Download The Geography of Mexico

TEACHER’S GUIDE
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Suggested Internet Resources
Periodically, Internet Resources are updated on our web site at
www.LibraryVideo.com
• www.embamex.co.uk/meet_mex/
This project by the Embassy of Mexico to the U.K. shares information and
fun facts about Mexico’s land and history.
• www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html
“Mexico for Kids,” sponsored by the Presidency of the Republic of Mexico,
gives a multitude of Mexican facts, from current events to the biodiversity
of Mexican animal and plant life, written in a kid-friendly style.
• www.vivanatura.org/
Meet animals, plants and the places of Mexico through this site sponsored
by the Mexican Conservation Organization.
• www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html
This U.S. government site offers current statistics about Mexico’s geography,
economy, demographics and transcontinental issues.
Suggested Print Resources
• Heiman, Sarah. Mexico ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of
Mexico. Picture Window Books, Minneapolis, MN; 2002.
• Kalman, Bobbie. Mexico: The Land. Crabtree Publishing, New York, NY;
2002.
• Kimmel, Eric A. The Two Mountains: An Aztec Legend. Holiday House,
New York, NY; 2000. Exciting retelling of the legend of the creation of the
Valley of Mexico.
The Geography
of Mexico
Grades K–4
M
exico is a country of rich national heritage that has
influenced the world with its turbulent history, diverse
geography, and traditional culture. Its history reflects
Mexico’s struggle for independence in overcoming invasion
and control by foreign countries, its struggle for equality for
its own individuals within its borders, and the final formation of a nation with its own identity. Mexican geography is
defined by landforms ranging from deserts to tropical rainforests that have affected the wildlife, industry and settlement of this nation. Mexican culture is a proud mix of
ancient customs passed down from its indigenous people
and the influence of Spain. It is easy to see why Mexicans
are truly proud of their fascinating and beautiful country.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Kimberly Grieco, M.Ed.
Curriculum Specialist
Schlessinger Media
TITLES
• The Culture of
Mexico
• The Geography of
Mexico
Teacher’s Guides Included
and Available Online at:
• The History of
Mexico
800-843-3620
Teacher’s Guide and Program Copyright 2004 by Schlessinger Media,
a division of Library Video Company
P.O. Box 580,Wynnewood, PA 19096 • 800-843-3620
Executive Producer:Andrew Schlessinger
Program produced and directed by Fink Productions
All rights reserved.
K5862
V8767
Program Summary
Focus Questions
Mexico is filled with geographic variety — from deserts to volcanoes to coral
reefs.Across the nation’s 31 states and federal district, you can find different
regions, lifestyles, vegetation, and animals.The Gulf Coast, Baja California, and
Chiapas’ rainforests are home to thousands of unique animals and plants, some
that are not found anywhere else in the world! Industrial and manufacturing
cities such as Tijuana balance out the ancient cultural cities and ruins like
Teotihuacan. Mexico’s climate, cultural treasures and scenic beauty have made
tourism one of its largest industries. Mexico’s geographic variety makes it a
unique and interesting country.
1.What borders Mexico on the north, south, east and west?
2.Where do most of Mexico’s people live? Why?
3. Name some of Mexico’s natural resources.What products can be made
from these resources?
4.What are the benefits of living in Mexico City? What are the drawbacks?
Would you want to live there? Why or why not?
5.What is tourism? Why would tourists want to visit Mexico?
6.What is so special about the animals found in Mexico?
Vocabulary
Follow-up Discussion & Activities
geography — The study of the relationship between people and places.
Geography includes the landforms, climate, vegetation, population and natural
resources of a place.
regions — Areas that share something in common, like landforms or natural
resources.
Sierras — Two ranges of mountains that run along the east and west coasts
of Mexico.
peninsula — An area of land nearly surrounded by water.
desert — A very dry area that receives little rainfall.
irrigation — A system to water crops using man-made channels or streams
of water that run through fields.
Paricutin — A Mexican volcano that erupted in a farmer’s field in 1943.
Mexico City — The capital of Mexico and one of the most populated cities
in the world. It is the center of Mexico’s industry, business and culture.
obsidian — A dark natural glass formed by the cooling of molten lava.
Guadalajara — Mexico’s second largest city, known as a business and
cultural center of Mexico.
tourism — An industry, or group of businesses, that provides services to
people on vacation.Tourism is one of Mexico’s top industries.
• What would a tourist want to see in Mexico? With a partner, have students
list, in order, their top ten “must-see” or “must-do” sites to visit. Have them
write brief descriptions of each place and why they want to experience it.
• Encourage students to create a class fact book about Mexico’s geography.
They can include interesting facts, like the longest river, the highest mountain and the coldest temperature ever recorded in Mexico. Use reference
and electronic sources to collect the facts.
• Using an outline map of Mexico, students can label important features,
including the states, the nation’s capital, major rivers and landforms, and
oceans. (See www.enchantedlearning.com/northamerica/mexico/
outlinemap/ for an outline map of Mexico.)
• Create a bulletin board of current events, issues and concerns in Mexico
(i.e., the destruction of the rainforests in Chiapas, air pollution in Mexico
City, or the endangered species in Mexico’s fragile ecosystems). Students
can use www.embamex.co.uk/meet_mex/master11.htm as a starting point
for current news.
• Mexico is home to many extinct and active volcanoes.With your class read
Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis (Harper & Row, 1971) to learn about the
eruption of Paricutin.Ask your students to imagine what it might be like for
a landform such as a volcano to appear in their backyards. Have students
create stories about a landform like a river, a mountain or a volcano appearing at their houses. How might it change their lives?
• Scientists have found that Mexico is one of the few places on earth where
thousands of different species of plants and animals can live. Have students
choose a region of Mexico and design a display of the animals and plants
found in each region.
• The train ride up to and through the Barranca del Cobre is a beautiful and
scenic tourist attraction. Put your students in the shoes of the train’s conductor. Have them write stories about an exciting adventure on the train
with descriptions of the sights and sounds seen along the tracks.
• The dahlia is Mexico’s national flower. Students might be surprised to know
that this flower was of great importance to the ancient Aztec civilization.
Have students research the history behind this beautiful flower using electronic and print sources.
Pre-viewing Discussion
• Discuss what you know about the geography of Mexico.What does the land
in Mexico look like? What do you know about the climate in Mexico? What
are the landforms and resources that make Mexico unique?
• Based upon what you know about the geography of Mexico, discuss similarities and differences between its geography and the geography of the
United States.
• How do you think the land, resources and climate of Mexico have affected
the people living there?