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

V: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Part 5: Class Newspaper or Web site

Overview:
As a culminating project for the study of Mexico, students could create a newspaper or Web site to highlight all they have learned. This format would also allow for them to explore aspects of Mexican popular culture with which they may be unfamiliar, such as films, music, sports, politics, environment, etc.

Objectives:
Students will write an article about some aspect of Mexican culture.
Students will research an aspect of Mexican culture.
Students will create a class newspaper or Web site about Mexico.

Grade Level:
Elementary through high school

Time Required:
Two to three class periods

Materials:
Access to books, magazines, Web sites or newspapers that contain information about Mexico
Paper, pens or pencils
Computer access for word processing or creation of a Web site
Copy of a Sunday edition of a newspaper (beneficial, but not necessary)

Procedure:

  1. As a class, ask students to brainstorm a list of possible topics for their newspaper or Web site. Looking at a newspaper and identifying possible sections (Sports, News, Features, Classifieds, Food, Arts, etc.) would be beneficial.
  2. Encourage students to choose topics based on their interests.
  3. Reviewing the basic elements of a news story (Who, what, where, when, why) as well as explaining objectivity and the importance of a good lead would also be helpful.
  4. Once students have written their articles, compile them into an "issue" or a Web site.

Extensions:
Students can

  • add photographs or magazine pictures to articles
  • interview someone from Mexico (or "interview" a historical figure) for a feature story
  • report on classroom activities related to Mexico for a story in this paper, or in the school or local newspaper.

Resources:
(Links will open in new windows.)

Online Newspapers has links to virtually every world newspaper available online. Use the search boxes to search for a newspaper from any country or culture.