Mexico primary source
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+ Window to the World Exploring Mexico with Fiction and Nonfiction
Transcript of Mexico primary source
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Window to the World
Exploring Mexico with
Fiction and Nonfiction
+Caveats
Who wrote the books, and when were they written?
Who was the perceived audience?
Who wrote the history?
What stereotypes persist?
Is the diversity of the people represented?
How will this material be perceived by the children using it?
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+Introducing Mexico…
Choosing books to use.
What do I notice about this book?
Do stereotypes persist?
How will this material be perceived by the children using it?
Would I use this book with my students?
How can I use it?
Some books to share:
Dear Primo
Mexico: In the Children’s Own Words
+Mexico’s Past
Powerpoint of Aztec Civilization
Primary Source Documents – How do we know?
Some books to share…
What the Aztecs Told Me
The Sad Night
Secret World of the Aztecs
Hands of the Maya
Resources online/field trips Peabody-Harvard
+Tenochtitlan
+Mexico’s Past
A Librarian’s Challenge –
Where are the books about more recent history?
Look at: Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata
Who is left out? Lots of people! For example:
Father Hidalgo and Benito Juarez.
Maquiladores - factory workers on the U.S. border.
Native Mexicans and African-Mexicans.
New resource: Encyclopedia Britannica
+Grito de Dolores –
Cry for Independence
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
rang the bell of church on
September 16th, 1810.
Calls for people to fight
against colonial rule.
Spark for Mexican War of
Independence.
Reenacted each year by
Mexican president.
+Celebrations &Special Events in Mexico’s Past
Mexican Independence Day - September 15th Father Hidalgo and the Grito de Delores
Dia de la Raza, October 12th – Celebrates connection to Spain
Day of the Dead, November 1st and 2nd
Birthday of Benito Juarez, March 21st
Cinco de Mayo – May 5th – began in the U.S.
Catholic Celebrations – Easter, Carnival, Christmas
Day of Our Lady Guadalupe – December 12th
Las Posadas + Navidad – December 16th – 25th
Birthdays, Weddings, Fiestas, Quinceaneras
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What does it tell us about:
the place,
the people,
the culture & art.
Let me tell you
a story…
Why use
folktales?
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Arts and Crafts
of MexicoTwo Projects:
Saturday Market
Class History Mural
+Two projects that integrate
arts and culture.
Based on: Saturday Market
Students make:
Tin Art Frames.
Huichol Yarn Plates.
Ojo de Dios.
Papel Picado.
Weaving using straws.
Paper flowers
*Extensions for older students.
Based on the work of Diego Rivera.
Researched Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
Looked at his work, others muralistas.
Created murals of our school year and FridaKahlo- like self-portraits.
Saturday Market Class History Mural
+Science Connections –
We Share a
Continent Migration- a shared environment.
Monarch butterflies.
Gray whale.
Mario Molina: Chemist and Nobel Prize Winner
Fits with discussions about CFCs, global warming.
Impact of pollution on Mexico City –
Check out Hemispheres’ Lesson
Oil spill – impact of marine life, fishing
Volcanoes – Hill of Fire, and Best Book of Volcanoes
+Let’s Read!
Fiction and Poetry about Mexico
Challenge – finding books at this age range in English about
children living regular lives in Mexico.
Check out Award websites:
Americas Book Award
Pura Belpre Award
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
Considerations when choosing books:
What does it add to our understanding?
Is it a well-written book?
Books to share…
+Literature Connections
