The Mayan counting system and the Aztecs' use of cocoa beans as currency help to bring maths and culture into Spanish lessons.

1. Mayans + Aztecs = Maths

2. The Mayan counting system

3. c.1800 BC – c.900 AD

5. H T U
9
1 0
1 7 4
“Modern” counting in Arabic numbers

6. Mayan counting
shell pebble stick
0 1 5

7. 4 9 14

8. 14
19
20

9. What are
these
numbers ?
23 36 60

10. What are
these
numbers ?
66 99 100

11. Aztec maths

13. 1 bean = 1 fully ripe avocado, 1 large tomato, 20 small
tomatoes, 5 long green chili peppers
3 beans = 1 turkey egg, 1 newly picked avocado
5 beans = 1 large strip of pine bark for kindling
30 beans = 1 small rabbit
100 beans = 1 slave, 1 female turkey
300 beans = 1 male turkey, 1 cotton cape
600 capes = 1 string of jade beads
10 beans = the services of 1 prostitute