MexicoKatie MielkeKatie StanleyEDE 300-02

05/01/02

Mexico: The Land and the PeopleGrade 3

Lesson ObjectivesBe able to identify

Mexico on a map.Have an understanding

of Mexican culture and traditions.

Understand how diversity can have a positive effect on their life.

                                                            

Geography

Geography

• Mexico is shaped like a fat fish hook!

• Inside the hook is the Gulf of Mexico.

• The Pacific Ocean borders Mexico’s West Coast.

• Most of Mexico is a high mesa, or plateau.

• Also bordered by the Rio Grande ( meaning “Big River”).

• Mexico has two mountain ranges:

• The East and West Sierra Madres.

Topographical Map Activity

You will need:Scrap paperBlenderWhite glueMasonite or thin,

stable boardTempera paintPaintbrush

STEP 1: Tear paper into small

pieces and soak in water for an hour.

STEP 2: Blend paper in blender to

make pulp and squeeze out the moisture,

You need about 2 cups of the pulp.

Topographical Map Activity

STEP 3: Draw a large outline

of Mexico on the board.

Use the pulp to fill in the outline and build in the mountain chains and high plateaus.

Paint the map, using tempera paint, and add details to the mountains (brown), plateaus (green), and oceans (blue).

Add a color key.

Demographics Population: Approx. 94 million people Size: 756,066 square miles Mexico is 4 times larger than Texas! Capital: Mexico City Language: Spanish Religion: Mostly Roman Catholic Crops: coffee, cotton, and wheat

Town Square in Mexico City

The Mexican Flag• Green Stripe stands

for hope.• White Stripe stands

for purity.• Red Stripe stands for

the blood of the Mexican People.

• Drawing is based on an Aztec legend.

History of Mexico Mexico was inhabited by Indian

civilizations, such as the Mayans and the Aztecs.

In 1519, the Spanish came to Mexico and conquered the Aztecs.

They killed people mercilessly and destroyed villages and cities.

Aztecs• The Aztecs migrated from their homeland,

Aztlan.

• They were told by a religious god to settle where they saw an eagle in a cactus eating a snake.

• Aztecs have about 1,600 gods ~ one for every aspect of their life.

AztecsThe Aztecs also had

public ceremonies, involving dancing, singing, music and drama, as well as bloody human sacrifices.

Religion• One of the main

religions in Mexico is Catholicism. Over 92% of the people are Catholic.

• The Indians worship many gods and goddesses

• There is no national religion.

                                                                                                         

Celebrations and Festivals

• Holy Week– Easter celebrations that last one week.– Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• December 12th

– A day of feast in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary).

• Posada– Longest celebration in Mexico.– During Christmas time to celebrate the birth of Jesus

Christ.

Cinco de Mayo• Means the fifth of

May• Celebration of the

victory at the Battle of Puebla

• Celebration of independence

Dia De La Raza• October 12th

• Celebration to honor people of mixed Spanish and Mexican Heritage!

• Plenty of food, dancing and music!!!

Making Pinatas• You will need: Large, round balloon Newspaper Paste (equal amounts of

flour and water) Twine Paint and paintbrush Tissue paper Glue Rope

STEP 1: Blow up balloon and tie it.

Tear newspaper into short strips. Paste a layer of strips over the balloon, overlapping slightly.

Make a harness for the balloon. Cover with three more layers of strips. Hang balloon to dry (may take several days).

Making Pinatas STEP 3: Paint the pinata as

desired, and then cut a trap door in the back. Pop the balloon and remove it.

STEP 4: Fill the pinata with

goodies and close the trap door.

Hang the pinata from a rope and you are ready to go!!!

Family• Family life is

extremely important in Mexico.

• Children, parents, and grandparents often live in the same house.

• On Sundays, friends and family gather together to share a big meal together.

Education• School is free and

children are expected to attend at least until the 6th grade.

• At age 14 students decide whether or not to go on to secondary school.

Language• Spanish is the national

language• Indian languages are

also spoken • There are different

dialects of Spanish spoken– Chilango Spanish– Norteno Spanish– Yucateco Spanish

Food• Mexican food is a

mixture produced from Spain, France, Germany and Italy.

• Mexico introduced the world to its own food; corn, potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate, vanilla, chilies and peanuts.

Making Tortillas You will need:2 cups of masa harina1 1/3 cup of waterWax paperGriddle or frying pan

STEP 1: Heat the pan on the stove

over medium heat. STEP 2: Divide the dough into 10

equal pieces and roll each into a small ball. Press each ball into a flat circle, or use a rolling pin b/w two pieces of wax paper.

Making Tortillas STEP 3: Cook each tortilla in

the pan for about a minute, and then turn over and cook for 30 seconds.

Makes 10 6-inch tortillas

Put the tortillas into a warm basket lined with cloth and you are ready to eat!!!

Sports• Futbol (soccer) is the

national sport.• Everyone begins

playing at a very young age.

• Baseball is also a popular sport.

• Bullfighting is the most popular spectator sport in Mexico.

Music• The most popular style

of music Nortena, a mixture of sounds from Europe and Mexico.

• Mexicans also enjoy Tejano, which is a mix of American and Mexican music.

• Mariachi bands are also popular.

Our Own Mexican Fiesta!

Decorate your party space with red, green, and white, the colors of the Mexican flag!

Plan a menu of Mexican foods, such as burritos, made with homemade tortillas and salsa!

Make a pinata to include in the festivities!

Wear some festive Mexican clothing, play some traditional music, and greet your guests in Spanish!

You are ready to party down Mexican style!!!

Party Time at the Mexican Fiesta!!!

Interactive Websites

• http://teacher.scholastic.com/glokid/mexico/• http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/0

,6709,176090,00.html• http://www.nuttinbutkids.com/cincodemayo

.html• http://www.inside-mexico.com/• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/school/

mexico/

Books

!Mexico!

40 activities to experience Mexico past and present

By Susan Milord Countries of the

World: Mexico

by Michael Dahl

Our Global Village: A Cultural Resource Guide

by Nancy KlepperAztecs: The Fall of the

Aztec Capital

by Richard Platt