Going to supplement my boys' schoolin' with some homeschoolin' on:
MIMETOLITHS-(this concept perfect for my rock-hounds)1b. "Rabbit on the Moon," pattern of darker areas of full moon (circumferance- 10,864 km -- i.e.,~ 6790 miles) as seen from Chile. Clicked image consists of three parts: Left to right, the Full moon, the "Rabbit on the moon," and a glyph of the Mixtec culture of Mexico. It is hypothesized that "the Mixtecas probably saw a rabbit-like shape on the surface of the full moon, and thus elaborated the glyph that represents the moon as a rabbit." (Patricio Bustamante, personal communication, March, 2008). For an explanatory text (in Spanish), see http://rupestreweb.info/hierofania.html ,
& The Rabbit
what it means for the Maya:
MAYA MOON - DOÑA LUNA
TEACHING IDEAS
from Marianne Mitchell
from Marianne Mitchell
Maya Moon is a folktale from Mexico that "explains" why the moon changes shape. Here are some ways to use the story to supplement your curriculum. These activities can be adapted for grades K-3.
CULTURE
Mayan civilization flourished in the area of today's southern Mexico and Guatemala from about 300 A. D. until about 1700 A. D. The Mayas built huge cities and had extensive trading routes with other cultures, some as far away as New Mexico. For unknown reasons, these great cities were abandoned and lay hidden under dense jungle growth for many years. National Geographic Magazine has featured Mayan culture in several issues and is a good resource for more information.GEOGRAPHY
Get out the map of Mexico and Central America and study where the Mayas lived. Did they live in a desert or a tropical environment? Did they live in the mountains or by the sea? What kinds of flora and fauna can be found where they lived. What was their most important crop?ASTRONOMY
The Mayas were skilled astronomers and could predict lunar and solar eclipses. They studied the movement of the stars and the change of seasons and created a 365-day calendar that is almost as accurate as today's calendars, all without the aid of modern telescopes and computers. One of the remaining buildings at the city of Chichén Itzá is an observatory. Maya Moon is a folktale about why the moon changes shape. Discuss the scientific reasons why the moon appears in different sizes during the month.ANIMALS
Maya Moon features four pesky sea turtles. Turtles also appear in many other Mayan legends. Have students learn about sea turtles-where they live, what they eat, how long they live, etc. How are they different from desert tortoises? Other animals were also important to the art, myths, and religion of the Mayas: rabbit, jaguar, deer, the quetzal and the hummingbird. Are any of these animals endangered today?LITERATURE
What do other people around the world see on the face of the moon? Some see a face, a blacksmith, or a water girl. In Mexico, people say they see a rabbit on the moon. Some other books to share about the moon or about Mayan culture are: The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote by Tony Johnston, The Mystery of the Maya: Uncovering the Lost City of Palenque by Peter Lourie, Rain Player by David Wisniewski, Moon Rope by Lois Ehlert, and The Night the Moon Fell by Pat Mora.SPANISH
Teach students new Spanish words from the story, Doña Luna: la luna (the moon), las tortugas (the turtles), la cueva (the cave), la cama (the bed), la luz (the light), los cuatro vientos (the four winds), la lluvia (the rain), la siesta (the nap), and Abuelita (Grandmother).DRAMA
Help students make up a play based on Maya Moon. There are roles for the moon, four turtles, four winds, and the rain god Chac. Other students can be in a chorus or help design a mural for the backdrop. They can perform their play for parents or other classes.WRITING
Most of the books created by the Mayas were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors. The few that have survived reveal a detailed system of writing using picture glyphs. Their books were folded, accordion-style, and decorated with bright colors. Have students make folded books like the Mayas did. Instead of writing with words, they could make up a story using pictures or stamp art. Perhaps they could re-tell Maya Moon using glyphs, or pictures. Or they could make up other "how come" stories about things in nature.MATH
The Mayas had a unique system of numbers using dots and bars instead of numerals like we do. They are credited with inventing the concept of zero using a shell symbol. They also invented a system of place value using a base of 20. Many of their glyphs and carvings feature numbers. Practice adding and subtracting the Mayan way. Have students write their numbers with bars and dots instead of numerals.
