This unit was developed to give students in grades 7-12 a fuller understanding of the Latin American world, which is a growing part of the multicultural atmosphere in the United States. The unit is used currently in the seventh grade gifted Language Arts program at B. T. Washington Junior High School (Florida). The unit includes; (1) basic information on mythology; (2) specific study of the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas; (3) cultural exploration of Mexico and Peru; and (4) a cross-cultural and literary analysis of three Latin-American short stories. The unit may be done in whole or in part. The myths, cultural exploration, and literature are not interdependent. Due to copyright laws, the short stories and myths are not included in this packet. Only the lesson plans and answer keys are included here. It will be necessary to purchase the following two books if the short stories and mythology units are to be utilized: "Contemporary Latin-American Short Stories" (Pat McNees Mancini) and "Warriors, Gods, and Spirits from Central and South American Mythology" (Douglas Gifford). (EH)