Mayan Jungle Adventure gives readers a chance to determine the outcome by the choices they make. Students get lots of reading practice with this activity, while having exciting encounters with the various perils of the jungle. Videos and sounds help carry the action, to create the illusion of moving through a real
The entire activity set includes a supporting book, writing activities and a comprehension test, puzzles, vocabulary cards, resource collections, and extra materials for teachers. An extensive update in 2019 added audible text and more videos to the online books while converting them to HTML5, added a video collection and more items to the photo collection, created six new online puzzles, and set up a stand-alone audible Glossary.
Mayan Jungle Adventure
The anchor activity Mayan Jungle Adventure should be read in multiple sessions. At many points in the story, the reader is offered two choices of what to do or where to go next. Depending on what route is chosen, there are eight different outcomes. Any of these could be a nice stopping point for the day.
Field tests of an early version of this activity show that students typically race through to an outcome, shriek and giggle a lot, and then eagerly start over to see what a different set of choices will bring. Movies and ambient sound make this a very intense and realistic journey. The images in the story are rich and interesting, but there are also plenty of sounds, making this activity a good choice for students with limited vision.
Vocabulary Level And Resources
The vocabulary is basically third grade level, but the content would be enjoyed by students through sixth grade. Older students with basic reading skills and younger students who utilize the audio reading options can also enjoy Mayan Jungle Adventure.
A Glossary with definitions for the special vocabulary of this story can be accessed from within the story in the online, desktop, and multimedia application versions. A Stand-Alone Glossary that runs in a web browser and pronounces the words aloud may be downloaded and used with any version; including the PDF format story, journals, and tests. In addition, there are illustrated vocabulary flash cards.
Test and Writing Activities
Students using the Classroom Suite, HyperStudio, and Clicker versions can write about their adventures in a journal that includes a selection of the photos from Mayan Jungle Adventure from which to choose. A second writing activity reviews the story by presenting scenes from Mayan Jungle Adventure along with a question, each followed by a writing page on which to answer the question. The jungle vocabulary is also available for insertion into these journals from the Glossary.
For the online, desktop, PowerPoint, and PDF versions, there are eight separate (PDF format) journals, each with only the scenes encountered in traveling to one of the eight outcomes. Since students choose their order of exploration, each account will be unique. To help with spelling, students writing in the PDF journals can reference the jungle vocabulary in a Stand-Alone Glossary with buttons to say the words aloud.
For students writing at a very basic level, a third journal in some formats (Classroom Suite, Clicker, HyperStudio) enables them to form sentences using word banks. There is also a short multiple choice comprehension test on Mayan Jungle Adventure using photos from the story for answer choices.
The Supporting Book: Fact Or Fiction?
In creating Mayan Jungle Adventure, I used a seamless combination of photos, composite images, nature film clips, and animation. While this melding of elements is exciting, I realized that students may not always know which parts are real!
The supporting book Fact Or Fiction? attacks this problem. It explains that fiction is imaginary, but differs from a mistake or a lie, then challenges students to guess which specific parts of Mayan Jungle Adventure are fact and which are fiction. This is not a graded test, but students get auditory and visual feedback on each guess. While doing revisions in 2019, my only change was adding one more page, illustrating an example of a lie, because I realized that today the concepts explored in Fact Or Fiction? are more important than ever before.
I hope this book will lead to class discussions about how to evaluate the onslaught of information, some true, some deliberately false, and some mistaken, that is now a part of our lives. I’ve written a Teacher’s Guide to this activity set, including background information about the true elements of Mayan Jungle Adventure and, possibly more important, the sources of that information.
When I wrote Fact Or Fiction? in 2010, I had no idea how much more timely the information in it would become, even for young students. For a ton of free resources on how to evaluate information on the web, click here. I’ve met Alan November, the founder of this group, and the respect and trust I have for his work is why I’ve had a link to his site in the sidebar of this site (Info Links/Information Literacy) from day one.
Puzzles!
Puzzles made from the images in Mayan Jungle Adventure are available for download in several formats. In addition, there are nine puzzles to work online.
Look for links to the online puzzles at the foot of the page. Each description has a Preview button, so you can get a sneak peek at the puzzle image.
The downloadable puzzles are included in the download section for each different application, with the printable puzzles download listed under Printable Activities.
