English National Curriculum - History

3. What did the Ancient Maya eat?

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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Keywords

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

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Emma Wilding

Emma is an experienced primary teacher with over twelve years of classroom experience and a strong background in curriculum leadership. She has led history within schools and contributed to curriculum development across academy trusts, supporting the design of coherent, knowledge-rich programmes that enable pupils to build understanding over time.

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Through her curriculum leadership, Emma has supported schools in preparing for successful Ofsted inspections, ensuring that subjects are well structured and effectively implemented. She is dedicated to designing learning experiences that spark curiosity and help pupils make meaningful connections between the past, the present, and the wider world.

Clare Faulkner

Clare is an experienced primary teacher with extensive experience across the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. She has a strong background in curriculum design and development, contributing to programmes across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2, ensuring they are engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically effective.

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Required Resources

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?’.

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