Gives a brief history of Latin-American ofrendas, and describes the artistic and educational experiences related to organized ofrenda displays in various public settings in Florida in the early 1990s. Suggests guidelines for teaching about ofrendas and ways of respectfully participating in the cultural practices of others. (DSK)

Examines effect of Nicaragua's 1979 revolution on education, especially for minority Miskito Indians. Summarizes history of Indian culture in region. Suggests Sandinista government began emphasizing bilingual, bicultural education in 1982-83, sparked by deteriorating economic situation. Concludes multicultural education program, while hindered by…

This lesson is a series of activities and multi-media presentations designed to enable students to understand the historic and geographic roots of some of the problems that Central American nations have faced. Geography, history, writing, and storytelling are used as ways of understanding a multicultural world. Creative thinking and participation…

This paper outlines a unit of study on Mexico for students in grades 5-10 but can be adapted to other grade levels. Background information on significant events in Mexican history is presented. Activities are suggested along with recommendations for continuing study of Mexican history and an examination of Mexico today. Suggestions for discussion…

This paper introduces students to lesser known and traveled parts of Mexico. The text is intended to accompany a Power Point presentation that traces the trip a Fulbright-Hays group took through Mexico, highlighting places of cultural and historical interest. The paper includes a list of slide notes and realia for each slide to be shared with the…

This paper shares the impressions of a participant from the 1996 Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad Program in Mexico. These impressions address several current interest topics about international relations with Mexico including: (1) immigration; (2) politics; (3) education; (4) the economy; (5) the environment; (6) the media; (7) religion; and…

This report explores two bilingual educational approaches currently in use in Mexico and the United States. The study pursues a limited comparison between two modalities of bilingual instruction, as observed and reported in the consulted literature. The U.S. model featured is known as the two-way bilingual model, an additive approach to…

This packet provides an overview of historical and contemporary Mexico. The interdisciplinary lessons for grades 7-12 include history, geography, art, cooperative learning activities, and map work. Worksheets are included. (EH)

Bernstein argues that current criticisms of Columbus are an ideologically motivated rewriting of the past and that the point of studying history is to understand development not validate particular ideologies. Zappia criticizes the artistic community for its attempts to discredit Columbus and to eulogize the civilizations he allegedly destroyed.…

This resource book braids together the cultural, political and economic realities which together shape Mexican history. The guiding question for the book is that of: "What do we need to know about Mexico's past in order to understand its present and future?" To address the question, the interdisciplinary resource book addresses key…

This unit provides background information and activities about ancient Mexico including the Olmecs, the Mayans, the Toltecs, the Zapotecs and Mixtecs, and the Aztecs. Brief readings are followed by activities that cover a wide range of subjects within each culture. Illustrations throughout the text highlight the topics. A 24-item bibliography…

This lesson is intended to be incorporated into an Art I unit on religious art that introduces the rise of Christianity as a guiding force in Western art. The goal of the lesson is to compare and contrast the artistic representation of the Virgin Mary most commonly seen in Soria, Spain, with that image most commonly viewed in Mexico. A slide show…

This guide provides the teacher of multi-ethnic students with information and teaching resources on Cubans in order to enhance the multicultural awareness of the total school population. The guide was designed for use in the Detroit, Michigan public schools. An historical overview of Cuba from pre-Columbian times to the present outlines Cuba's…

This unit for high school social studies and Spanish language students deals with Mexico's transition toward democracy. Lesson activities include: (1) "What Is An Early Democratic Family Incident That You Remember?"; (2) "What is Democracy?"; (3) "Locating the Five Nations of Mexico"; (4) "Scenes from the Five…

This one semester course syllabus entitled, "The Integration of Mexico and the United States: Societies in Transition," is interdisciplinary and taught by the Departments of Geography, Management, Foreign Language/Spanish, and Sociology/Archaeology at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse Institute for Latin American Studies. The course…