Home Canada Mexico China Israel

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome Message

I. Background

  1. Country and State Fact Sheet
    Blank Fact Sheet
    Completed Fact Sheet
  2. Big Maps
  3. The Mexican Flag
    Flag Terminology Handout
  4. Mexico's National Anthem
  5. History of Mexico and Veracruz

II. Music

  1. Los Utrera, Son Jarocho, El Fandango & Versada
  2. Instrument Making for
    Students and Adults
  3. World Music Links
  4. World Culture Links

III. Mexican Culture

  1. What is Culture?
    What is Culture? handout
  2. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
  3. Folklore
    Folklore Values Survey
  4. Culinary Culture
  5. Religions of Mexico—Architecture
    Religions of Mexico—Origin Myths

IV. Here and Now

  1. Migration and Immigration
  2. Borders
  3. Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples
  4. Stereotypes

V. Community Connections

  1. Before and After Questions
  2. Intercultural Connections
  3. The Heritage and Oral History Projects
  4. Student Curator Project
  5. Class Newspaper or Web site
  6. Culture on Parade
  7. Student Participation in Events

This curriculum was written by Jeanne Paliatka and Olaf Nelson for Arts Midwest.

Mexico

I: BACKGROUND

Part 1: Country and State Fact Sheet

Overview:
Using a prepared handout and preselected Web sites, students will engage in a webquest to identify basic elements of Mexican geography such as population, natural resources, and languages.

Objectives:
Students will identify key facts about Mexico and Mexican culture.
Students will familiarize themselves with web resources about Mexico.
Students will gain and understanding and appreciation of the diversity of Mexican culture.

Grade Level:
Elementary through high school

Time Required:
One class period

Materials:
Student Assignment Sheet
Computers to access Web sites or reference books
Pen or pencil
Teachers may direct students to the Student Resources Pages where they can follow relevant links without having access to lesson plans.

Procedure:

  1. Distribute student assignment sheet, "Mexico Fact Sheet," to students. Direct students to the preselected Web sites listed on the handout.
  2. Instruct students to visit the Web sites on the handout and utilize the information on these Web sites to answer the questions on the handout.
  3. Students will have finished the assignment when they have completed the handout thoroughly.

Extensions:
Depending on age level and the time remaining, students could

  • locate the major geographical features of Mexico on a map
  • illustrate a map by adding features that they identified in the webquest
  • create a travel brochure that would highlight the benefits of travel to Mexico
  • create a comparison chart between another country and Mexico
  • create a list of questions about Mexico for further exploration

Resources:
(Links will open in new windows.)

World Almanac for Kids

A country study of Mexico from the Library of Congress

Mexico for Kids is a site created by the office of the President of Mexico to teach children about the country and culture.