Teachers.netAmazing Mayan Inventions You Can Build Yourself
Amazing Mayan Inventions You Can Build Yourself introduces readers ages 9-12 to the world of the ancient Maya, the most advanced and mysterious civilization of the Americas. From ceremonial masks to hieroglyphics, calendars to musical instruments, Amazing Mayan Inventions You Can Build Yourself gives readers today a chance to experience how the Maya lived, cooked, worshiped, entertained themselves, and interacted with their neighbors through hands-on building projects that use common household supplies. Detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for creating each project combine with historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and trivia for the real-life models of each project. Together they give kids a first-hand look at daily life in ancient Central America.
—Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT "This would be a great addition to a unit on Central American history for upper elementary, middle school and junior high students."
"a fascinating exploration of the ancient Maya people…packed with colorful details..."
—The Buffalo News, February 15, 2007 (circulation 9,000)
"a wealth of data…"
—Children's Literature
"Amazing Maya Inventions You Can Build Yourself by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt, skillfully lends historical facts with detailed instructions for relicating the mask, hieroglyphs, calendars, and musical instruments fashioned by the ancient Maya."
—Calliope Magazine May/June 2008
Books
Ancona, George. Mayeros: A Yucatec Maya Family. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1997.
Coulter, Laurie. Secrets in Stone: All About Maya Hieroglyphs. Ontario: Little, Brown and Company, 2001.
Day, Nancy. Your Travel Guide to Ancient Mayan Civilization. Minneapolis, MN: Runestone Press, 2001.
Gerson, Mary-Joan. People of Corn: A Mayan Story. Ontario: Little, Brown and Company, 1995.
Kallen, Stuart. The Mayans. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 2001.
Laughton, Timothy. The Maya: Life, Myth and Art . London: Duncan Baird Publishers,1998.
Lourie, Peter. The Mystery of the Maya: Uncovering the Lost City of Palenque. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mill Press, Inc., 2001.
Macdonald, Fiona. Step into the Aztec and Mayan Worlds.
London: Lorenze Books, 1998.
Morton, Lyman. Yucatán Cook Book: Recipes and Tales. Santa Fe, NM: Red Crane Books, Inc., 1996.
Netzley, Patricia. Maya Civilization. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 2002.
Orr, Tamra. The Maya. Danbury, CT: Watts Library, 2005.
Polin, C. J. The Story of Chocolate. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2005.
Sharer, Robert J. Daily Life in Maya Civilization. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996.
Schuman, Michael A. Mayan and Aztec Mythology. Berkeley Heights, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2001.
Whitlock, Ralph. Everyday Life of the Maya. New York: Dorsett Press, 1976.
Web Sites
CultureFocus.Com: www.culturefocus.com/guatemala.htm. Beautiful photos of Maya ruins.
Florida International University Libraries: www.fiu.edu/~library/internet/subjects/maya.html. Tons of information on Maya history, culture, and inventions.
Jaguar Sun: www.jaguar-sun.com. This is a great web site by Jeeni Criscenzo, author of a novel about the Maya called Place of Mirrors.
Mayan Kids: http://mayankids.com/mmkglossary/!glossary_a.htm. Lots of information,including an extensive glossary of Maya words.
Native American Indian Resources: www.kstrom.net/isk/maya/mayastor.html. Visit here to read traditional Maya tales.
PBS: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/maya/world.html.
Science Museum of Minnesota’s Maya Adventure: www.smm.org/sln/ma/chiapas.html. Information and drawings of clothing worn by the Chiapas Maya currently living in Mexico. Many links to other Maya information.
Rain Sticks are fun to make and fun to play with. They make a beautiful sound.
