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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?