How to Make a Model of a Mayan Temple

Model Maya!

Designing a model of the largest temple at Palenque is an excellent place to start when learning Mayan temples. Using popsicle sticks, glue and other simple craft products can make history come alive with the construction of a replica Temple of the Inscriptions. Start by having students research the topic online or in the library. Having them learn about the Maya, their temples and where these people live can help in reconstruction of part of the past civilization. It may help students with their model making if they print pictures of the temple at Palenque for guidance.

Things You'll Need

• Foam board
• Shoebox
• Popsicle sticks
• Paper
• 1 large piece of posterboard or cardboard
• Modeling clay
• Pencils
• Computer with Internet access or a library
• Glue sticks
• Scissors
• Markers or colored pencils

Instructions

Reconstructing Temples at Palenque

1. 

   Construct each side of the temple separately. Start with a square 1 foot by 1 foot piece of cut foam board. Place it flat on a table. Lay two Popsicle sticks horizontally flat against this board for the length of one side. Glue these sticks in place. Repeat with two sticks placed horizontally on an adjacent edge of the foam board. Work on the temple base is complete and you will have formed an L shape, 2 sticks by 2 sticks long.

2. Stack four sticks facing the same direction as the base, making the L shape now 5 sticks high. Keep repeating this until you have made each pile of sticks five high. Make certain you have glued each layer of sticks together before continuing up another level; the sticks should not move at all or at any point.

3. Glue a sixth stick but position that one slightly more towards the inner perimeter of the foam board, yet still on top of the popsicle pile. Replicating the temple design means the students' model will get more narrow as each tier is constructed. Remember this narrowing means some popsicle sticks may need to be trimmed by the teacher, so that the sides come together snuggly.

4. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for a total of nine times, replicating the shape of the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque. Use the shoebox as support the higher you go with the temple, since the two sides alone may not hold the structure in place until dried. Remove the shoebox once the pieces dry.

5. Repeat the process in steps 3, 4 and 5 to form the two remaining sides of the temple. Your finished temple may not take up the full 1 foot by 1 foot perimeter of the base, but if so you can easily cut away the extra foam board at the end. Concluding the Temple of the Inscriptions requires building the ceremonial center and the staircase.

6. Measure the dimensions of the exposed hole at the top of the temple. Cut a piece of posterboard to attach and cover hole with. Place generous amounts of modelling clay at the corners of the popsicle structure and push the posterboard into place at top.

7. Allow some of the modelling clay to be pushed into the interior of the temple. Test the posterboard and make sure it is sturdy enough to stay on top of the structure even after some more weight will be added. If not, remove the posterboard, vertically attach several pieces of cardboard to the foam board on the inside of the structure to act as support beams, and reattach the posterboard to cover the exposed hole.

8. Glue popsicle sticks horizontally flat against the posterboard until you have constructed a level floor. Then construct a small basic house with popsicle sticks leaving room for five window cut-outs.

9. Position a Popsicle stick horizontally at the center of the temple, flush with the level floor from steps 7 and 8. Glue this first stick into place, which forms the first step on the staircase that will run down the outside of the temple. Place and glue the next Popiscle stick directly below and make sure it is parallel. Continue all the way down to the bottom. Frame the newly-built staircase with one Popsicle stick row on each side, with these Popsicle sticks glued perpendicular to the stairs. Decorate simply with the rest of the art supplies.

Tips & Warnings

• Experimenting with the dimensions of one side of the temple will let your class decide how big the temple will be. Making the four sides of the temple level and equal in dimensions is essential; otherwise, the flat flooring, ceremonial center and staircase will not come out correctly. Embossing modeling clay with some abstract hieroglyphics or allowing students to draw in marker may be an additional feature to add.

• Make sure students do not consume modeling clay or glue--this project is not well suited for very young children.

References

• Michael Carrasco and Wesleyan University, "Unaahil B'aak: The Temples of Palenque," 2004
• Palenque Park, "The Temple of the Inscriptions"
• Ryan Cohagen, "Palenque Palace," 2001

Resources

• James Miller, "3-D Recycled Mayan Step Pyramid"