In teaching about Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing a human dimension to the study of the region is essential. Texts on the region can be dull and lifeless or even biased and skewed. Introducing students to the region by exploring prose, poetry, and picture books helps to illustrate the rich diversity found throughout Latin America and the…

These curriculum units were developed in a National Endowment for the Humanities 1994 summer seminar "Mexico in Transition." The 23 lessons are written in Spanish. Lessons are entitled: (1) "La Migracion Mexicana Vista a Traves del Cuento 'Paso del Norte' de Juan Rulfo" (Jose Jorge Armendariz); (2) "Los Grupos Indigenas de…

This project shares the information that an elementary school media specialist gleaned from a summer seminar in Mexico. The document consists almost entirely of pictures of Macintosh video screens. The author used still frame video slide pictures and computerized notes to prepare a "hypercard stack" that readers could access using…

This curriculum unit, designed for a Spanish I class at the high school level, explores the Olmec, an ancient civilization in Mexico. The unit aims for students to develop an appreciation for early civilizations and their importance to the present day. It gives seven objectives for students to work toward and lists detailed strategies for…

This lesson is intended to be incorporated into an Art I unit on religious art that introduces the rise of Christianity as a guiding force in Western art. The goal of the lesson is to compare and contrast the artistic representation of the Virgin Mary most commonly seen in Soria, Spain, with that image most commonly viewed in Mexico. A slide show…

Presents a number of Columbus Day activities which concern both Columbus and the other early explorers of North and South America. (SJL)

This student's resource book contains sources that bring Mexico's evolving national identity into sharper focus for U.S. high school students through utilization of a Mexican perspective. Students see the world through Mexican eyes and contemplate current Mexican choices in the areas of economic development, political reform, and foreign…

This simulation exercise requires participants to practice critical thinking, problem solving, and negotiating skills as they role play real-life conflicts concerning working conditions in a factory in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Participants also learn about Guatemala's history, its social, economic, and political status as of April 1994. Based on…

A rich artistic tradition developed in Mexico hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the Spanish. The indigenous people of Mexico created beautiful works of art that reflected their religious beliefs. Then the Spanish Conquest and colonization during the 1500s introduced Spanish beliefs and traditions to the region. This curriculum unit…

Offers a brief historical perspective on Latino folk literature. Discusses 26 recently published books for children and adolescents in both English and Spanish, organized into origin tales, tales based on historical facts, trickster tales, and cumulative tales. Describes activities to use with these books to foster literacy and make powerful…

This document contains reproducible maps, charts and graphs of Latin America for use by teachers and students. The maps are divided into five categories (1) the land; (2) peoples, countries, cities, and governments; (3) the national economies, product, trade, agriculture, and resources; (4) energy, education, employment, illicit drugs, consumer…

A volume of information about Puerto Rican history and culture is designed for use by teachers in the bilingual education program of the Chicago public schools to support cultural awareness among native Spanish-speaking students. Six chapters outline important information concerning: the history of Puerto Rico, some aspects of the life of the…

Gives examples of poems (in English) of six writers of Spanish, Latin American, or Latino poetry: Nicanor Parra, Vicente Huidobro, Victor Hernandez Cruz, Gabriela Mistral, Martin Espada, and Ana Castillo. States that all can be used as models for the classroom. (PA)

This simulation allows students to explore the lives of the great rulers of the Mayan culture. Students learn the mysterious history of the Maya by decoding glyphs, investigating the unusual religion of the Maya, unraveling the complex Mayan calendar, and discovering the Mayan number system's secret meanings. Specific cooperation skills are taught…

This book was designed with activities for students in grades 9-12. The activities are to increase student awareness about the developing African nations and the Latin American states. Each section contains numerous activities. Section titles include: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Introductory Activities"; (3) "African…