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Learning Cycle

Each Learning Cycle is an in-depth journey into another culture. We will explore native lands, people, cultures and related social issues. Each expedition has its own unique themed storyline. Your learning will be supported by direct communication with the team, project related curriculum, web chats and videos, blogs and social media.

 

What is special about adventures with The Learning Cycle

  • Increased collaboration between students, peers, leaders and experts

  • Utilization of the internet for curriculum delivery keeps youth interested and involved

  • Direct contact with Cycle leaders creates high impact learning and lesson retention

  • Internet and media usage resonates with the "digital natives" to keep their attention

 

Mayan Mysteries Cycle

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Spring 2014 The Learning Cycle will be journying to Belize to explore the ancient Maya civilization and modern Maya life. The team will exploring the ancient Maya ruins of Xunantunich to learn about the Maya people: their appearance, social structure, traditions, food and games. They will be learning about the Maya’s accomplishments in science, math and astronomy and they will explore some possible explanations to the decline of the Maya civilization. 

 

The Mayans were spiritual, ritualistic, warriors and believed they had to pay proper respects to their gods in order for them to prosper. They had a number of sacred places that rituals were performed. One of these is Che Chem Ha Cave. This newly discovered cave is reached after a strenuous 45 minute hike through the jungle and has a unique collection of Mayan artwork and artifacts. The cave entrance is straight out of an Indiana Jones movie, decorated with a Maya motif. As you hike deeper into the cave, you will find rope ladders that lead you to chambers high up on the walls. The team will explore what the cave meant to the Mayans, the rituals they performed and what they were trying to accomplish.

 

The team will travel south to Toledo where there are many Mayan villages and they will see how the Mayan culture and traditions live on today. They will be visiting a remote Kek'chi Indian school and connecting them with local schools in Wisconsin to meet kids their age and to ask questions. They will experience modern Mayan life and traditions through a stay in a Mayan village and through shadowing a family throughout the day.

 

Belize is a country with many different cultures and one of the best places to see them is at the Saturday morning market in San Ignacio. You will see Garufuna, Maya, Spanish, Creole, Mennonite and many more all selling their wares and sampling delicious foods. A great place to see all the cultures of Belize. They will track down the Belizean delicacy of gibnut or “royal rat” to see where it got its name and how it is cooked and eaten today.

 

To help students and teachers get the most out of this program, The Learning Cycle Team will be involed throughout the prcocess. The Learning Cycle team will be meeting the students prior to departure, giving them daily updates and videos of ruins and village life while in Belize. They will do a live video chat from a remote Kek’chi Indian school, an amazing once in a lifetime event! The kids will get “hands on” as they look and touch artifacts brought back from Belize. The artifacts will be part of a "Maya Museum" that will stay in Hudson Middle School for future classes. The Learning Cycle – Mayan Mysteries will be finished up as the team recaps their trip and answer questions in a live presentation for the students on their return.

Actun Tunichil Muknal is one of the most amazing caves we have ever visited! Our guide told an amazing story that made us feel like you were traveling back to the time of the ancient Maya!

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