The Ancient Maya
Year 6 wrapped up their history unit on the Ancient Maya civilisation this week with a Pok-a-Tok competition and the opportunity to taste a chocolate drink made the Maya way.
Pok-a-Tok was a ball game played between tribes and often used to settle disputes. The Maya used face and body paint to make themselves look fierce and to intimidate the opposition.
Chocolate was used as currency by the Maya and was highly prized. They drank chocolate laced with chilli which some of the class were keen to try, not all were as brave and stuck to the mild version.
Year 6 spent the morning at the Tolhouse Museum to finish their Crime and Punishment unit in history. They had a fascinating but cold morning learning about the justice system through the ages and how the accused and those found guilty were treated.
The children were asked to pretend they were prison inspectors and to decide if the treatment of prisoners was acceptable in Victorian prisons. They came away having decided that some was acceptable but some really wasn’t, particularly the the punishments that were metered out.