Things to Know
Official Name: United Mexican States (Spanish: Estados Únidos Mexicanos)
Government Type: Federal Republic
Mexico is a federation of thirty-two states. It has 31 states and 1 federal district (Mexico City).
Capital: Mexico City
County's inhabitants: Mexicans (Spanish: Mexicanos)
Abbreviation: MX, MEX
Roman Catholicism is the faith of more than 90 percent of the people.
The official language of Mexico is Spanish.
Mexico is located on the continent of North America. Most geographers do not consider Mexico a part of Central America. Mexico is in North America.
The government of Mexico is divided between the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The head of the executive branch is the president, who is elected by popular vote to one six-year-term and cannot be re-elected. The President appoints and dismisses cabinet ministers, the federal district's mayor, diplomats, high-ranking military officers, attorney general, and Supreme Court justices.
The legislative branch consists of the Senate (upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (lower house. The legislature passes laws, create taxes, declares war, approve treaties, and approves the national budget.
The judicial branch is comprised of both state and federal legal systems. The highest court is the Supreme Court of Justice made up of 11 judges appointed by the president and approved by Congress. The judges serve 15 years and interpret the law and the Constitution.
The flag of Mexico is three equal vertical bands of green , white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band.
Mexico is an immense area flanked by mountain ranges, low coastal plains, desert landscapes, and snow-capped volcanoes. Two of the highest volcanoes (Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl) are near Mexico City. Mountain ranges fall sharply off to narrow coastal plains in the West and East. The Sierra Madre Occidental is in the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental is in the east., which meet in the Southeast.
The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped area where a large number volcanic and earthquake activity occurs. Roughly 90% of the world's earthquakes 75% of the world's active volcanoes occur along the Ring of Fire. The 25,000 mile (40,000 km) follows the edges of the Pacific Ocean. Located on the Ring of Fire’s eastern half is Mexico with a number of active volcanic and earthquake areas.
The Rio Grande (Rio Bravo in Mexico) is the river that forms the border between Texas, USA and Mexico. The Rio Grande originates high in San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado in the United States. It flows through New Mexico before becoming the boundary between Texas and Mexico. The Rio Grande makes a big bend emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico.
National Animals of Mexico: Golden Eagle (national bird), Xoloitzcuintli (national dog), Grasshopper (national arthropod), Jaguar (national mammal), Vaquita (national marine mammal), and Green turtle (national reptile).
There are a large variety of animals in Mexico.
In northern Mexico, deserts are full of plants and animals. The west coast of Mexico Eastern North Pacific gray whales make a round trip between Mexico and Alaska
The monarch butterfly migrates to Mexico from Canada and the USA every year.
Noteworthy Animals in the Yécora Area
The spotted bat is a medium-size bat of North America. It has the largest ears of any bat on the American continent. It's ears are nearly 2 inches (51mm). It lives in the western United States and Mexico.
Spotted Bat
The volcano rabbit is one of the smallest rabbits in the world. It is a rare rabbit found in Mexico in areas near volcanoes.
Volcano Rabbit
Many different cultures existed in various parts of Mexico: the Olmecs, the Teotihuacans, the Maya, the Mixtecs, the Zapotecs, the Tarascans, the Totonacs and the Aztecs.
The Classical Period 300-900 CE
A major region of Mayan development was the Yucatan peninsula making up the southern and eastern portions of modern-day Mexico
10 Maya foods that changed the world's eating habits
Sites to See
Maya Ruins
A photographic tour of several fascinating archaeological sites in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.
Maya Adventure
The Science Museum of Minnesota web site highlights science activities and information related to ancient and modern Maya culture.
The Post-Classical Period 900-1521 CE
The Aztecs were an advanced native population in Mexico.
Aztecs referred to themselves as the Mexica or Tenochca. A small, nomadic tribal people. The Aztecs finally settled on small islands in Lake Texcoco (modern-day Mexico City).
The Aztec Calendar
The Aztec civilization developed an amazing calendar that was even more accurate than the one we use today.
Hernán Cortés A Spanish adventurer and conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire and claimed Mexico for Spain (1519-21).
1800's
Mexico fights for and wins independence from Spain in 1821.
In 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Mexicans and Texans battle at the Alamo and San Jacinto.
Read documents, background history, the events leading up to the siege and about the heroes and legends such as Davy Crockett and Sam Houston.In 1836, the USA wins the Mexican-American war and gains Mexican territory including what are now: Nevada and Utah, parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado.
The battle of Puebla in 1862 was the victory of the Mexican Army over the French. The holiday Cinco de Mayo honors this battle.
Diego Rivera
Considered the greatest Mexican painter of the twentieth century.
Mexico has recorded her triumphs, defeats, determination, and daily life through narrative songs called corridos. Mexican Corridos - Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Chichen Itza, Mexico is a city built by the Maya people. It is one of the most visited archeological sites in Mexico. The renowned structure of Mayan ruins in the city of Chichen Itza is the Mayan temple El Castillo, built in the shape of a pyramid.
Mayan temple El Castillo
Mexico's top exports are cars, computers, vehicle parts, delivery trucks, and crude petroleum. Mexico exports mostly to the United States, Canada, China, Germany, and South Korea.
Mexico is the world's biggest exporter of delivery trucks, beer, tropical fruits, tomatos, and other vegetables.
Decorative Studded Beaded Dish
Need: paper plates, paper cups, seed beads or paint.
Use a large sturdy paper plate. Draw a simple flower design in the center of the plate with a pencil. Add a wavy design around the rim.
Pour white glue into paper cups. Paint a thick layer of glue into the petals of the flowers. Carefully drop colored seed beads onto the glue petals. Glue seed beads in the center of the flower.
Paint glue over the wavy line. Drop seed beads onto the glue. Let the glue dry overnight. Shake to remove any loose beads.
The children could also paint the flower and wavy line designs on the paper plates.
Yarn Art Painting
Need: posterboard or cardboard, yarn in bright colors
Draw a simple picture on cardboard (a picture of something from nature works great such as a butterfly). Brush on glue. Then lay yarn on the lines. Fill in the picture with yarn in squiggles and circles.
Aztec Mythical Creatures Color Page
How to Make a Mexican Paper Flower
Ojo de Dios
An ancient symbol made by the Huichol Indians.
Paper Bag Pinata
Use lunch sacks and tissue paper.
Make a Day of the Dead Pancho Skeleton Puppet
There are many festivals in Mexico where people like to dress up. Many people wear big hats called sombreros.
Mexican
Sombrero Craft (need adult help with this)
Recipes
Mexican Recipes
A variety of recipes. Corn is one of the most important foods in Mexico. The basis of native Mexican cooking was, and still is, corn-made tortillas.
Mexican Jumping Beans
Learn why these beans jump.
