If your child is reading Geronimo Stilton Back in Time Second Journey Through Time, you’ll love this Mayan mask. Be sure to grab more Geronimo Stilton Books ideas and crafts on my page.
If you don’t know about him already, Geronimo Stilton is a globetrotting mouse who finds himself in all kinds of adventures.
Oftentimes these adventures take him time traveling.
In this second book in this series, he finds himself first in Ancient Rome, in the middle of the Mayan Empire, and finally in the Age of The Sun King visiting Louis XIV.
Geronimo’s books love to share maps, landmarks, dress, customs, and legends of the period he visits.
These books make wonderful “textbooks” disguised as chapter books.
Assign the section for independent reading or read aloud and then add in a few fun activities to round it out.
I wanted to dive a little deeper into the second part of the book, the Mayan Empire, and create a craft that highlights some of their traditions.
Mayan masks were a big part of the ancient culture and were a perfect activity to highlight the culture, traditions, and art.
They were made from a variety of materials like gold, shells, stones, gems, and volcanic rock.
Masks were used for a variety of reasons including to adorn the faces of the dead, to be worn at important events, to be worn during battle, as well as hung up in houses.
5 Facts About Mayan Culture
First, look at some of these facts about the Mayan civilization.
- The Mayans were a group of people who lived in the Yucatan Peninsula in what is today Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
- Many Mayans still live there today, they are still living in the same areas where the Mayan civilization used to be. They follow the ancient Mayan traditions and beliefs, as well as speak the Mayan language.
- New Archaeological ancient sites are still being discovered, Ek Balam was just found in the 1980’s.
- The Mayans main crops were corn, beans, avocados, papayas, and cocoa, etc.
- They made 7 big contributions to the modern world-The Mayan Calendar, astronomy, hydraulic buildings, filtration systems, rubber, chocolate, and medicine.
Also, look at more activities about the Mayan civilization.
More Mayan Civilization Resources
- Geronimo Stilton – Build a LEGO Temple of Kukulcan
- Make Mayan paper clip jewelry.
- Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
- Pull out an atlas or map and have your child find Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala to learn where ancient Mayans lived.
- Make a Kukulkan Mayan Paper Snake Craft
- 9 Free South America Country Reports for Kids Notebooking Pages
- Try recreating this Maya Chocolate Recipe for a tasty history lesson.
Moreover, here are more Geronimo Stilton book activities.
Geronimo Stilton Book Activities
Next, look at these other crafts to go with the books.
- The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activity Craft Fun Dragon Eggs
- Geronimo Stilton The Second Journey Through Time Sun King Fun Medallion
- The Journey Through Time Book And Knights Armor Engraving Fun Kids Craft
- Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Time Warp Fun Lost City of Atlantis
- Race Against Time Build a Fun Greek Water Clock
- Out Of Time Fun Sir Francis Drake Ship Craft
- Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower
- 10 Things to Learn From The Fun Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books
- The Fourth Journey Through Time Fun Cleopatra Collar
- Learn About Mozart The Eight Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Series
- The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
- Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard
- Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
- Down and Out Down Under Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
- Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
- The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Colosseum Craft
- The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
- #2: Back in Time Mayan Craft
- The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
- Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page
Finally, look how to make this fun Mayan mask.
Geronimo Stilton Back in Time – Mayan Mask
We wanted our mask to resemble a jaguar.
The Mayan warriors believed that wearing a jaguar helmet mask gave them the ability to face their enemies with courage and strength.
I like to use 12×12 cardstock, it makes a great size for a Mayan mask. You can find this in the scrapbook section at your local craft store.
You will need:
- 12×12 Cardstock
- Jumbo craft stick
- Scissors
- Markers
First, fold the cardstock in half and press in a good crease.
Keeping cardstock folded, draw a half circle/oval to create a basic face shape.
Cut out the half circle.
On the center of one side draw an oval eye.
We want to keep the mask as symmetrical as possible so to do that you need to fold the two sides in towards the crease.
Close along the fold again and cut out the eye outline.
Depending on where your eye was in the fold here is how your eyes should look.
Open all the folds and then refold only at the center crease, cut a half oval shape for the mouth.
Use scraps leftover from the cardstock and cut out ears as well as a nose shape.
We cut our nose shape out 4 times and layered them together with glue like this to create a little depth to the mask.
Glue the nose in place.
After looking up some Mayan masks online for inspiration let your child use markers to design their own mask.
Flip the mask over and glue the ears and teeth onto the back.
Cut teeth out of white cardstock and attach them to the back of the mouth opening.
Now, glue the popsicle stick into place as well to hold the mask up. Alternatively, you can glue string to the top to wear it.
Let the glue dry completely.
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