Maya - Secrets of the Rainforest
08 Aug 17:30Duty six :
| Start | Time | Activity | Requirements | Instructions | Scouter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mayan civilisation started around 2000 BC and developed impressive cities, a complex writing system, a detailed calendar, and made significant contributions to art, architecture, mathematics, and astronomy. | |||||
| 08 Aug 17:30 | 5 | Activities : Opening |
Register, beans, flag, totem and skin |
Grand Howl Flag Break Register Inspection - belts and shoes |
Akela |
| The Maya civilisation was centered in the tropical rainforests and valleys of modern-day Guatemala (and Mexico, Belize and Honduras). Rainy forests have a very special sound. | |||||
| 08 Aug 17:35 | 5 | Game : Rain Dance | Cubs run around making rain noises (shakers and cardboard). Gradually increase intensity, then slowly decrease. Let them first come up with sound effect ideas and then put it together. They can run around whilst making the rain sounds. | Mang | |
| Maya death masks, often made of jade and elaborate in design, were funerary objects intended to protect the deceased during their journey to the afterlife. | |||||
| 08 Aug 17:40 | 20 | Crafts : Masks |
Paper plates Paint Paintbrushes Wool Paper Crayons |
Cubs to make masks to finish to cover their silver wolf advancement (jungle book mask) or as part of their Masks badge i.e. 1. Animal mask 2. African mask 3. 3 designs for masks |
Baloo |
| Used in rituals, ceremonies, and even in burials, these mask allowed individuals to transform into gods, animals, or revered ancestors. | |||||
| 08 Aug 18:00 | 10 | Activities : Jungle dance |
make animal masks for characters |
Cubs to make up a jungle dance with the animal characters |
Mang |
| The Maya were the only civilisation in the Americas, and only one of five cultures in the whole world to develop a fully-fledged writing system! | |||||
| 08 Aug 18:10 | 5 | Activities : Juice and biscuits |
Juice and biscuit break |
Akela | |
| Music was important in ancient Maya life. A variety of instruments, including trumpets and whistles made from wood, leather, clay and shells were played. | |||||
| 08 Aug 18:15 | 25 | Activities : Maya Bird Whistle |
Clay – 3 balls of clay each about the size of a golf ball 2 Popsicle sticks – cut off the rounded end on one to make it square Metal and wooden tools for making textures Pencil Water and small natural sponge Piece of wood – for shaping thumb pots
|
1. Make 2 thumb pots with the balls of clay. Flatten the top edges. Use your piece of wood to shape the pots by patting them, smooth the surface of the pots as much as you can.  2. Scratch into the top edges and wet with some water or slip (wet clay). Join the 2 thumb pots together, smoothing over the join so it can’t be seen.  3. Gently pull the clay upwards at one end to make a neck using your fingers, and make a tail shape at the other end, then cut it off square. Smooth the surface with a bit of water (not too much!) and your fingers.  4. Take some clay from the third ball of clay and make a head and beak, press this firmly onto the neck. Model and smooth, adding more clay if needed to make a nice shape.  5. Make a wedge shape about 2 cm x 1 cm for the mouthpiece of the whistle.  6. Wet the wider end of the wedge and stick it firmly on to the tail of the bird. Then take a popsicle stick and carefully push it right through the centre of the wedge into the body.  7. This is the hard bit! Take the popsicle stick with squared-off end and push it in underneath the body at an angle of 45 degrees towards the tail until it hits the first stick. Make an opening.  8. Take out the sticks, and clean up the opening very carefully with a pottery knife or tool, making the hole a bit larger. Blow through the mouthpiece and see if it whistles, if not, then push the sticks in again and make sure the edges of the clay are very clean and sharp.  9. Decorate the bird by drawing lines with the pencil and pressing into the clay with the wood and metal tools. Add some wings and feathers if you like! If you are using clay, leave your whistle to dry; then it can be fired and you can paint it with some bright colours.  |
Akela |
| The Maya had a special ball game that they played. It is really difficult though since you can't use your hands, head or feet. | |||||
| 08 Aug 18:40 | 15 | Game : Pok-ta-Pok |
The court is divided into two halves by a line perpendicular to its long axis, and opposing teams faced each other across this dividing line. The Maya wore heavy body padding and belts when playing this game. The ball; a rubber sphere which is depicted in various sizes, could be hit with the elbows, hips and knees, but never the head, hands or feet. We are going to use a soccer ball. A point is scored for one team when the opposing team fails to return the ball before it bounces a second time, or when the ball reaches the opposing end zone. How to play: Using the hall or the playground, divide the area in half by a line perpendicular to its long axis. Get into two teams of 5. The opposing teams will then face each other across the divide. Agree on the point system that is a point can be scored when the ball reaches the opposing end zone. Agree on penalties too, for example when the opposing team lets the ball dribble and it has to be picked up and thrown again, or a team hits the ball with their head, hands or feet. Play Pok-ta-Pok! Remember the ball can only be hit with the elbows, hips and knees, never the hands, head or feet. |
Baloo | |
| 08 Aug 18:55 | 5 | Activities : Closing |
Totem, Skin Badges, certificates |
Announcements Badge handouts Grand Howl Flag Down Prayer Dismiss |
Akela |
Programme prepared on 16 Jan 12:21