This document outlines an English lesson plan about Mayan ball games and soccer/football for students aged 14-18 with an A2 English level. The main goals are to compare Mayan and modern ball games, have students express opinions about both, and practice past grammar. Students will learn about the history and rules of the Mayan ball game and soccer through readings, videos and exercises. The activities aim to foster interest in sports and Mayan culture while allowing students to reflect on the importance of practicing sports and comparing the origins of the games.

3. • Main
• To develop students’ abilities in the target
language, as well as to have them compare the
“ball game” in the mayan culture with the well
known football soccer.
• Communicative
• To have students express their opinion about the
two games.
• Linguistic
• To practice the use of the grammar structure in
past.

4. Students will practice their previous knowledge
through activities about the Mayan ball game and
the football soccer.
Students will learn some historical facts about both
games.
These activities will promote in students the
importance of practicing a sport but at the same
time will give them the possibility to know relevant
aspects. They also can reflect on our important
culture.

5. The suitable students for this unit will be young
learners between 14-18 years old with an A2 level in
English, according to the Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages. They will
be practicing through activities such as:
readings, listenings and other exercises via web.

6. • These activities may foster interest in the sports and
mayan culture on the students, they can reflect
about the importance to practice a sport and
compare the differences or similarities on the
creation of both games.

7. Cilck on the activity you want to work.
Activity 3:
Activity 5:

8. 1. Look at the pictures and answer the questions. Write your answers on a
separate document. Send it via email.
•What are they doing?
•Do you like to practice sports?
•Do you find similarities?
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9. 2. Read the following texts. Answer letters A, B, C and D
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10. ___ Court a) Formal and dignified.
___ Solemn b) The leader of a people or clan.
___ Chieftain c) Cruel or severe.
d) A quadrangle surrounded by a building
___ Harsh or group of buildings.
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11. • The court where Mayas played • They had to pass the ball
was made of: without touching their:
a) Sand a) Hips
b) Stone b) Feet
c) Grass c) Hands
d) Cement d) Heads
• The winners of the game • What happened to the losing
were treated as: team leader?
a) Bishops a) He was punished
b) Gods b) He was killed
c) Children c) Nothing
d) Heros d) He was rewarded
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12. ___ To trip a) The front of the leg below the knee.
___ Rugby b) Bring into a disordered or confusing state.
___ Shin c) A team game played with an oval ball that
may be kicked, carried, and passed by hand
___ Muddle
d) Catch one's foot on something and
stumble or fall.
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13. • Soccer / football really began to take • Where did soccer began to
shape in the ____ century? take shape?
a) 17th a) China
b) 18th b) England
c) 19th c) France
d) 20th d) Greece
• Which countries played
the first match? • When did the first world cup
a) China and the take place?
Netherlands a) In 1872
b) England and Scotland b) In 1859
c) France and Japan c) In 1920
d) Greece and Italy d) In 1930
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14. 4. Watch and Listen carefully. Answer A and B for video
number 1 and C and D for the video number 2.
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15. Click on the image to watch the video.
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videos

16. • Your opinion about the two games.
• What similarities and differences you find.
• Would you like to play any of them? Why/why not?
• Did you know something about them before?
Note: You will send this via email
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17. • Soccer has changed a lot since its beginning. _____________
• Multinationalism began in the middle of the 20th century. _____________
• The man thinks that the rules of soccer are simple. _____________
• Soccer is not very popular in poor countries. _____________
• George Best was an ireland player. _____________
• Maradona was not a very exentric player. _____________
• Pelé is probably the most famous player in the world. _____________
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18. 1. Do you think the questions were interesting for the person
interviewed? Why? Why not?
2. Were the questions interesting for you?
3. What would you have asked him?
4. How many questions would you have asked?
5. Do you agree with the answers of the man interviewed?
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19. • The name in Mayan for the ball game was Pok ta Pok. _____________
• The video takes place in Chichen Itzá. _____________
• Mayans were allowed to kick or handle the ball. _____________
• The ball weighed between 500 gr. and 4 kg. _____________
• They didn’t use any protection while playing. _____________
• The ball was made from a rubber tree. _____________
• The ball court is a vital element to all mesoamerican cultures. _____________
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20. 1. What was the video about?
2. Did you find the topic interesting? Why? Why not?
3. Was it difficult for you to understand?
4. What facts were interesting for you to know?
5. Did you like what you watched?
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21. You need:
•To work in pairs.
•Choose a different sport.
•Mention important facts such as: The origin, rules, popularity nowadays.
•Give your comments about it. (You practice it, you like, etc)
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