This curriculum unit is designed to give the student a general knowledge of Mexico’s geography, literature, art, music and cuisine. The teacher may incorporate current events occurring in Mexico today by asking students to bring newspaper clippings from the
New York Times
,
Wall Street Journal
or local newspapers.
The unit is designed to be used with students who have successfully completed 2 years of intensive study of Spanish grammar and vocabulary. It is designed for students with above average language skills. It can be incorporated with various textbooks that introduce any aspect of Mexican culture. It is designed to be taught in Spanish with English used only when needed to help the student understand certain aspects or ideas that he/she would not otherwise understand.
The model plans herein cover a 3 week (15 days) time period. It is designed to evaluate the student’s knowledge of the geography, vocabulary used in the examples of Mexican literature, and themes used in Mexican literature and art after the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
The instructor is encouraged to plan trips to museums, the U.N. or even to Mexico as follow up to this unit. Students may also be encouraged to obtain a pen-pal in Mexico to practice his/her writing skills in Spanish. This can be done via various pen-pal organizations? One of which is provided within this unit.
The following page will give the instructor an indication of what type of software and hardware needed to compliment this unit. Sources of reference are left up to the instructor’s discretion although some are mentioned in the bibliography at the end of the unit.
Audio-Visual Materials
Overhead Projector
Filmstrip Projector
Slide Projector
Cassette Tape Recorder
Wall Map of Mexico
Supplemental Materials Needed to Accompany Unit
-
Transparency Map of Mexico
-
Filmstrip(s) of Mexico
-
Slides of Places of Interest/People of Mexico
-
Recordings of “Cielito Lindo” and “Cantaré, Cantarás”
-
Art-Books containing works by Rivera, Orozco and Siquieras
-
Newspaper clippings relating recent political, social, economic changes in Mexico
Resources for Materials
High School Foreign Language Department
Local Public Library
Travel Agencies (posters, brochures)
Yale Co-op Bookstore
Center for Inter-American Relations (NYC)
United Nations (NYC)
Stores specializing in Mexican products, items
