Maya Beauty

We have been learning about the amazing beauty rituals of the Maya, such as shaping skulls with planks of wood at a very early age, so that their foreheads look wide and slanted. The Maya also believed that crossed eyes in order to permanently turn their eyes inward. We are learning about the magnificent Maya jewelry and clothing that adorned the kings and nobles, and the every day fashions of the middle class. In groups of two or three we will be creating a fictional Maya character, which we will bring to life through an imaginary biography. We will then decorate this character with authentic Maya clothing made of burlap and leather, and add as many details as possible to make this character a true representation of Maya beauty. We will update this page as students make progress.

We are also examining other beauty rituals from around the world as well as our own beauty practices in Canada. The students are beginning to realize that beauty is subjective and unique.