LACEY HOGUE
5th - 7th GRADE
GEOGRAPHY

PURPOSE:

Students will become familiar with the culture, language, and history of Mexico.

CONNECTION TO THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS:

No. 1 - Know and understand how to use maps, globes and other graphical tools to acquire, process and report information. This will be accomplished in the lesson on Mexico Geography, because the students will be creating maps of Mexico by following directions

No. 5 - Know and understand that people define regions and use them to interpret the world's changing complexity. This will be learned from the Mexico, Past & Present lesson, because they will be researching the effects that past and present occurrences have had on Mexico and how they have made changes in the country as well as affecting other countries.

No. 6 - Know and understand the culture and experience people's perceptions of places and experiences. This will accomplished through the lessons on the Spanish language, markets, and Cinco de Mayo. The students will become familiar with; and through activities, they will become involved in Spanish culture.

OBJECTIVES:

Students will demonstrate their ability: 1. To follow directions in creating maps of Mexico's geography 2. To learn phrases of the Spanish language and how it evolved 3. To learn and create a Mexican fiesta atmosphere 4. To learn about and create a Mexican Marketplace scene 5. To research and analyze past and present occurrences in Mexico.

OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION:

This is a collection of several 1/2 hour to 2 hour lesson plans or presentations on Mexico. Each lesson can be applied to more than just one subject area. Some of the subject areas include geography, spanish, history, and government. The activities can be used in grade 5 through 6. These presentations or lesson plans are very active, in order that students will enjoy their time learning about Mexico. They are not exactly put in a day by day order. These lesson plans can be used at anytime that you as a teacher wish to apply them. Enjoy!!!

MEXICO GEOGRAPHY

1 HOUR LESSON SPONGE ACTIVITY: Have Spanish music playing, preferably mariachi music

DISCUSSION:

Begin class with the following discussion:

Mexico is the northernmost country of Latin America. It lies just south of the United States, the Rio Grande forming part of the border between the two countries of Belize and Guatemala. The Pacific Ocean forms Mexico's western border and the Gulf of Mexico forms its eastern border.

Most of Mexico is mountainous. Two great mountain ranges extend along the coasts. They are called the Sierra Madre Occidental in the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental in the east. To the south lies a mass of mountains that include a chain of volcanoes.

ACTIVITY:

After discussing this with the class, give each student a copy of the map of Mexico and the directions that go with it listed in the materials. Then hand out the map title Mexico, Geographically Speaking, which is also listed in the materials. Have the students follow the directions for each.

ASSESSMENT:

Grade student on how accurate their mapping is to the directions given.

CLOSURE:

Have students compare maps and clean up materials.

MATERIALS:

1. one copy of directions and map for each student. This is found in: Mexico Activity Book: Explore Mexico Through Art, Crafts, Cooking, and Historical Aids. written by Mary Jo Keller, pages 6 &7.

2. one copy of map titled Mexico, Geographically Speaking for each student. This map is found in an activity enhancer titled Social Studies Mini-Unit:MEXICO. by Christine M. Jensen.

3. map pencils

4. Black pen

EXTENSION:

This can also be used in a Spanish classroom. Translate the directions and discussion into Spanish for the students to follow. This can especially be used for learning the Spanish colors and directions. This could also be used in a math lesson using scales with population, density, etc.

THE SPANISH LANGUAGE

1/2-1 HOUR LESSON SPONGE ACTIVITY:

Have students brainstorm write down as many Spanish words that they can come up with.

DISCUSSION: THE SPANISH LANGUAGE

Discuss the history of the Spanish language. When the Spanish first came to Mexico in 1517, the people of middle

America spoke many different languages. As the Spanish and Indian cultures blended the Spanish language spread, but in certain areas the people continued to speak their own language and the ancient languages were preserved. In Mexico today one can still hear the ancient Maya and Zapotec languages.

Today almost all Mexican people speak Spanish, which is the country's official language, in addition to their own tribal language.

ACTIVITY:

After the discussion, learn and practice Spanish greeting phrases. Create flash cards with the following English and Spanish phrases.

¡Hola! Hello

Buenos días. Good Morning. These can be colored and laminated for durability, followed by cutting each one out. Have the students match up the Spanish card with the English card that say the same thing. This can be done individually or in groups. After matching the cards correctly, have students glue them next to each other on the construction paper to make a reference sheet. Practice saying the words with a friend. ASSESSMENT/CLOSURE:

Check for correctness on the matching of the English and Spanish language. Give a short quiz over the class discussion. MATERIALS:

sheet of quotes crayons, markers, or map pencils construction paper scissors glue

EXTENSION:

This can be used in a Spanish classroom, especially when introducing the greeting phrases.

