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)

Brings a different reading of 1824's Brazilian Imperial Political Constitution. Discusses some historical and political circumstances of the document's construction. Investigates practices, conceptions, and supports that could have clarified some principles stressed by the document, especially those related to citizenship matters. (PA)

Art often becomes an effective tool for teaching history, as well as political and social justice issues. During the 1980s, the author had the privilege of visiting Chile where she was introduced to small fabric collages called "arpilleras," which, at the time, were known as "embroideries of life and death." Today, the…

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 bulletin reports on educational reform efforts in specific Latin American countries and calls for policy makers to utilize research findings on education in their decision. Five articles are included: (1) "Education Reform in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Agenda for Action" (Ernesto Schiefelbein); (2) "Uruguayan High…

American and western education textbooks have omitted Hispanic topics, people, and contributions. An examination of seven history of western education texts reveals no mention at all of Hispanics. An examination of 11 history of American education texts, ranging from 400 to 600 pages, reveals that none devotes more than two pages to Hispanics or…

This guide provides the teacher of multi-ethnic students with information and teaching resources on Cubans in order to enhance the multicultural awareness of the total school population. The guide was designed for use in the Detroit, Michigan public schools. An historical overview of Cuba from pre-Columbian times to the present outlines Cuba's…

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…

Presents an annotated bibliography of books on Christopher Columbus for elementary school students. The list of 49 books includes grade level information and a brief description of the contents. Out-of-print material is included. (SLD)

This report offers a baseline survey of the retrospective strength of, access to, and preservation of Latin Americanist resources in North American libraries. Information about collections, online bibliographic control, and the need for preservation is derived from analyses of a 550-item sample of Latin Americanist materials published between 1935…

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…

This paper examines the complex Mexican educational system and how numerous factors influence its success, depending on one's point of reference. Many ideological and subjective judgments are made in this evaluation. Non-compulsory preschool enrollment figures show tremendous growth in the past 25 years, as does the growth in the number of…

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…