In this lesson plan, students will create a project based on a city in Mexico. These projects will be visual and will include components such as a map, a historic representation of the city, two interesting characteristics of the city, and a comparison of the Mexican city with an American city.
Created by Jana McLain, September 2007
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the practices (what people do) and how they are related to the perspectives (how people perceive things) of the cultures studied. TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II, (c)(2)(A)
The student will use resources (which may include technology) in the language and cultures being studied to gain access to information. TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the student's own language and the language studied. TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II, (c)(3)(A)
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the student's own culture and the cultures studied. TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II, (c)(4)(A)
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the influence of one language and culture on another. TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II, (c)(4)(C)
This project will be handed out and explained one day ahead of a scheduled two day visit to the campus computer lab.
Students will then have two days of class time to research their project via the TIDES website. The first day they will be required to decide which city they will focus their project on. They second day they will be free to brainstorm and search the website in depth for project resources. The project itself will be constructed outside of class, though the teacher will be readily available to assist with questions and dilemmas throughout project construction.
You will create a project of your choosing about one of the following cities in Mexico:
| Monterrey | Oaxaca |
| Real de Catorce | Queretaro |
| Zacatecas | Mexico City |
| Saltillo | Guadalajara |
| Aquascalientes | Morelia |
| Puebla | Pátzcuaro |
| Cuernavaca | Taxco |
| Tepoztlán |
You may either work independently or with a partner. If you chose to work with a partner, you both will receive the same grade.
Your project must be of a visual nature (i.e. not a typed report) and must include the following components:
Possible ideas for your project include a model, a power point, a very well-constructed poster, a video presentation, or something of your own creation. All project ideas must be approved by the teacher. No more than two individuals or pairs in each class may choose the same city.
You may research your project using any sources of your choosing, but the TIDES database will give you a good thorough starting place. If any photos are used in your project, they may only come from TIDES or be from your own personal collection.
Projects will count as both a daily grade and a test grade and will be graded according to the following:
Mexican map (15 pts)
Historical representation (15 pts.)
Two characteristics (15 pts each/30pts. total)
Comparison (15 pts.)
Ingenuity/originality/neatness/effort (25 pts.)
Be creative and HAVE FUN!!!!
