Chaco Canyon and Chichén Itzá are two of many places in the world where ancient observers studied the sky. The buildings in these two locations reflect cycles that these observers saw in the heavens. The markings people left behind describe the importance of those cycles to ancient life.
Use this teacher's guide as a basis for exploring ancient astronomy. We've provided classroom activities and supplemental material about the sun, seasons, ancient cultures, and the ways in which these cultures' relationship to the sun was expressed. Each module includes National Science Education Standards, downloadable versions of each activity, links to background material, media to use in your classroom, and more.
Activities relating to the Chaco Canyon Web site:
Your Own Petroglyph
Mayan Calendar Round
the Mayan Code
many other relevant activities in the Educator's section of NASA's
Ancient Observatories Web site.