Specific Application Notes
In IntelliTools Classroom Suite®, Clicker 5®, HyperStudio 5®, and the Annie’s Books Online versions, Mayan Jungle Adventure is a non-linear activity with movies and sounds. The PowerPoint® and PDF versions are non-linear, but there are only a few movies in the PowerPoint version and none in the printable PDF. Mayan Jungle Adventure in My Own Bookshelf is a conventional linear story, with sounds and movies. The Fact Or Fiction? book includes sounds in all versions except the PDF.
Annie’s Online And Desktop Books And Online Puzzles
Be sure to check out the link to the online versions of Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact Or Fiction?. Revised to in 2019, now sounds and movies work on all devices (including iPad®) in both the online and the desktop versions, and you can enjoy all the multimedia effects in the desktop versions without an active internet connection. For this update, I’ve added three more videos (now there’s a video for each outcome), lengthened the scarlet ibises and cotton-top tamarins videos, and added audible text with sound effects and dramatic delivery. If you tried the online version in 2010, you’ll find this new version much more exciting! Be sure to click or touch all the Speak Text buttons.
If you are using the PDF, PowerPoint, or My Own Bookshelf versions, plan to also go through the online or desktop versions. That way you won’t miss out on any of the sounds and movies. See the Annie’s Books Online page for details. Also, try out nine online puzzles, six of them new in 2019! Links to all these online activities are in the Online Links-Activities section below.
Not actually online, but running in any modern web browser, is the Stand-Alone Glossary. It includes all the words students might find unfamiliar, their definitions, and a small speaker button to have the word pronounced aloud. I’ve used a variety of computer voices for the Glossary recordings. The words, pronunciations, and definitions in the Stand-Alone Glossary are identical to the content of the Glossary accessible in the online and desktop stories, but can be used offline while writing in the PDF and Word versions of the journals.
Classroom Suite activities
The Classroom Suite activity set is broken into three downloads, because of the large cumulative file size. Mayan Jungle Read includes the two books, Mayan Jungle Write-Review includes two journals and the test, and the third zip file includes five puzzles. All activities have custom IntelliKeys® overlays attached, and you can download Dynavox® versions of these overlays. See the Special Needs Access section on the System Reqs page for information on controlling the Classroom Suite version from PRC devices.
Clicker 5 activities
The Clicker 5 version is one integrated study unit with a menu grid linking to Mayan Jungle Adventure, Fact Or Fiction?, both journals, and the comprehension test. For details on integrated study units, click here.
HyperStudio 5 activities
The HyperStudio version of this activity set has two downloads. Mayan Jungle HS includes a menu stack linking to Mayan Jungle Adventure, Fact Or Fiction?, Mayan Jungle Journal, and the comprehension test. A second zip file has three puzzles. Refer to the HyperStudio is Back! page for information about downloading players to run these activities.
PowerPoint version
The PowerPoint version has been exported as a single unit, including a media subfolder and two .ppt documents for the two books Fact Or Fiction? and Mayan Jungle Adventure.
To keep the movie links intact, unzip the file and move, copy, and paste the entire folder.
SoftTouch® version
Mayan Jungle Adventure in My Own Bookshelf® is a linear version of the story, with sounds and movies. A coordinating test in Test Me Score Me® format can be paired with the MBS version.
Printables!
There are PDF versions of Fact Or Fiction? and Mayan Jungle Adventure, and Microsoft Word® versions of the journal and the comprehension test. New in 2019 are pDF versions of the comnprehension test and eight journals, each following the route to one of the outcomes in Mayan Jungle Adventure. The PDF format test and journals can either be printed out for off-computer use or opened in Acrobat Reader, Preview, or any application that supports PDF to write in onscreen.
To teach vocabulary, there is a PDF file of illustrated flash cards with the words from the jungle glossary. These could also be used for matching games. There are six printable puzzles with images from Fact Or Fiction? and Mayan Jungle Adventure to cut apart and use off-computer.
For teachers, there are scripts of both books, a test key, a PDF version of the vocabulary, and an illustrated flow chart of Mayan Jungle Adventurein the Teacher Materials download. You might want to print the flow chart and post it in the class for students to mark their progress. There is also an extensive Teacher Guide, which includes background information on the factual elements of the story. These include the Olmec and Mayan civilizations, specifically the colossal stone heads, and all the animals. I’ve also included links to videos that couldn’t be included in the story, on the caiman, vampire bats, and the temple viper.
