Mayan Civilisations Workshop

Altru

We think drama is a fantastic way to learn about history.

Children are encouraged to explore how people lived in this period of history, empathising with characters and reflecting on their own lives. Sessions are also designed to help children consider the impact of this historical period on our lives today.

Drama days from Altru always create a buzz in school - as everyone is learning new things and having loads of fun. We use a wide range of drama techniques to engage children in the topic, making them hugely accessible and inclusive. Our carefully planned sessions also allow for a huge amount of learning to take place in a short time.

And our drama days can be used at any stage of the curriculum delivery - early in the term for a wow starter, in the middle of a topic to bring it to life and embed learning or at the end of the topic for that ultimate sticky knowledge boost, helping children make memories and retain the information for years to come.

During a Mayans drama day the children will learn about:

- Mayan inventions and how they came to be – including the calendar.

- The Mayan currency and how they bought and sold.

- The Mayan diet and how this was dictated by farm land and conditions.

- Mayan pass times including Pok-a-Tok

- Mayan myths and legends

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments

Where we travel to

We can visit your school in: East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West, Yorkshire, Wales

Which curriculum topics do we cater for?

Citizenship Workshop

Personal development and resilience Team building

Our drama sessions support the development of inter-personal skills including team work, problem solving, confidence and creativity. Exploring history through drama helps children to empathise with others and develop their understanding of their place in the wider world.

Performing Arts Workshop

All of our activities are designed to support children's learning in Drama and Performing Arts.
Through carefully planned activities and exercises, children use their bodies and voices expressively, develop their imaginations and learn new theatrical vocabulary.

Ancient Civilisations Workshop

Maya Civilisation

Pupils learn about:
- Mayan inventions and how they came to be – including the calendar.
- The Mayan currency and how they bought and sold.
- The Mayan diet and how this was dictated by farm land and conditions.
- Mayan pass times including Pok-a-Tok
- Mayan myths and legends

Please note that a Learn and Present Day covers all of the above. An Explore Day is tailored to your specific needs as a school / class and, as such, we will ask you for 3 key areas of exploration when you make the booking.

What size groups do we cater for?

We can work with 35 children at a time.

A Learn and Present Day is for 1 group of 35 children all day.

An Explore Day is for between 2 and 4 classes of up to 35 children who each spend around 1 hour with the practitioner.

Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

All workshops are designed and delivered in a completely inclusive way so that all children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities can access our work.

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Who are Altru?

Altru Drama is a creative education company, established in 2005. We use drama as a tool to increase topic understanding, build confidence, explore issues, and develop personal and social skills.

We aim to inspire, create and educate - working with and for young people to help them learn, develop and grow. And we absolutely love what we do!

Our aim is to bring history to life for children - immersing them in the world of the topic and helping them explore it through interaction and empathy.

We offer a range of historical topics and 2 different drama day formats - perfect for whatever size group you would like us to work with.

As a school you can choose either a Learn and Present Day (for 1 class) or an Explore Day for 2 or more classes.

A Learn and Present Day gives 1 class of pupils the opportunity to create a performance all about Mayan Civilisations in just 1 day - which they present towards the end of the school day with props, costume and music.

An Explore Day gives up to 4 classes of pupils the chance to participate in an exciting, action-packed drama workshop full of creativity, fun and topic learning too! We usually split the day into an equal number of sessions - either 2, 3 or 4 depending upon how many classes you'd like us to work with.