The temple-pyramids were one of the Mayans most impressive

achievements. The massive stone structures were built in the heart of

Mayan cities.

Mathematical Practices: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8CCSS: 4.MD.3, 5.MD.1, 5MD.3, 5MD.4, 5.MD.5,

6.RP.3d, 6.G.2, 7.RP.1, 7.G.1, 7.G.6, 8.G.9,

Arkansas Social Studies Frameworks:

History H.6.5.28, H.6.7.3

Arkansas Science Frameworks:

Physical Science PS.5.5.3

Card 1

The pyramids were built in layers of walls on top of one another. Each wall was smaller than the one below it.

The top of the pyramid was a temple for the priests to go and communicate to the Gods.

The outside was covered with a thick layer of mud (stucco). When the mud dried is was painted in bright

colors.

Card 2

Use the blocks to make a pyramid that is 3 walls high and has a temple on top.

The bottom wall should have 5 blocks on each side.

The temple on the top is made of 4 blocks, the dimensions are 2 by 2 by 1.

Pyramid 1 Card 3

Use the blocks to make a pyramid with a base wall that is 6 units by 6 units and is two units tall.

There are 4 walls and all are the same height. Each one has a width and length of one unit less than the one

below it.

The height of the temple is double the height of a wall and is 2 units wide on each side.

Pyramid 2 Card 4

Use the blocks to make a pyramid that is 3 walls high and has a temple on top.

Use the appropriate tools to determine the edge length of a cube.

The bottom wall has a perimeter of 48 cm.Each of the walls are 8 cm less than the one below it.

The temple on top is 6 cm by 6 cm by 6 cm.

Pyramid 3 Card 5

A pyramid is 3 walls high. Each wall is 1 block tall and 1 block thick. The base wall has 4 blocks on each side,

the next has 3, and the next has 2 on each side.

Build a pyramid that is similar, but with dimensions that are doubled.

The temple on the original pyramid is made of only 1 block.

Make sure the new temple is also similar, with dimensions doubled.

Pyramid 4 Card 6

Pyramid 1: Measuring in units…..1. What is the area of the ground that is covered by the pyramid? ____________2. Explain how you know the length of the 2nd and 3rd walls._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. What is the height of the pyramid? ___________4. What is the volume of space that would be available for burying things inside the pyramid? _________Pyramid 2: Measuring in units…..5. Draw the top and front views of this pyramid. TOP: FRONT:

6. How would these views relate to the other views? ___________________________________________7. What is the height of the pyramid? ___________8. What is the volume of space that would be available for burying things inside the pyramid? __________Pyramid 3: Measuring in centimeters…..9. How many blocks are needed to construct the bottom wall? ____________10. If a real pyramid measured 60 meters by 60 meters how many meters does one block represent?______11. What does 1 cm on the model represent in meters on the real pyramid? __________Pyramid 4: Measuring in units…..12. Estimate how many times bigger the one you built is, than the one described._______13. How many blocks are needed to construct the base level? ____________14. How many cubic units are open in each level? _________________________________15. Verify how many times larger the pyramid you built is, than the one described._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ANSWER KEY: 1. 25 square units2. They have to be smaller each time, and there are 2 walls between the 1st one of 5 units and the tower of 2 units, so the walls must be 4 and 3 units long.3. 4 units4. 14 cubic units

5.

6.The top and bottom are the same size, in the drawing we see the surface of ½ a cube at each level. Students may simply say they are alike, 6 x 6 units each, and that may be correct if you are at a great enough distance.

This is a good opportunity for discussion. The front view will the identical to the back and right and left sides.6.12 units7.60 cubic units8.209.1010.5 meters11.Answers may vary12.5613.Base: 32 cubic units… 2nd level: 8 cubic units… 3rd level: 0 cubic units14.It takes 200 blocks to construct the model and only 25 to construct the one described. Therefore it is a ratio of 200:25, or 8:1, meaning it is 8 times larger. Since each dimension is doubled and there are 3 dimensions, it’s a change of 2 x 2 x 2, or a total of 8 times.