Learning About Mexico

The final country we studied this year was Mexico. We had a blast making pinatas and learning about Mexican folk art. We made a delicious Mexican meal and learned about some interesting places like Chichen Itza. Below are links to the resources we used for our Mexico study and instructions for some fun hands on activities.

Basic Information

Mexico is a country in the southern part of North America. It shares a boarder with the United States (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas), Beliez, and Guatemala.

The terrain varies from deserts and high plateaus to coastal plains and mountainous regions. The climate varies from hot and dry in the desert regions to tropical in other parts of the country.

Capital: Mexico City

Population: About 129 million

Size: 761,600 square miles

Language: Spanish

Currency: Mexican peso

National Animal: the golden eagle

Flag:

Famous Places and Landmarks

Chichen Itza- Chichen Itza is a Mayan city built between 400 and 500 AD. It features several Pyramids and temples. Learn more with the following resources:

Inside Chichen Itza 360 degrees

Exploring Maya Civilization for Kids video from FreeSchool

The National Museum of Anthropology- The National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City houses the largest collection of ancient Mexican art in the world.

Xcaret Park- Xcaret Park is a national park located on the Yucatan Peninsula. It features beaches, lagoons, reefs, and underground rivers.

Recipes

For our Mexican meal we had tacos, chips with homemade cheese sauce, and homemade churros. Below are the recipes we used:

Nacho Cheese Sauce

Churros

Traditional Mexican Tacos

Marinate meat (chicken, steak, or pork- whatever you prefer) in a mixture of lime juice, white vinegar, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, and ground cumin for a few hours, then either cook it on the grill or roast it in the oven. Shred when finished.

Top warm corn tortillas with meat, pico de gallo, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Crafts and Activities

Mexican Folk Art Activity

Learn a little bit about Mexican folk art with the following resources and then try the art activity below:

-A Colorful Exploration of Mexican Folk Art

-Mexican Folk Art Guide

-Amate Art of Mexico

The sun and moon were very important symbols to the ancient cultures of Mexico. The sun represented light, rebirth and growth. The moon was associated with darkness and the world of the dead. The two are often represented together in Mexican folk art.

Learn more about the importance of the sun in traditional Mexican art here: The Mexican Sun Culture. And do a quick Google Image search to look at some Aztec and Mexican style sun art.

Notice the patterns and bright colors used, then try making your own sun art with colored pencils or paint.

Make a Pinata!

For this activity you will need:

-a balloon

-newspaper

-scissors

-a large bowl

-flour

-salt

-water

-paint or tissue paper and glue to decorate your pinata

Start by blowing up a balloon and cutting lots of long thin strips of newspaper. Then make your paste by mixing 1 cup of flour and 2 tablespoons of salt with a cup of warm water.

Dip a newspaper strip in the flour paste. Make sure it is thoroughly covered with paste and then lay the strip onto the balloon, smoothing it flat with your fingers. Repeat until the entire balloon, other than a small area around the balloon's tie, is covered with newspaper and paste.

Set your balloon aside to dry. This will probably take about 24 hours.

When your balloon is completely dry, add another layer of newspaper and paste and set it aside to dry overnight again. If your balloon is still intact after it dries the second time, pop it with a safety pin or thumb tack.

Poke or drill a few small holes running from top to bottom along one side of your pinata, then drill or poke holes opposite the original holes, these will be for hanging your pinata later.

Now you can begin decorating your pinata. Start by deciding what you want your pinata to be. My girls made an alien head and a beehive. Decorate your pinata with paint or by gluing colored tissue paper on it.

When you are ready to use your pinata, thread a rope through the small holes you poked or drilled, this will be used to hang your pinata after it is filled.

Fill your pinata with candy or small toys through the small opening you left around the balloon's stem. Seal the opening with some duct tape.

Now your pinata is ready to hang and break!