It will be fun by starting out in this unit to see how the children perceive the art of Mesoamerica. First we can look at several ancient illustrations to familiarize ourselves with the Maya symbols and how they designated status, place, date and character traits. On reference page 2 for Unit I there is a picture of “Lady 6 Sky from Tikal place, the pillar of the community.” By looking carefully at the details of the picture we can draw responses from the class about the lady. First we ask, “What do we see?” She is a noble woman and this is evident by all the embellishments of the picture. I can point out the number glyphs on the reference page to the children and ask them to write their age in symbols too. Secondly, we will consider the stamp pictographs made by the Aztecs and their predecessors in Central Mexico. Each child will be asked to copy a symbol he identifies with from the reference page of pictographs, page 4. These can be in the form of animal names and signs from the natural world (wind, water, etc.). We will inscribe these name signs into our clay stamps at a later time.
Unit I—Lesson III—Making Our Own Numerical Glyphs & Pictographs
Objective- They tell us about our status in Prince School. This project can also have dual purposes: to learn about pictographs and number glyphs. Refer to page 1 of the reference page for Unit I and use them for our age glyphs.
Motivation—Teaching aid—Foam core format of a glyph.
(figure available in print form)
Students can practice:
Name of School
Room Number
Grade
Male or female?
Pick a birthday pictograph
Materials—Colored construction paper
scissors
pencils
glue
magic marker
numerical chart xeroxed
Procedure—Demonstration—hold up the foam core glyph and pull each part off—call each part a number (1-5) and say that the glyph conveys a message about someone’s place in school. Then ask each student to use the numerical chart to put their age on the glyph — to put their grade on the glyph — to put their school on the glyph — to put their room number on the glyph — use symbols to say girl or boy.
Making Glyphs & Pictographs
Give out paper, magic markers and glue for them to make their own number glyphs After they have completed their cutting and gluing give out magic markers for writing inscriptions. Ask them to choose a pictograph for their birth date.
Sharing Glyphs
Can we read each other’s glyphs?