Bonus Resources!
There are three resource collections to download. The MayanAdventureClipArt.zip includes all the small illustrations used on the vocabulary cards; perfect for use in any computer project and in off-computer activities such as matching games.
The photo collection includes the animals encountered in the story, plus some extras, a folder with photos of rainforest foliage layers, and the CAD-generated scenery from Mayan Jungle Adventure. If you downloaded the original collection (2010), be sure to also download this much-expanded collection.
I didn’t include a video collection in the 2010 project, but with the many videos added to the online edition in 2019, there were enough for a very nice video collection. Besides updated versions of all the animal videos from the online story, I’ve included extra videos of jaguars and caimans, a black-and-white version of the vampire bats video, a video of the tropical pool and waterfall, and an extra video of two blue macaws who live in the same area. (There’s one blue macaw in the story, but it doesn’t have a speaking part. Can you find it?)
Applications needed: Classroom Suite, Clicker 5, HyperStudio 5, My Own Bookshelf, Test Me Score Me, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Acrobat Reader
Subject areas: Reading, Writing.
Level: Grades 3-6.
Online Links-Activities
Books
Mayan Jungle Activities link: mayan/index.html Menu leading to Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact Or Fiction? to read online. Revised in 2019 to so that sounds and movies play on all devices, including iPad. For details on using Annie’s Books Online, click here.
Desktop version of Mayan Jungle Adventure download link: mayanDesktop.zip Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact Or Fiction? books to read from the desktop using a web browser. Revised in 2019 to so that sounds and movies play on all devices, including iPad, and no active internet connection is needed.
Stand-Alone Glossary download link: StandAloneGlossary.zip (1.8 MB) Glossary with all the vocabulary words from Mayan Jungle Adventure and their definitions to run using any modern web browser. Click the speaker button or phonetic spelling of each word to hear it pronounced.
For details on using Annie’s Books Online, click here.
Online Puzzles
Caiman I See You Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Caiman online puzzle, 12 pieces. Image is a caiman from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Jaguar Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Jaguar online puzzle, 12 pieces. Image is a jaguar in the rainforest from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Jaguar Below Tree Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Jaguar Below Tree online puzzle, 12 pieces. Image is a jaguar looking up through foliage from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Lost City Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Lost City online puzzle, 12 pieces. Image is a hallway in the lost city from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Olmec Head Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Olmec Head online puzzle, 12 pieces. Image is Olmec stone head from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Ruins Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Ruins online puzzle, 12 pieces. Image is stone room with jungle plants from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Scarlet Ibis Nest 12 PC Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Scarlet Ibis Nest online puzzle, 12 pieces. Image is a mother and baby Scarlet Ibis in a nest, from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Scarlet Ibis Nest 35 PC Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Scarlet Ibis Nest online puzzle, 35 pieces. Image is a mother and baby Scarlet Ibis in a nest, from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
Tropical Pool Puzzle link: CLICK HERE. Tropical Pool online puzzle, 20 pieces. Image is the pool with waterfall and tropical flowers from Mayan Jungle Adventure.
For details on using Annie’s Puzzles Online, click here.
Downloads-Activities
Printable Activities PDF Format
TeacherMaterials.zip (1.2 MB) Zip file with the Teacher Guide, scripts of the two books, comprehension test key, PDf of vocabulary, and illustrated flow chart. The Teacher Guide includes background information on the Olmecs, Mayans, animals in the story, and links to more information and videos.
MayanJungleAdventure.pdf (7.3 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure book to print or read onscreen. No movies. Acrobat Reader.
FactOrFiction.pdf (3.6 MB) Fact or Fiction? book to print or read onscreen. No movies. Acrobat Reader.
PDF_JournalsAndTest.zip (61.6 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure comprehension test and eight journals in PDF format to write onscreen or to print out and use off-computer. Instructions for onscreen use are included. Acrobat Reader.
MayaVocabCards.pdf (1.7 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure vocabulary cards to print May also be used for matching games. Acrobat Reader.
6PrintableJunglePuzzles.zip (3.2 MB) Six puzzles (6-9 pieces) using images from Mayan Jungle Adventure to print, mount, cut apart and use off-computer. PDF format; Acrobat Reader.
