LAS ARTES DE MEXICO
UNIT 11 THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE
OBJECTIVE
In this unit students will learn about the conquest of Mexico, the legend of Juan Diego
and the Virgin of Guadalupe, and about the importance of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the
21st century. Students will read about the controversial canonization of Juan Diego and
practice their debating skills by conducting a class debate of the controversy.
ACTIVITY #1
Interactive Conquest of Mexico
Students will:
 Log on to http://www.ancientmexico.com and click the Timeline tab for a
review of the chronology of ancient Mexico.
 Go to the Conquest tab and read about the conquest of Mexico; enjoy the music
and visuals.
 Write a summary in Spanish about the conquest of the Mexican people by the
Spaniards. Include a discussion about why the Spanish were successful in
conquering the Aztecs.
ACTIVITY # 2
Juan Diego and the Virgin of Guadalupe
 Go to http://www.sancta.org to read:
Saint Juan Diego: A Model of Humility
The Apparition and the Miracle
 Spanish students will read “El milagro de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe:Una
Leyenda Mexicana, 1531
 In Spanish, write a biography of Juan Diego. Then describe the apparitions and
miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Pay close attention to the use and
conjugation of the preterite and imperfect tenses.
ACTIVITY #3
Chronology of events 1574-2002
 Visit http://www.sancta.org and click on the Chronology (Spanish/English)
 Select the 10 most important events from 1574-2002 to discuss with the class.
Practice numbers and use of the preterite tense in Spanish by listing the dates and
discussing what happened.
ACTIVITY #4
The Obsidian Butterfly vs. the Virgin of Guadalupe
 Click on Why the Name Guadalupe to read about why the image is called the
Virgin of Guadalupe.
 In Spanish, write a paragraph explaining the name Guadalupe. Include a
discussion of Itzpapalotl and why she would have a jealous attitude toward the
Virgin of Guadalupe.
 Read the “Obsidian Butterfly”, by Octavio Paz and take notes for a class
discussion about the meaning of the poem.
ACTIVITY #5
Class Debate: Should Juan Diego be Canonized?


Research the controversy of St. Juan Diego on line to prepare for a debate of Juan
Diego’s canonization by Pope John Paul.
Suggested readings:
o “Sainthood Stirs Pride and Dissent in Mexico: Critics say Juan Diego is
pictured as European-looking.”CNN July 31, 2002
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/07/31/mexico.saint/
o “Guadalupe caught in clerical struggle. (Controversy over historical
reliability of Our Lady of Guadalupe apparition in Mexico)” From:
National Catholic Reporter | Date: 6/14/1996 | Author: Coleman, Bill;
Coleman, Patty
http://www.encyclopedia.com/printable.aspx?id=1G1:18405728
o “Retired abbot casts doubt on Mexico's revered Catholic figure”
CNN.com December 11, 1999
http://archives.cnn.com/1999/WORLD/americas/12/11/mexico.virgin/
#1
ACTIVITY #6
Painting Analysis of the Virgin of Guadalupe
 Visit the University of Houston’s College of Education web site and complete the
art, social studies and math activities. Click on
http://www.fm.coe.uh.edu/resources/church/guadalupe/guadalupe.html
FUN ACTIVITIES The Virgin of Guadalupe in Popular Culture
 Collage of Virgin of Guadalupe images. Go to
http://www.casamexicanafolkart.com/the_virgin_of_guadalupe.html ,
http://www.spx.org/library/VirginofGuadalupe.htm and
http://biblia.com/guadalupe/guadalupe2.htm
to make a collage of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Also, many pictures and artifacts
featuring the Virgin can be found by searching for the Virgin of Guadalupe in pop
culture.
 Visit an online art exhibit that pays tribute to the “Obsidian Butterfly” by logging
on to www.briannissan.com/butterfly.html
 Play games and learn about art of Viceregal Mexico from the Museo Franz Mayer
website, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston/University of Houston College of
Education.
Click onto http://www.fm.coe.uh.edu/activities.html
Can you find the changes in the pictures?
 Check out the wedding tokens at:
http://users.pullman.com/fjstevens/tokens/ArrasTokens/BasilicaOld.htm basilica
http://users.pullman.com/fjstevens/tokens/ArrasTokens/Designs/Design03.htm
Mexican wedding coins with basilica
 Visit interesting links http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~ws5001/links.html
ASSESSMENT
Class discussion
Notes
Essay
TEACHER RESOURCES
For the Spanish teacher
Activities at the University of Houston’s College of Education website Franz Mayer
collection is available in Spanish and English at
http://www.fm.coe.uh.edu/resources/handbook.html
http://www.fm.coe.uh.edu/activities.html
Delacre, Lulu. “El milagro de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe:Una Leyenda
Mexicana, 1531.” De oro a esmeraldas:mitos, leyendas y cuentos populares de
Latinoamérica. New York:Scholastic Inc.1996.
