Smart Planet 3
Unit 6
Video 6.2
Calendars of the Ancient Maya
Name
Class
Date
Before you watch
1
Match the words with the definitions.
1 tomb
a a building used for the worship of a god or
gods in some religions
2 symbol
b a list of the days, weeks and months of the year
3 calendar
c a sign, shape or object which is used to
represent something else
4 temple
d a place where a person is buried
While you watch
2
Watch the first part of the video (up to 00:38) and complete the sentences.
Mexico
1 The Maya lived in parts of
and Central America .
famous
2 They are
for their complex calendars.
understand the Mayans’ mysterious culture.
3 Today, scientists study those calendars to try to
3
Watch the rest of the video (from 00:38) and correct the sentences.
1 Palenque was a Mayan tomb.
Palenque was a city.
2 Some days in the Mayan calendar had a symbol.
Each day in the Mayan calendar had a symbol.
3 IMIX was a bad day.
IMIX was a good day.
4 CIMI was a good day.
CIMI was a bad day.
5 The Mayans’ solar calendar had 17 months.
The Mayans’ solar calendar had 18 months.
6 Kukulkan was a Mayan city.
Kukulkan was a Mayan temple.
4
Watch the whole video again and answer questions.
1 What question did the Maya believe they could answer?
They believed they could predict if a day was going to be a good or bad day.
2 Where did the Maya build the tombs of their kings?
They built their tombs under rays of sunlight.
3 What helped the Maya make their calendar?
Their knowledge of the sun and moon.
4 What did the Maya do on bad days?
They didn’t do anything important.
5 How many bad days were there in the Mayans’ solar calendar?
There were five bad days.
After you watch
5
The belief that the sun, moon and the planets influence human life is called astrology. Work
with a partner and discuss the questions.
Students’ own answers
1 Do you read your horoscope?
2 What do you think of astrology?
PHOTOCOPIABLE
© Cambridge University Press 2015
Calendars of the Ancient Maya Unit 6
Video 6.2