MayanJungleAdventurePrintableJigsawPuzzles.pdf (29.8 MB) Six puzzles (12-35 pieces) using images from Mayan Jungle Adventure to print, mount, cut apart and use off-computer. These are printable versions of six of the online puzzles. PDF format; Acrobat Reader.
Printable Activities MicroSoft Word Format
MayanJungleComprehension.doc (2.3 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure comprehension test to print. No movies. MicroSoft Word.
MayanJungleJournal.doc (7.8 MB) Mayan Jungle Journal writing activity to print. No movies. MicroSoft Word.
Multimedia Application Activities
Clicker 5
JungleAdventureClickMac.zip (65.2 MB) Mayan Jungle study unit including Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact or Fiction? interactive books, two journals and test in Clicker 5 MAC. Has QuickTime movies.
JungleAdventureClickWin.zip (74.8 MB) Mayan Jungle study unit including Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact or Fiction? interactive books, two journals and test in Clicker 5 WIN. Has AVI (Indeo compression) movies.
Classroom Suite
MayaJungleReadSuite.zip (80.2 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact or Fiction? interactive books in Classroom Suite v.3 or later. Custom IntelliKeys overlays are attached.
MayaJungleWrite-ReviewSuite.zip (FILE SIZE MB MB) Comprehension multiple choice test on Mayan Jungle Adventure, Mayan Jungle Journal, and Write About Jungle ( easy writing) for Classroom Suite v.3 or later. Custom IntelliKeys overlays are attached.
MayaJunglePuzzlesSuite.zip (15.5 MB) Puzzles using images from Mayan Jungle Adventure for Classroom Suite v.3 or later. Custom IntelliKeys overlays are attached.
MayaJungleDynavox.zip (9.0 MB) Zip file includes all Mayan Jungle Adventure activity overlays saved as Dynavox package files.
HyperStudio 5
MayanJungleHS.zip (66.3 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact or Fiction? interactive books, journal, and comprehension test stacks plus menu stack in HyperStudio 5
MayanJungleHSPuzzles.zip (5.3 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure Puzzles in HyperStudio 5
SoftTouch
JungleAdventureMBS.zip (52.3 MB) Folder with Mayan Jungle Adventure book and movies to import into My Own Bookshelf.
JungleAdventureTMSM.zip (11.2 MB) Test on Mayan Jungle Adventure story using photos for answers. Requires Test Me Score Me.
PowerPoint
MayaPPT.zip (40.6 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure and Fact or Fiction? interactive books saved as a .ppt files. Movies in the same folder. PowerPoint 2003 or later.
Downloads-Resources
MayanAdventureClipArt.zip (3.6 MB) Collection of clip art from Mayan Jungle Adventure including all vocabulary words. To preview the collection, click here.
MayanJunglePhotoCollection.zip (25.2 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure images including photos of all the animals (and a few bonus ones) plus the imaginary locations (created in a CAD program). Revised 2019 and more photos added! To preview the collection, click here.
MayanJungleAdventureVideoCollection.zip (121.5 MB) Mayan Jungle Adventure videos from the story including scarlet ibises, tamarins, vampire bats, and all the other animals, plus bonus videos of the tropical pool and waterfall, caimans, jaguars, and a pair of blue macaws. Videos in .m4v format will play in modern browsers, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, and most multimedia applications. Source information included.
Tracey Gaver writes:
April 8, 2011 @ 1:40 pmI wanted to thank you so much for your generosity! My students have greatly enjoyed your programs (current favorite is Mayan Jungle Adventure — I modified it for our two-switch accessibility issues, and it is fabulous! One of my students especially, who is significantly motor-impaired and also blind, has really come to love the Mayan Jungle Adventure. He was hooked the first time he heard the phrase “it looks spooky” and has consistently made successful choices for where he wants to go. Yesterday, after a long vacation, he was especially thrilled to have found the Tamarins! We played the sound on that page repeatedly, and he navigated to the same conclusion three times!
Tracey,
April 8, 2011 @ 1:43 pmI’m happy to hear that you were able to adapt Mayan Jungle Adventure for students using two switches. Since these students have limited mobility, I think it’s especially important for them to have the chance to explore and move at will in this type of story. With your permission, I’m posting your email address (GaverT@monroe.wednet.edu) so that others trying to adapt Mayan Adventure for 2 switch access can ask you how you did it.