CINCO DE MAYO

1-2 HOUR LESSON SPONGE ACTIVITY: Have mariachi music playing for the students listening enjoyment

DISCUSSION:

Discuss with the class the Mexican holiday, Cinco de Mayo. This National holiday Cinco de Mayo, Which means May 5th, honors the Battle of Puebla on that date in 1862. It was during this battle that untrained Mexican forces defeated an army of French mercenaries.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with boisterous fiestas throughout Mexico. In Mexico City, the president makes a stirring speech that is followed by a huge military parade through the streets of the capital. Local celebrations include mariachi bands, ferris wheels, fireworks, dancing, and lots of delicious food and drink.

ACTIVITY:

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a classroom fiesta(there is a sheet included with classroom fiesta ideas). Make cascarones to have at your fiesta. Make sure to have a broom near by.

Cascarones or Mexican confetti eggs are very popular at fiestas. Boys and girls hope to crack an egg over the head of someone they secretly like. By the end of a fiesta a very popular boy or girl may be covered in confetti.

Directions for making cascarones:

1. Use a large sewing needle to pierce a raw egg on both ends. Cut a small hole in one end. Blow into the small hole over a bowl to catch the raw egg. Rinse the egg and allow to dry thoroughly.

2. Fill egg with confetti. Seal the opening by gluing a small piece of paper over the hole.

3. Paint the egg with bright colors.

ASSESSMENT:

A test or quiz can be given over the dates and history of Cinco de Mayo.

CLOSURE:

Have student clean up mess before giving them their quiz.

MATERIALS:

Eggs, tissue paper, scissors, glue, confetti, tempera paint, paint brush

EXTENSION:

This can be used in a Spanish classroom when discussion Spanish holidays or on May 5th to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. MARKETPLACES

1/2 HOUR - 1 HOUR LESSON SPONGE ACTIVITY: Have directions written on the board for the students to write what they think a Mexican Market would be like, or if they have been to one to tell about their experiences. Have some share what they wrote about before beginning the class discussion.

DISCUSSION: MARKETPLACES

Almost every village, city and town in Mexico has a marketplace. Going to the market is a very popular activity, especially in the farm areas. People who wish to sell the items they have brought to market can rent a stall if they wish or just spread their goods on the ground. People bring items such as baskets, lace, produce, foods, crafts, and pottery to sell or trade. The atmosphere in the marketplace is festive and noisy as people chat, whistle, hiss, visit with friends, and as buyers and sellers bargain for the best deals. ACTIVITY:

Turn your classroom into a market place!

With the students' parents' permission, have them bring a beach towel and a few small items from home to trade. Push the desks to the side of the classroom. Students spread their towels on the floor and arrange their items. Children can take turns browsing through the market and being a vendor. Items may be traded several times.

CLOSURE / ASSESSMENT

Have students put up their market stuff, and close with a classroom discussion of the marketplace atmosphere. Such questions can be asked:

Would you like to shop this way all the time? Why?

Would you rather shop with money or by trade? Why? (make sure everyone shares something in answering questions.)

MATERIALS:

a prior note to the parents, small items brought from home, beach towels.

EXTENSION:

This can be used in a Spanish, math, and/or economics classroom when discussing marketplace word, such as money, buy, sell, trade, vendor, etc.

MEXICO PAST & PRESENT

2 HOUR LESSON

SPONGE ACTIVITY:

Have students gather up all source materials in classroom. Send a few down to the library to gather some materials prearranged between you and the librarian.

DISCUSSION:

Explain to the students the activity they are about to be involved in. Get them excited.

Split them into four groups. Cut apart the four student projects listed on the included sheet. Give each group a question to explore and to prepare a presentation. Students should use at least 3 different sources and reach consensus as a group. Encourage students to use visual aids in their presentation. Let them know that they can use the overhead and the chalk board.

Allow students to work on their project for the rest of the class period. Have presentations of their research on the following day.

ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION:

Grade students on their presentation, how well they worked to gather, how they used their resources, and visual aids.

MATERIALS:

Magazines World Encyclopedia Newspapers The Internet Any resource book

EXTENSION:

This can be used in a history or government class since some groups will be researching the past and others current issues which do affect our economy and have affected where we are today.

Created May 1, 1997