Chris Eboch

Art Projects using The Well of Sacrifice by Chris Eboch


Design a Mayan pectoral (large pendant) for you to wear. Cut the pieces out of colored paper and hang them on yarn. See the the images at left, and the pictures on pages 53, 88 and 225 of The Well of Sacrifice.


Using watercolors or colored pencils, paint the jungle as it is described in Chapter 1. (see also pp. 82-83)


Different cultures have different mythologies of creation. Draw a creation story based on Mayan mythology.


Draw the costumes of Mayan warriors (see p. 25), the king (see p. 31), or a rich noblewoman (see p. 18-22)


Read the description of a market on page 78. Find pictures of some of the items mentioned (try the encyclopedia or books on the Maya). Design a mail order catalog that features Mayan trade goods. Draw pictures of the items and write descriptions of them to tempt people to buy.


Design a comic strip for The Hero Twins Defeat the Lords of Death. (see p. 39-43)


Draw a comic based on any scene from The Well of Sacrifice.


Read about the monument to the victory over the savages on p. 73. Choose an important event in your life or your family. Design a monument to that event.



Writing Projects using The Well of Sacrifice by Chris Eboch

Pretend you are reviewing The Well of Sacrifice for your local newspaper. Write a description of the book and a critique. What did you like? What did you dislike? What would you have changed? Who were your favorite characters?


Using color photographs of a Central American jungle or city, be a tour guide or travel writer and describe the jungle or city.


Read “Play Ball, Jaguar Paw!” (see the box at left), or read other stories or books about the Maya. Then write a short story set in Mayan times. If you wish, you can take a modern story or a folktale, and rewrite it set in Mayan times. Try a Mayan Cinderella, Snow White, or Rumplestiltskin.


Pretend you are an anthropologist, looking for data about the Mayan world. First brainstorm a list of topics. Then make lists for each topic, using The Well of Sacrifice or other books about the Maya.

Sample list of topics:

Foods and food preparation
Local animals and birds
Mayan names
Art and decorative items
Clothing and jewelry
Rain forest products
Religious rituals


Read “Play Ball, Jaguar Paw!” (see the box at left). Review pages 46-49 in The Well of Sacrifice. How is the Mayan ball game like modern basketball? How is it different? Would you like to play pok-a-tok?


Review the coming-of-age ceremony on p. 85-89. Create a rite of passage ritual for our times. Describe the preparations, dress, location, the ceremony itself, and any celebration afterward. Perhaps you can even act out this ceremony with your family or friends.