Maya Civilisation Topic Booklist

An action-packed and thoroughly researched longer adventure novel filled with suspense and excitement, with a good level of depth for upper KS2. This book, which is the first in a popular series, tells the story of fourteen-year-old Max, who finds himself on a quest to rescue his archaeologist parents from the Maya underworld and to save the world from the Lords of Death.
There are many supporting resources on the authors’ website, and you can also sign up for a virtual school visit from the authors.

Studying the Maya civilisation (definitely not ‘the Mayans’ as you will find out in the book) is a popular theme in KS2 and now Maz Evans has provided the perfect class reader to go alongside the topic!

As well as enjoying a humorous, fast-paced adventure, readers will learn about Maya culture, including meeting some of their gods and experiencing the deadly game Pok a Tok, which cousins Vesper and Aster must play to prevent the destruction of both themselves and their world.

The two characters are very different – Vesper, football-loving, outspoken and headstrong and Aster, quieter and more studious, but with a bright secret – and the reader comes to understand them, their relationships, their strengths and their motives as the story develops. Many children will be familiar with, and fans of, the Who Let the Gods Out series by the same author, and they will equally enjoy this spin-off series, which includes some familiar and favourite characters, but is a series starter in its own right.

This is a brilliant read-aloud to bring the Maya world to life and help pupils make links in their learning about ancient civilizations.

An exciting action-packed thriller based on the excavation of a newly found Maya city, best suited to Year 6 or beyond. The tale follows twin twelve-year-olds Verity and Ethan, who travel to Guatemala with their father. Whilst excavating a Maya site, an ancient mask is discovered. Is the mask the cause of the end of the Maya civilisation, or is something more underhand going on?

An interesting and accessible guide to daily life for the Ancient Maya.

This is a short chapter book, at just under 90 pages, but it is packed with knowledge, presented in an accessible way. It has 9 sections, covering who the Maya were, daily life, inventions and discoveries they made, as well as theories about what happened to them. Throughout the sections, illustrations and helpful diagrams are also included.

This is such a useful book, great for teachers to use to support them with lesson planning, but also great for children to access if they want to learn more about a particular area of Ancient Maya.

This jam-packed information text is written especially for the UK National Curriculum and answers a range of questions about the Maya Civilization. Topics in The History Detective Investigates: Mayan Civilization include Maya cities, kings, writing, pyramids and food.

An information text in the format of a ‘time travel guide’, which takes readers back to over 1,000 years ago to a place called Chichén Itzá. There, you’ll find out about all things Maya related, including how to climb the steep Kukulkun temple, where to watch traditional Maya ball game and how to sample some delicious chilli-spiced drinking chocolate.

A bright and engaging journey through the Maya civilisation.

This informative text is broken up into smaller chunks to make it accessible for younger KS2 readers. There are plenty of visuals to bring the content to life, while still incorporating plenty of subject-specific terminology.

The cartoon-style illustrations and speech bubbles add fun and interest to engage the more reluctant readers.