Medium:

Paper Mache 

Feedback/critique work

Why did the Ancient Maya make masks, and what were they used for?The Ancient Maya made masks for important events like religious ceremonies, festivals, and burials. These masks often showed gods, animals, or powerful symbols and were worn by kings, priests, or dancers. They were used to express beliefs, show status, and connect with the spiritual world. Studying these masks helps us understand how art was linked to culture and meaning in Maya society.

What is paper mâché and how is it used in 3D art?Paper mâché is a sculptural technique where layers of paper are combined with glue or paste to build solid, lightweight forms. Artists use it to create masks, models, and other 3D constructions by shaping the paper over a frame or mould. Once dry, it can be painted, decorated, and adapted in creative ways. Paper mâché helps artists learn how to plan, build, and finish three-dimensional artworks using everyday materials.

Paper mâché – A method of making 3D art by layering paper with glue or paste to create a solid form.

Sculpture – A three-dimensional piece of art that can be built, carved, or shaped.

Structure – The shape or framework that supports a 3D artwork.

Layer – A single sheet or coat of material; paper mâché is made by adding several layers.

Form – The overall shape and design of a 3D object in art.

How was life in Mayan society different from life in Britain at the same time?Around AD 900, the Mayans had developed writing, mathematics, astronomy, and complex religious beliefs. Their cities were carefully planned and built from stone, with palaces, pyramids, and ball courts. In contrast, Anglo-Saxon Britain had mostly wooden buildings, no writing system of its own, and a different way of ruling and living. Comparing these societies helps us understand how cultures can develop in very different ways.

What questions can we ask about Mayan civilisation and why it changed?Historians ask why many great Mayan cities were abandoned after AD 900 and what caused these changes. Some think it was because of drought, war, or food shortages. Asking questions about change, cause and consequence helps us investigate why the past happened the way it did. It also shows that civilisations can rise and fall for many different reasons.

What does Mayan art and culture tell us about their civilisation, and how do we learn from it?The Mayans created impressive art and architecture, including temples, carved stone panels, painted pottery, and decorative masks. Masks were made from jade, wood, and stone, and were used in religious ceremonies, burials, and performances to represent gods, animals, or important people. These cultural objects help us understand Mayan beliefs, values, and daily life, especially since many of their books were destroyed by the Spanish. By studying Mayan art and artefacts, we learn about their civilisation in ways that are different from how we study British history.

Civilisation – A large, organised group of people with cities, laws, art, writing, and religion.

Temple – A special building used for religious ceremonies and worship, often built high in Mayan cities.

Artefact – An object made by people in the past, like masks or pottery, that helps us learn about their lives.

Compare – To look at two things (like the Mayans and Anglo-Saxons) and see how they are similar or different.

Change – What happens over time in history; Mayan cities changed and many were later abandoned.

WOW! Practical Introduction
Classify Me!

Pupils each receive a card showing a living thing (e.g. animal, plant, fungus) and move around the room to group themselves based on shared characteristics. Once in groups, they discuss what features they have in common and how they differ from other groups, helping them explore the concept of classification through observable traits.

How are living things classified into broad groups?Living things are classified into broad groups based on common observable characteristics and their similarities and differences. These groups include micro-organisms, plants, and animals.

What are some key characteristics used to classify plants and animals?Plants and animals are classified based on specific characteristics, such as whether they have a backbone (vertebrates vs. invertebrates), their method of reproduction (seeds vs. spores), or their structures (e.g., leaves, flowers, or fur).

Why is classification important in biology?Classification helps scientists organize and understand the diversity of life by grouping organisms with similar characteristics. This makes it easier to study, compare, and understand how living things are related.

Classification – Grouping living things based on their features and characteristics.

Characteristic – A feature or quality that helps us identify or classify something (e.g. number of legs, leaf shape).

Micro-organism – A tiny living thing, like bacteria, that can only be seen with a microscope.

Species – A group of living things that are the same kind and can reproduce.

Similarity – A way in which two or more living things are alike, used to help group or compare them.