Maya Astronomy and Mathematics—Yesterday and Today

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Video Title: Maya Astronomy and Mathematics—Yesterday and Today
Description: This 75-minute teacher webinar focused on the ways in which the Maya have used the Sun to track time for thousands of years. Ancestral calendars are relevant today to millions of Maya communities in Mesoamerica, who us their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics to time ceremonies and to plan their agricultural cycle. The content in the webinar connects to the Living Maya Time online resource (http://maya.nmai.si.edu/), featuring videos of solar alignments with ancestral pyramids and an interactive Maya math activity where students solve a mystery and obtain clues by practicing their Maya math skills. Dr. Isabel Hawkins (Astronomer) led the session and provides an optional hands-on strategy for students to measure time and find the cardinal directions by tracking shadows using commonly available items from around the house. Designed and recommended for teachers of upper elementary and middle school students (grades 5–8) in the subjects of history, social studies, and STEM. The Native Knowledge 360˚ webinar was hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Education Department on February 22, 2021.
Video Duration: 1 hr 4 min 22 sec
YouTube Keywords: Native American Indian Museum Smithsonian "Indigenous Peoples" "Smithsonian Institution" "Smithsonian NMAI" "National Museum of the American Indian"