Name:__________________________
LAS ARTES DE MEXICO
UNIT 11 THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE
OBJECTIVE
In “Obsidian Butterfly” the great Mexican essayist and poet Octavio Paz wrote about the
goddess Itzapalotl and that the Spanish replaced her with the cult of the Virgin of
Guadalupe. In this unit you will learn about the conquest of Mexico, the legend of Juan
Diego and the Virgin of Guadalupe, and about the importance of this cult in the 21st
century. You will debate the Pope’s decision to canonize Juan Diego as a saint.
ACTIVITY #1
Interactive Conquest of Mexico
 Log on to http://www.ancientmexico.com and click the Timeline tab for a
review of the chronology of ancient Mexico.
 Go to the Conquest tab and read about the conquest of Mexico; enjoy the music
and visuals.
 Write a summary in Spanish about the conquest of the Mexican people by the
Spaniards. Include a discussion about why the Spanish were successful in
conquering the Aztecs.
ACTIVITY # 2
Juan Diego and the Virgin of Guadalupe
 Go to http://www.sancta.org to read:
Saint Juan Diego: A Model of Humility
The Apparition and the Miracle
 Spanish students will read “El milagro de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe:Una
Leyenda Mexicana, 1531.
 In Spanish, write a biography of Juan Diego. Then describe the apparitions and
miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Pay close attention to the use and
conjugation of the preterite and imperfect tenses.
ACTIVITY #3
Chronology of events 1574-2002
 Visit http://www.sancta.org and click on the Chronology (Spanish/English)
 Select the 10 most important events from 1574-2002 to discuss with the class.
Practice numbers and use of the preterite tense in Spanish by listing the dates and
discussing what happened.
ACTIVITY #4
The Obsidian Butterfly vs. the Virgin of Guadalupe
 Click on Why the Name Guadalupe to read about why the image is called the
Virgin of Guadalupe.
 In Spanish, write a paragraph explaining the name Guadalupe. Include a
discussion of Itzpapalotl and why she would have a jealous attitude toward the
Virgin of Guadalupe.
 Read the “Obsidian Butterfly”, by Octavio Paz and take notes for a class
discussion about the meaning of the poem.
ACTIVITY #5
Class Debate: Should Juan Diego be Cannonized?


Research the controversy of St. Juan Diego on line to prepare for a debate of Juan
Diego’s canonization by Pope John Paul.
Suggested readings:
o “Sainthood Stirs Pride and Dissent in Mexico: Critics say Juan Diego is
pictured as European-looking.”CNN July 31, 2002
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/07/31/mexico.saint/
o “Guadalupe caught in clerical struggle. (Controversy over historical
reliability of Our Lady of Guadalupe apparition in Mexico)” From:
National Catholic Reporter | Date: 6/14/1996 | Author: Coleman, Bill;
Coleman, Patty
http://www.encyclopedia.com/printable.aspx?id=1G1:18405728
o “Retired abbot casts doubt on Mexico's revered Catholic figure”
CNN.com December 11, 1999
http://archives.cnn.com/1999/WORLD/americas/12/11/mexico.virgin/
#1
ACTIVITY #6
Painting Analysis of the Virgin of Guadalupe
 Visit the University of Houston’s College of Education web site and complete the
art, social studies and math activities. Click on
http://www.fm.coe.uh.edu/resources/church/guadalupe/guadalupe.html
FUN ACTIVITIES The Virgin of Guadalupe in Popular Culture
 Collage of Virgin of Guadalupe images. Go to
http://www.casamexicanafolkart.com/the_virgin_of_guadalupe.html ,
http://www.spx.org/library/VirginofGuadalupe.htm and
http://biblia.com/guadalupe/guadalupe2.htm
to make a collage of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Also, many pictures and artifacts
featuring the Virgin can be found by searching for the Virgin of Guadalupe in pop
culture.
 Visit an online art exhibit that pays tribute to the “Obsidian Butterfly” by logging
on to www.briannissan.com/butterfly.html
 Play games and learn about art of Viceregal Mexico from the Museo Franz Mayer
website, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston/University of Houston College of
Education.
Click onto http://www.fm.coe.uh.edu/activities.html
Can you find the changes in the pictures?
 Check out the wedding tokens at:
http://users.pullman.com/fjstevens/tokens/ArrasTokens/BasilicaOld.htm basilica
http://users.pullman.com/fjstevens/tokens/ArrasTokens/Designs/Design03.htm
Mexican wedding coins with basilica
 Visit interesting links http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~ws5001/links.html
ASSESSMENT
Class discussion
Notes
Essay