If you’re searching for a fun and educational project, this Mayan pyramid craft for kids is the perfect activity. Not only is it creative and hands-on, but it also teaches children about Guatemala’s history and culture. By combining a paper Mayan pyramid craft with a colorful quetzal bird craft, kids get to learn about two of Guatemala’s most important symbols.
This project works beautifully in the classroom or at home. Whether you’re planning a Guatemalan pyramid craft for a school lesson, exploring easy Guatemalan craft ideas for kids, or looking for a creative activity for Hispanic Heritage Month, this craft is affordable, simple, and educational.
Why Make a Mayan Pyramid Craft for Kids?
The Maya civilization, which flourished in Guatemala for thousands of years, is famous for its towering pyramids. These structures weren’t just architectural wonders—they were also places of ceremony and community gatherings.
By making a this pyramid craft, children can better understand these iconic structures and learn more about the ancient Mayan civilization while practicing cutting, gluing, and layering. Adding the quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird, makes the activity even richer, connecting art to both history and nature. This is one of my favorite Guatemalan crafts, but if you are looking for more ideas on how to celebrate Guatemalan culture or for activities to learn about Guatemala be sure to check out my
What Do Mayan Pyramids Look Like?
Unlike the smooth-sided pyramids of Egypt, Mayan pyramids were built in stepped layers. They often had staircases leading to temples on top, where ceremonies were held. Today, you can still see these incredible structures in places like Tikal, Yaxhá, and El Mirador in Guatemala and other popular Mayan pyramids like Chickén Itzá in Mexico.
Recreating one from brown construction paper rectangles gives kids a hands-on way to visualize the architecture while sparking curiosity about history.
Why Is The Quetzal Guatemala’s National Bird?
The resplandescent quetzal is one of the most stunning birds in the world, with shimmering green feathers, a red chest, and long flowing tail plumes. For the Maya, the quetzal was a sacred bird, symbolizing freedom and beauty. Today, it is so important to Guatemalans that the national currency is named after it. The quetzal is also Guatemala’s national bird and it is depicted in Guatemala’s coat of arms. It’s meaning and symbolism comes from the ancient Mayan civilization where it was an important part of their culture.
Including a quetzal craft for kids alongside the pyramid helps connect the activity to Guatemala’s identity and natural heritage.
Materials for a Mayan Pyramid Craft
Here’s what you’ll need to get started with your Mayan pyramid craft for kids:
- Brown construction paper (for the pyramid)
- Green construction paper (for the quetzal and leaves)
- Red construction paper (for the quetzal’s chest)
- Yellow paper (for the beak or sun)
- Glue stick
- Child-safe scissors
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Watercolors (optional, for a background)
- White cardstock or poster board (for the base)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Background
Use crayons or watercolors to create a jungle backdrop with greens, blues, and yellows.
Step 2: Build the Pyramid
Cut out several rectangles from brown paper, each one smaller than the last. Stack them in layers to form the pyramid’s stepped shape. Add a vertical strip in the center for the staircase. Glue everything onto your background.
Step 3: Make the Quetzal
Cut out the quetzal’s body from green paper, add a red chest piece, and glue on long green tail feathers. Use a yellow triangle for the beak.
Step 4: Add Details
Cut simple leaves or trees from green paper and glue them around the pyramid. Kids can also draw vines, clouds, or even the Guatemalan flag.
Step 5: Personalize
Encourage kids to decorate their scene however they like. The more details, the more unique the craft becomes.
Why This Mayan Pyramid Craft is A Great Craft for Hispanic Heritage Month
This Mayan pyramid craft for kids is an ideal project for multiple settings:
- In the classroom: Use it as part of a lesson on Central America, history, or Hispanic Heritage Month.
- At home: Makes a great family activity that teaches cultural appreciation.
- For school fairs or cultural projects: A simple yet impressive display piece.
- As part of art and social studies: Kids can learn history while being creative.
Teachers can extend the activity by showing pictures of real pyramids or reading stories about Guatemala. Parents can pair it with Guatemalan food or music to make it a cultural experience at home.
