Celebrating Cinco de Mayo:
Mexican Geography and Culture
While celebrating Cinco de Mayo, turn it into a learning opportunity by studying the geography of Mexico and Mexican culture.
Use a blank map of Mexico to complete the following activities.
1. Draw a star to mark the location of Mexico’s capital and label the river that forms a border between Mexico and the United States.
2. Use a diamond to mark the location of the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental.
3. Label the major bodies of water.
4. Label each of Mexico’s states and its federal district.
5. Draw in the boundaries of the Aztec Empire in the 1500’s.
6. Draw a star where the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, stood and label it.
7. Draw and label Mexico’s six main land regions: the Pacific Northwest, the Plateau of Mexico, the Gulf Coastal Plain, the Southern Uplands, the Chiapas Highlands, and the Yucatan Peninsular.
8. List the two peninsulas that stick out from Mexico’s mainland.
Mexican Culture:
1. Draw and color Mexico’s flag.
2. What European country had a major influence on Mexican culture?
3. Write two words that are used in the USA which come from Mexico. What are the meaning of each word?
4. How many states does Mexico have?
5. Describe the diet of poorer Mexicans.
6. When does Mexico celebrate its Independence day?
7. Describe a Mexican fiesta.
8. The Indians of Pueblo were among the first to cultivate vegetables. Name four of these vegetables.
9. What are conquistadores. Find out about a couple of famous conquistadors in Mexican history.
10. The Mexican-American War was fought over a dispute relating to a US state? Which state?
11. Write three facts that you’ve learned about Mexican history.
Additional Activities:
Pretend you are a newspaper reporter and write an article about bullfighting.
Imagine you are about to swing at a piñata. Write a story about what you would like to have fall out when it breaks.
Write a short biography of one of the following: Hernando Cortes, Montezuma, Emiliano Zapata, or a famous conquistador.
Make an illustration of an Aztec pyramid.
Prepare a report about a volcano in Mexico.
Make a list of Mexico’s natural resources. Describe one in detail and draw a picture of it.
