--- title: "Year 4 History - The Maya and the Cacao Bean" url: "https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news/2026-07-07-year-4-history-the-maya-and-the-cacao-bean" school: "Darwen St James’ C of E Primary Academy" --- # Year 4 History - The Maya and the Cacao Bean ![](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/news/01ac47bb-dd4d-4550-a1e1-8e3fcb0fa2f3.jpg) 7 July 2026 Year 4 have been further investigating the lifestyle of the Maya civilisation, when we came across something we have already looked at this year - the cacao bean! Pupils were able to remember facts from their previous Geography unit, and relate this to the Maya. Year 4 were amazed to find that the Maya had managed to grow and harvest a difficult plant where the Maya lived and for the beans to become such an integral part of Maya lifestyle. They were even more impressed to find out the Maya were the first to make hot chocolate! Year 4 played a Maya board game in groups to find out even more facts. The winner was the person with the most 'cacao beans' at the end! ![](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/images/news/01ac47bb-dd4d-4550-a1e1-8e3fcb0fa2f3.jpg) [Year 4](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news/tag/year-4) [History](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news/tag/history) [![](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/imagecache/100x100c/news/c52dcea0-b109-4e5d-85aa-42771e949b57.jpg)](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news/2026-07-06-nursery-pre-school-r-e-noah-s-ark) Previous ### [Nursery/Pre-School-R.E-Noah's Ark](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news/2026-07-06-nursery-pre-school-r-e-noah-s-ark) [![](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/imagecache/100x100c/news/cc5fb70e-6f7a-4db9-a042-1d1145205f79.jpg)](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news/2026-07-08-year-5-pe-athletics-shot-put) Next ### [Year 5 PE - Athletics: Shot Put](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news/2026-07-08-year-5-pe-athletics-shot-put) ### Academy Life - [News](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/news) - [Events](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/events) - [Clubs](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/academy-life/basc) - [School Council](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/academy-life/school-council) - [Attendance](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/academy-life/attendance) - [Charities and Fundrasing](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/academy-life/charities-and-fundraising) - ![School Games Gold](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/Gold_Logo_25-26(1).png) - ![Healthy school](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/healthy_school.png) - ![Picture News](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/6_Years_of_Picture_News.png) - ![AP smilestar](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/Screenshot_2026-07-27_10.26.27.png) ##### Location St James Crescent Darwen Lancashire BB3 0EY ##### Contact Us 01254 703260 ##### Stay Connected - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Darwenstjames) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/darwenstjames/) © Copyright 2021–2026 Darwen St James’ C of E Primary Academy School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)