Autumn Term Year 6 The Mayans
Frederick Bird
Primary School
Essential Knowledge
By the end of this unit children will be able to

Talk about a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – c. AD 900;
Mayan civilization

Locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the location of
Russia) and North and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key
physical and human characteristics, countries, and major cities

Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and
physical geography of a region of the United Kingdom, a region in a European country, and
a region within North or South America

Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable
characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants
and animals

Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and
that adaptation may lead to evolution. Recognise that environments can change and that
this can sometimes pose dangers to living things and explore examples of human impact.

Play a variety of sports including dance, fitness training and invasion games.
Spiritual Moral Social Cultural
Wonder — Hook
Experiences
Year 6 will visit Cadbury’s world to
enjoy the Mayan experience.

Visit Cadbury’s World to find out about the Mayans and their link to chocolate

Friendship, forgiveness, welcoming, belonging, famous Britain's, Harvest festival
Investigate and
Express and review
Explore The Mayan Culture.
An ‘art gallery’ will be created within
the year group to display the
different aspects of the children’s
learning over the half term.
Read The Jaguar Trials.
Parents are invited to this.
The Mayans Year 6: Links to National Curriculum Framework
Core Subjects
Foundation Subjects
English
History, Geography and Science
Read a wide variety of texts and retrieve information
from them. Use dictionaries to find word meanings
and spellings. Use main features of adventure
writing to communicate meaning.

Write legibly with a fluent, joined style.

Read the Jaguar Trials by Ruth Eastham.

Create their own adventure story based
around the Jaguar Trial.

Write a discussion text discussing which was
better—the Mayans or the Vikings


Read 3 times a week at home and daily at
school to increase their fluency and
enjoyment of reading.
Continue learning the Year 5/6 spelling list
and the range of grammar for year 6.
History:
To learn about a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – c. AD 900; Mayan
civilization so that the lives of ancient people can be understood


Geography:
Locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the location of Russia) and North
and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics,
countries, and major cities. Compare a region of the United Kingdom, a region in a European country, and a
region within North or South America.


Round any number up to 10 million to the nearest
10, 100, 1000, 100 000, 1 000 000

Count on an back in powers of 10 (10,100 etc.)

Use short division and multiplication

Add and subtract fractions presented in various
ways
Classify items using a classification key and justify their reasons
Study how animals are adapted to their environment and how that can be damaged by man e.g. Gorilla
Art and Design and Design Technology
Mathematics

Identify locations in Central America and Northern Europe and compare the landscapes considering what it might be
like to live in these areas
Compare the temperature and rainfall in both locations to decide which would be better to live in
Science:
Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics
and based on similarities and differences, and give reasons for it. Identify how animals and plants are
adapted to suit their environment and that adaptation may lead to evolution. Recognise that changing
environments can sometimes pose dangers to living things and explore examples of human impact.


Know the place value and read, write and order
numbers up to 10 million.
Research the Mayan and Viking Civilisation comparing their ways of life, religions, clothing and beliefs.
Visit Cadbury’s World in Birmingham to find out about the links between the Mayans and chocolate
Art:


Recreate Mayan masks and calendars and create pictures of the different landscapes
Create and compare shelters in Frederick Bird University
Music, Languages and Physical Education

Visit the AT7 Centre to take part in fitness and sports games. Sing in English and Spanish in singing assemblies.
Computing

Research and present information about the Mayans.