative Activity | 20 min | Students create their own artwork inspired by the Mayan style using prompts from the cards. Use available art supplies. |
| 5 | Collection of Cards | 5 min | Randomly collect cards from students to review their responses without presentations. |
| 6 | Conclusion and Reflection | 5 min | Discuss what was learned about Mayan culture and the artwork created. Encourage students to think about their next art project. |
Students will complete a reflective piece on what they learned about the Mayans and how it inspired their artwork. This will be submitted in the following lesson. No presentations will be required.
"Good morning, class! Today, we are going to explore a fascinating civilization known as the Mayans. They left a significant mark on history through their culture, architecture, and art. Let’s begin by looking at some images of their artwork."
[Show images of Mayan art on the projector or Smartboard]
"As you can see, the Mayan civilization created beautiful and intricate art pieces. They often depicted scenes from their daily lives, mythology, and nature. Can anyone share what they notice about these images? What emotions or stories do you see represented?"
[Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to respond.]
"Fantastic observations! Understanding their art helps us see how the Mayans viewed the world around them and their place in it."
"Next, we'll take a closer look at specific examples of Mayan art styles. I will show you a few pieces, and as we go through them, I want you to take notes on common motifs and techniques used in each."
[Project images of selected Mayan art pieces, highlighting specific features.]
"Pay attention to the colors, shapes, and themes. What do you think is the significance of these motifs? Why might they have been important to the Mayans?"
[Encourage students to discuss their notes with a partner for a minute.]
"Great job! Remember, these elements of art tell us a story about the Mayans. Keep these observations in mind as we move on to our next activity."
"Now, it’s time to get a little hands-on! I will be handing out these printable cards to each of you. On these cards, you'll find prompts to help guide your creative process."
[Distribute the cards to students.]
"Take a moment to read through your cards. Each prompt will challenge you to think about the themes and styles we've discussed today. Does everyone understand how to use these? If you have any questions, please raise your hand!"
[Ensure all students are clear about using the prompts.]
"Alright, with that done, let’s get our creative juices flowing!"
"For this activity, you will create your own artwork inspired by the Mayan style! You can use the prompts from your cards to help guide your ideas. We have colored pencils, markers, and printing paper for you to use."
[Distribute art supplies and give students some time to get started.]
"I’ll be walking around to offer help and feedback. Remember to incorporate some of the motifs and techniques you've learned about! You have 20 minutes, so let's get started!"
[Give students time to create their artwork, moving among them to assist as needed.]
"Keep working on your pieces! I can't wait to see the creativity you’re all putting into this."
"Time’s up, everyone! I would like to collect your cards now. Please pass them forward. Don’t worry, I’m not taking names, and this isn’t for a grade. I just want to review your ideas without any pressure."
[Randomly collect the cards from students after ensuring all artwork is set aside temporarily.]
"Thank you so much! Your thoughts are very valuable, and I’ll be using them to help guide our future discussions."
"To wrap up our lesson today, I want us to reflect on what we've learned about the Mayan civilization and the art you created. What stood out to you about their culture?"
[Encourage students to share their reflections—both on what they learned and how it inspired their artwork.]
"Excellent insights! Art ties us to cultures around the world, and drawing inspiration from others can spark our creativity. For homework, I’d like you to write a reflective piece about what you learned and how it inspired your own artwork. We’ll discuss your reflections in our next lesson. Thank you for your great work today, and I look forward to seeing your thoughts!"
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: An array of colourful Mayan art} | - Introduction to the Mayans - Significant mark on history through culture, architecture, and art - Discussing emotions and stories in their artwork |
| 2 | {Image: Specific examples of Mayan art} | - Closer analysis of Mayan art styles - Notable motifs and techniques - Importance of colours, shapes, and themes |
| 3 | {Image: Printable prompt cards for students} | - Distribution of creative prompts - Encouragement to read and understand the prompts - Clarification on how to use the prompts |
| 4 | {Image: Students creating their artwork} | - Hands-on creative activity - Use of prompts to inspire artwork - Incorporating learnt motifs and techniques - Encouragement and feedback from teacher |
| 5 | {Image: Students sharing in a classroom} | - Collection of cards for reflection - Sharing insights on Mayan culture and personal artwork - Homework reflection piece on learning and inspiration |
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are some common motifs found in Mayan art? | |
| How did the Mayans express their daily lives through their artwork? | |
| What emotions do you think are conveyed in the Mayan art pieces we analysed? | |
| Why were certain themes important to the Mayan civilization? | |
| What techniques did the Mayans use in their artwork? | |
| How does the colour palette used in Mayan art influence the overall message? | |
| Can you describe a specific piece of Mayan art and its significance? | |
| What did you find most inspiring about the Mayan style for your own creative work? | |
| How can we see the influence of nature in Mayan artwork? | |
| In what ways does art serve as a reflection of culture, using the Mayans as an example? | |
| What aspects of Mayan culture surprised you during our exploration today? | |
| How do you think art can help us understand ancient civilizations like the Mayans? |