The Maya Milpa Cycle, a Sustainable Forest Gardening Method

Provided by: The Kid Should See This |Published on: April 27, 2021

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Synopsis

This engaging video explains how ancient Mayan farmers cultivated forest gardens, a practice that continues to influence the way that modern Mayan farmers grow crops today.
Students will learn that this sustainable farming method prevents erosion and requires no plowing, pesticides, or fertilizers.

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Subjects: Biology, History

Authors: The Kid Should See This, Odyssey Earth

Region: North America, South and Central America

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

In a world where "new" is often synonymous with "better," this video will challenge students to see the value of learning ancient and traditional methods.
The video includes engaging footage from the forests of Belize and Mexico to sustain student interest.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should be familiar with the terms archeologist, agriculture, monoculture, biodiversity, erosion, sustainable, and mechanized.
Teachers may wish to pause at 3:08 so that students can read the definition of the word milpa.
An advertisement pop-up might appear at the bottom of the video.

Differentiation

Art or science classes could make visual representations of a milpa. Students could choose to draw, make a collage, or make three-dimensional models to explain how the 14-year cycle works.
Earth science and biology classes could compare and contrast the Maya Milpa Cycle with industrialized Western farming practices, particularly how they differ in their effects on water quality, biodiversity, and land use changes.
Other resources on this topic include this lesson plan on farming and the climate, this video about regenerative agriculture, and this article about how forests absorb carbon.

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The Kid Should See This

The Kid Should See This is a Webby award-winning collection of over 7,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone. Start conversations, spark questions, and inspire offline exploration for all ages.

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The Maya Milpa Cycle, a Sustainable Forest Gardening Method

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources