Learning objective
- To make inferences about the ancient Maya from the remains of their cities.
Success criteria
- I can identify landmarks found in Maya cities.
- I
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National curriculum
Curriculum
History
The National curriculum for history
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Cross-curricular links
English
Reading comprehension
Pupils should
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Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Recap and recall
Show the Presentation: 3, 2, 1 and hand out whiteboards and pens (one each). Ask the children to write down three things they have learned about the ancient Maya, two things they have found interesting and one question they still have about them.
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Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing extra support:
- Should use the example and word bank on the slide to help them make inferences during the Main event.
- Could explain their ideas verbally rather than in writing, allowing them to focus on discussion and reasoning
Pupils working at greater depth:
- Should make more detailed inferences to explain what the evidence suggests about Maya society during the Main event.
- Could link landmarks to draw wider conclusions during the Wrapping up.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding can:
- Identify key landmarks in a Maya city.
- Use clues
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Vocabulary definitions
-
archaeological remains
Physical evidence (like tools, buildings and bones) from the past that have been found.
-
city state
A large, independent city which governs the surrounding area.
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In this unit
Assessment - History Y4: The ancient Maya
Lesson 1: How did the ancient Maya settle in a rainforest?
Lesson 2: What do remains tell us about ancient Maya cities?
Lesson 3: What did the ancient Maya believe?
Lesson 4: How did the Maya reflect world beliefs in their inventions?
Lesson 5: How important was cacao to the ancient Maya?
Lesson 6: What caused the decline of the ancient Maya cities?
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 5th March, 2026
Assessment – History Y4: How did the achievements of the ancient Maya impact their society and beyond?
Assessment quiz, Skills catcher and Knowledge catcher for use at the start and/or end of...
Lesson 4: How did the Maya reflect world beliefs in their inventions?
Acting as archivists, the children explore and record some of the inventions of the ancient...
Lesson 1: How did the ancient Maya settle in a rainforest?
Exploring where the ancient Maya settled, the challenges of rainforest life and the solutions they...
Lesson 6: What caused the decline of the ancient Maya cities?
Investigating the end of the Classic period Maya city states.