A Craft That Teaches About the Mayan Culture
This Guatemalan pyramid craft goes beyond arts and crafts. It helps children:
- Learn about culture and history: Explore Mayan pyramids and the significance of the quetzal.
- Practice fine motor skills: Cutting and gluing are excellent for younger children.
- Boost creativity: Kids add their own touches to personalize their craft.
- Gain cultural awareness: Introduces them to Guatemala’s heritage in a hands-on way.
This Mayan pyramid craft for kids is a wonderful way to combine history, culture, and creativity. By making both the pyramid and the quetzal, children create something colorful while learning about Guatemala’s past and present.
Whether you’re planning a Guatemalan pyramid craft for a school project, looking for Mayan crafts for kids at home, or searching for easy Guatemalan craft ideas, this activity is engaging, affordable, and full of educational value.
Bring a little piece of Guatemala into your classroom or living room with this simple yet meaningful craft project.
More Guatemalan Crafts and Activities
- Cooking Guatemalan Desserts: Kids can try the flavors of Guatemala by making delicious traditional desserts like platanos en mole and torrejas. They’ll learn how to combine simple ingredients to create sweet treats like champurradas inspired by Guatemalan culture. This activity allows children to explore a different cuisine while having fun in the kitchen.
- Make a Fun Flying Quetzal Craft: Kids can learn about Guatemala’s national bird, the quetzal, by making their own colorful flying quetzal craft. This project helps them understand the cultural importance of the bird while encouraging creativity. It’s a perfect way to combine crafting with a lesson on Guatemalan heritage. You can also check out this easy paper cup quetzal craft.
- Reading Guatemalan Books for Kids: Kids can dive into Guatemalan culture by reading books that share its folklore and traditions. These stories help kids learn about the country’s history and values in a fun, engaging way. Reading these books encourages children to connect with their roots and expand their understanding of the world.
- Make a Mayan pyramid craft: This easy Mayan pyramid craft is a great way to introduce kids to the ancient Mayan civilization and Mayan heritage as an importnat part of Guatemala’s roots.
- Creating a Colorful Sawdust Carpet: By creating their own sawdust carpet, just like the ones made in Antigua Guatemala for Holy Week, kids get an opportunity to learn about this important religious celebration. This hands-on project teaches them about an important cultural tradition while allowing them to express their artistic side. It’s a fun way for kids to experience a part of Guatemalan festivities.
- Making Delicious Traditional Guatemalan Candy: This activity lets them experiment with making sweets that are part of Guatemala’s culinary traditions, from cocadas to there are so many delicious sweet recipes to try. This is a tasty and creative way for kids to discover new flavors and skills in the kitchen.
For even more ideas be sure to check out my article Guatemalan Craft to Celebrate Guatemala’s Independence where I have compiled our favorite Guatemalan crafts. Discover the vibrant traditions of Guatemala with these exciting craft ideas for kids! Whether it’s crafting a traditional barriletes, making learning about Guatemalan fun with worksheets and coloring pages or creating Guatemalan worry dolls each project introduces children to a unique part of Guatemalan culture. These crafts are a great way to explore and celebrate Guatemala’s rich heritage while having fun.
More Ideas for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Kids
Here are a few more ideas to continue exploring different Hispanic cultures:
- Read Books About Hispanic Culture and Hispanic Leaders: Introduce children to Hispanic culture and history with a selection of age-appropriate books. You can check out my article where I compiled the best Hispanic Heritage books for kids of all ages. These stories provide a great opportunity for kids to learn about the diverse experiences and traditions of Hispanic communities.
- Create a Frida Kahlo Paper Roll Craft: This craft allows kids to learn about Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist, by making a colorful representation of her. It’s an engaging activity that combines creativity with cultural education. You can also make a fun Frida Kahlo craft with natural flowers or learn about more about her with these Frida Kahlo coloring pages.
- Latin American Recipes to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: Engage kids in the kitchen with simple Latin American recipes that highlight the flavors and traditions of Hispanic cuisine. Cooking together is a fun way to explore different cultures and histories.
- Create an Easy Llama Mini Piñata: This simple craft involves making a llama-shaped mini piñata, teaching kids about the significance of llamas in Andean culture. It’s a fun way to combine crafting with cultural education during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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