How to Build a Mayan Temple out of Sand

The Mayan culture is well known for their breathtaking and beautiful temples built on huge pyramids. The temples were constructed of elaborately carved stones and adored with carved decorations and murals. Although Mayan temples are very intricate, you can make a simple replica out of sand.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Buckets
• Shovel
• Spray bottle
• Small board, or something with a flat edge

1. Choose a large spot near the water, but not so close that the next tide will destroy your hard work. Shovel a large pile of sand, keeping the sand moist at all times.
2. Pile the sand high enough to create all of your steps as well as one large square platform on top. Remember that Mayan temples often use the number nine and that the steps that build the temple are perfectly symmetrical. Use the edge of your board or other flat object to smooth out your steps so that they are symmetrical.
3. Form your pile of sand into a pyramid, square on the bottom with four even sides. Use a board to flatten the top of the pile of sand into a square to create the platform and then build the nine steps working from the top down.
4. Push the board down into one side of the shape, and then pull the board a few inches toward you to build the first step of the temple. Use your measuring tool to keep the steps even, forming them as tall as they are deep. Repeat this procedure on all four sides.
5. Continue building steps one side at a time, matching the corners as much as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• One major rule in successfully working in sand is to keep the sand constantly moist with a few squirts from the spray bottle. Dry sand can quickly crumble to dust.
• If you prefer to work from the bottom up, start with a large square that rises about an inch from the sand. Pile a slightly smaller 1-inch thick platform on top of the beginning platform, and continue adding uniformly smaller platforms until you finish the top with a small square.