The mysterious and magnificent Maya civilisation is being explored by children at Upton Junior School in Broadstairs.

Children from Year 3 are investigating the rise and fall of one of history’s greatest cultures that arose in what is now known as Central America around 1800BC and progressed through centuries before suddenly disappearing in 900AD at the height of its development.

Pupils began their history adventure with an outing to Kent Life heritage centre near Maidstone as part of their ongoing topic called Maya: The Rise and Fall.

They were immersed in a series of engaging and educational workshops designed to deepen their understanding of Mayan civilisation.

To understand the religion of the period, the children explored the beliefs and rituals of the Maya people, discovering the importance of gods, offerings, and ceremonies.

They were fascinated to learn how religion influenced every part of daily life in the ancient Maya world. The also learned about the Creation Story and played a game of the indigenous pastime called ‘Pok-a-Tok’.

Through hands-on activities and storytelling, they discovered the construction and significance of these awe-inspiring temples. They were amazed by the clever engineering and rich symbolism behind each structure and then built their own mini temples using blocks.

A big highlight was meeting a Conquistador and the visitors heard about the Spanish conquest from a historical character, bringing to life the dramatic events that led to the fall of the Mayan civilisation.

They learnt how to use swords like a conquistador. Under expert guidance, they safely practised sword-handling techniques and gained a real sense of what life might have been like for these historical figures.

Head of Year 3 Becky Andrews said: “It was a truly immersive experience that brought history to life and sparked the imaginations of our young historians.

“The visit was a fantastic way to immerse the children into their topic. It gave them a deeper appreciation for the complexity of Mayan culture and history.

“The experience has provided the perfect stimulus to engage, inspire, and ignite a love for learning. With this strong foundation, we now have a fantastic starting point on which knowledge will build and deepen across the term.”

Head of School Darci Arthur added: “The story of the Maya and how they developed a most sophisticated and highly developed writing system in the pre-Columbian

Americas as well as their art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system is fascinating. How such a magnificent culture with developed cities came to a sudden decline is one of the mysteries our children will continue to try and understand.”

Upton Junior School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Chilton Primary School and Ramsgate Arts Primary School.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.