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Jill Iracleanos __Internet Search__ Website: National Geographic Kids URL: [] Author: National Geographic Society The //National Geographic Kids// website contains videos, interactive maps, facts and photos about Mexico. There’s information about the native animals of Mexico including vampire bats and monarch butterflies. Videos are available to watch about Mexico’s landscape and archeological finds. There are also printable e-cards of Mexico that students can send to friends.

Website: Mexico: Splendors of Thirty Centuries URL: [] Author: Texas Council for the Humanities Resource Center This website has a large collection of Mexican art that students can view as an exhibit. A Mexican art game has students categorizing different types of art into their genres. Students can view a timeline of the history of these artifacts spanning 1,000 B.C. to 2000 A.D. Teacher’s guides and learning activities are available that include lessons plans about people, culture, religion and customs.

Website: The History Channel URL: [] Author: The History Channel //The History Channel// website is an excellent resource that contains numerous videos about the life, culture, history and landscape of Mexico. Students can click on links to fun facts, Mexico today, history, culture or landmarks. This is by far the best website I found about Mexico. There’s even a memory game for kids to play about Mexico’s native animals. This is a great place to have a Webquest!

__Literature List__ Title: // The Day of the Dead: A Mexican-American Celebration // Author: Diane Hoyt Goldsmith This book is a photo journal that switches back and forth between the story of twin Mexican boys and an informational text. Aztec beliefs and their influence on Catholic rituals are explained and descriptions of dancing, art, and prayer illustrate how the past influences present day rituals.

Title: // Piñatas and Smiling Skeletons: Celebrating Mexican Festivals // Author: Suzanne Williams The book //Piñatas and Smiling Skeletons// takes into account numerous traditions of Mexico including the festival of Guadalupe through La Navidad, Three Kings' Day, Carnaval, Corpus Christi, Independence Day, and the Day of the Dead. The book also has holiday recipes and lyrics to popular songs as well as history, legends, artwork, and food that form the foundation for the festivities of Mexico.

Title: //Making Magic Windows: Creating Cut Paper Art with Carmen Lomas Garza// Author: Carmen Lomas Garza Author Carmen Lomas Garza is famous for making popular the traditional Mexican craft of papel picado in the United States. The book explains how to create the beautiful designs and banners by cutting tissue paper. Children can learn how to craft eight different designs.

Title: //The Piñata Maker// Author: George Ancona This book takes children to a Mexican village to meet Tío Rico, an old man who makes beautiful piñatas, puppets, and masks for parties and festivals. Full-color photographs are included that bring the village, the people, and the craft of piñata-making to reality for students. The book is a narrative that follows Tío Rico as he buys the materials for his crafts, makes them, sells them, and finally, attends a party where the children break open a piñata.