The document provides background information on several historical mysteries: Chichen Itza was an important Mayan religious site in Mexico containing temples and pyramids. The Dropa stones were allegedly found in a Chinese cave containing ancient hieroglyphs describing beings from the sky. The Inca Empire left a legacy of architecture and artworks including ceremonial masks before being conquered by Spain. Reports of the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland have found nothing despite many searches of the lake.

1. English, Second Grade
Teaching Unit 23 – Project 3 A mystery poster 71
Background information
Chichen Itza, meaning ‘at the mouth of the Itza well’, is a Mayan city on the Yucatan Peninsula in
Mexico. It probably served as the religious centre. The site contains temples, pyramids and other
buildings which show an amazing degree of architectural perfection.
The Dropa stones were allegedly discovered in a cave in the Himalayas in 1938. Explorers found
hundreds of stones 30 cm in diameter with a small hole in the centre. The stones were found to be 12,000
years old and to contain rows of tiny hieroglyphics which told the story of a race of people coming from
the skies. Several skeletons with large heads and small bodies were found with the stones. The stones are
now said to be in a Chinese museum.
Inca mask: The Inca tribe came to prominence in the 12th
century. In the following centuries they created
the Inca Empire, before being conquered by the Spanish in the 16th
century. The Incas left an important
legacy of architecture, painting, textiles and jewellery, including some beautiful ceremonial masks.
The Loch Ness Monster is a sea animal that some people claim lives in Loch Ness, a lake in Scotland.
There have been several searches of the lake, most recently in 2001, which have found nothing.
Do your research
 Work in pairs.
 Look at the pictures on p. 124.
 What do you know about the mysteries.
 Choose a mystery to research.
 Find out as much as you can about your mystery.
 Find some pictures for your poster.
Make the poster
 At the top of a large piece of paper, write the title of your presentation and arrange your pictures
and text on the poster.
Share your research
 Put up your poster for everyone to see.
 Read other groups’ posters.
 Think of an interesting question about your mystery and ask other students for their opinion.
 Present your poster to the class and explain the mystery.
 Vote on the most interesting poster presentation.