New
New
Year 6

Cacao and maize

I can explain why cacao and maize were so important to the Maya.

New
New
Year 6

Cacao and maize

I can explain why cacao and maize were so important to the Maya.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In the tombs of Maya rulers, archaeologists have found decorated pots that once contained a special drink.
  2. This hot chocolate drink was made from roasting and boiling the fruit of a plant called cacao.
  3. The Maya took care preparing hot chocolate, frothing it carefully, because they believed it was a gift from the gods.
  4. Another crop that the Maya thought was sacred was maize; it was used to make flat pancakes called tortillas.
  5. The Maya believed that the gods tried for a long time to make humans, and only succeeded when they used maize to do so.

Common misconception

Cacao is the same as cocoa.

While they come from the same source, the cacao bean, there are differences in processing. Cacao generally refers to the raw or minimally processed form of the bean, while cocoa usually refers to the processed and roasted form.

Keywords

  • Cacao - the cacao plant is a South American tree with yellowish flowers and reddish brown seeds, which are used to make chocolate and cocoa

  • Maize - maize is another word for corn and is a tall-growing grain that produces yellow kernels on long ears

Make hot chocolate like the Maya using milk (you can use dairy or plant-based milk like almond or coconut), unsweetened cocoa powder, honey, ground cinnamon and a pinch of chili powder (optional, for a spicy kick).
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
A tomb is ...
a large book
Correct answer: an underground burial chamber
a wooden chest
a pyramid
Q2.
The Maya lived in a part of central America called ...
Correct Answer: Mesoamerica, mesoamerica
Q3.
Which of the following were features of a Maya city?
Correct answer: ceremonial centre
tennis court
Correct answer: palace
Correct answer: temple-pyramids
church
Q4.
The Maya practised - the practice of cutting part of the body to release blood.
Correct Answer: bloodletting, Bloodletting, blood letting, Blood Letting
Q5.
Match the word to its description.
Correct Answer:Copan,an ancient Maya city

an ancient Maya city

Correct Answer:Honduras,a country in Mesoamerica

a country in Mesoamerica

Q6.
Match the word to its meaning.
Correct Answer:religion,the belief in and worship of a god or gods

the belief in and worship of a god or gods

Correct Answer:ritual,a religious ceremony where prescribed actions are performed

a religious ceremony where prescribed actions are performed

Correct Answer:sacred,holy

holy

6 Questions

Q1.
The South American tree with yellowish flowers and reddish brown seeds, which is used in making chocolate and cocoa, is known as the plant.
cocoa
chocolate
Correct answer: cacao
coffee
Q2.
Another word for maize is ...
Correct Answer: corn, Corn
Q3.
How did the Maya prepare hot chocolate? Order the steps correctly, starting with the first one.
1 - The cacao pods were harvested from the cacao tree.
2 - The seeds were extracted from the pods and left to dry.
3 - The seeds were roasted to bring out the flavour.
4 - The seeds were ground to a paste.
5 - The paste was mixed with water and other ingredients like chilli and honey.
6 - The mixture was boiled and stirred to make it frothy.
Q4.
The Maya believed that cacao was sacred because ...
Correct answer: it was a gift of the gods
it had to be imported from other parts of the world
only Maya rulers could drink it
Q5.
The Maya made from maize.
rice cakes
tortillas
hot chocolate
popcorn
Q6.
According the the Maya creation myth, the gods made from maize dough.
the sun
plants
animals
Correct answer: humans

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