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2024-2025: Our latest in-school programme

7th Dec 2021

{red{bold2024-2025: Our latest in-school programme}}

Part of a chant/procession during a Mexicolore Aztecs/Maya in-school workshop

Our current Maya/Aztec (‘M/A’) workshop is once again a ‘full’ programme, with all the children in together for the whole morning (no limit on numbers!). However it’s now something of a hybrid programme, as always with plenty of participation – ALL chanting, and at least 90 additionally (at different times!) playing drums/rattles/death whistles, taking part in a torch-led procession in costume, in role play, dressing up, displaying a codex, etc. – but without our old ballgame and a few other elements.

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The presentation itself lasts a MINIMUM of two hours, excluding breaks, followed - if time allows - by a team mini challenge based on calendar signs (see photo below) combined with close-up viewing of the artefacts on display, and leading to an open-ended Q&A session. The session MUST run in a hall; set-up time alone can take 1¾ hours. If your hall isn’t used for dinners the full morning workshop can easily last three hours...

The morning effectively becomes a combination of illustrated talk, workshop and theatrical performance. The following gives an idea of the range of subjects presented/discussed in the session:-

• The role of chanting
• Introduction
• Sacred numbers, with levels of meaning for each
• The M/A in geographical/historical context
• 20 calendar or day signs; calendar names and how to read them
• The Feathered Serpent god
• Inside a traditional M/A house
• Child punishments
• M/A languages, and Spanish
• Traditional women’s clothing
• Sacred codices, and the Spanish invasion/burning of books
• M/A loan words to English
• Foods original to Mexico
• Sacred creatures, inc. jaguar, quetzal, hummingbird, eagle, turtle…
• Traditional food preparation
• The rainforest environment and resources
• Ancient weaponry (inc. demonstration of the atlatl)
• Ancient wind and percussion musical and sound effects instruments, and evidence for them
• Animal spirit guides and their meaning
• Sun and sacred/ritual calendars
• Chocolate: its preparation and importance
• Vigesimal (20-based) counting; zero
• Masks, their importance and use; precious turquoise and jade
• Nature gods, and opposite forces
• Keeping the world in balance

We also offer ‘bolt-ons’ such as an extended team challenge in the afternoon, based on calendar/day signs. Ask us for more details, and for charges, options etc...
Please note: we’re trying to keep in-school visits to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with Tuesdays and Thursdays free for videoconference bookings.

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{red{bold2024-2025: Our latest in-school programme}}

Part of a chant/procession during a Mexicolore Aztecs/Maya in-school workshop

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