1. The temple-pyramids were one of the Mayans most impressive achievements. The massive stone structures were built in the heart of Mayan cities. Mathematical Practices: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 CCSS: 4.MD.3, 5.MD.1, 5MD.3, 5MD.4, 5.MD.5, 6.RP.3d, 6.G.2, 7.RP.1, 7.G.1, 7.G.6, 8.G.9, Arkansas Social Studies Frameworks: History H.6.5.28, H.6.7.3 Arkansas Science Frameworks: Physical Science PS.5.5.3 Card 1

2. The pyramids were built in layers of walls on top of one another. Each wall was smaller than the one below it. The top of the pyramid was a temple for the priests to go and communicate to the Gods. The outside was covered with a thick layer of mud (stucco). When the mud dried is was painted in bright colors. Card 2

3. Use the blocks to make a pyramid that is 3 walls high and has a temple on top. The bottom wall should have 5 blocks on each side. The temple on the top is made of 4 blocks, the dimensions are 2 by 2 by 1. Pyramid 1Card 3

4. Use the blocks to make a pyramid with a base wall that is 6 units by 6 units and is two units tall. There are 4 walls and all are the same height. Each one has a width and length of one unit less than the one below it. The height of the temple is double the height of a wall and is 2 units wide on each side. Pyramid 2Card 4

5. Use the blocks to make a pyramid that is 3 walls high and has a temple on top. Use the appropriate tools to determine the edge length of a cube. The bottom wall has a perimeter of 48 cm. Each of the walls are 8 cm less than the one below it. The temple on top is 6 cm by 6 cm by 6 cm. Pyramid 3Card 5

6. A pyramid is 3 walls high. Each wall is 1 block tall and 1 block thick. The base wall has 4 blocks on each side, the next has 3, and the next has 2 on each side. Build a pyramid that is similar, but with dimensions that are doubled. The temple on the original pyramid is made of only 1 block. Make sure the new temple is also similar, with dimensions doubled. Pyramid 4Card 6

7. Pyramid 1: Measuring in units….. 1. What is the area of the ground that is covered by the pyramid? ____________ 2. Explain how you know the length of the 2 nd and 3 rd walls._______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What is the height of the pyramid? ___________ 4. What is the volume of space that would be available for burying things inside the pyramid? _________ Pyramid 2: Measuring in units….. 5. Draw the top and front views of this pyramid. TOP:FRONT: 6. How would these views relate to the other views? ___________________________________________ 7. What is the height of the pyramid? ___________ 8. What is the volume of space that would be available for burying things inside the pyramid? __________ Pyramid 3: Measuring in centimeters….. 9. How many blocks are needed to construct the bottom wall? ____________ 10. If a real pyramid measured 60 meters by 60 meters how many meters does one block represent?______ 11. What does 1 cm on the model represent in meters on the real pyramid? __________ Pyramid 4: Measuring in units….. 12. Estimate how many times bigger the one you built is, than the one described._______ 13. How many blocks are needed to construct the base level? ____________ 14. How many cubic units are open in each level? _________________________________ 15. Verify how many times larger the pyramid you built is, than the one described. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

8. ANSWER KEY: 1. 25 square units 2. They have to be smaller each time, and there are 2 walls between the 1 st one of 5 units and the tower of 2 units, so the walls must be 4 and 3 units long. 3. 4 units 4. 14 cubic units 5. 6.The top and bottom are the same size, in the drawing we see the surface of ½ a cube at each level. Students may simply say they are alike, 6 x 6 units each, and that may be correct if you are at a great enough distance. This is a good opportunity for discussion. The front view will the identical to the back and right and left sides. 6.12 units 7.60 cubic units 8.20 9.10 10.5 meters 11.Answers may vary 12.56 13.Base: 32 cubic units… 2 nd level: 8 cubic units… 3 rd level: 0 cubic units 14.It takes 200 blocks to construct the model and only 25 to construct the one described. Therefore it is a ratio of 200:25, or 8:1, meaning it is 8 times larger. Since each dimension is doubled and there are 3 dimensions, it’s a change of 2 x 2 x 2, or a total of 8 times.