5th Grade Social Studies
Unit 8: Mexico
SHORT TERM GOALS
LONG-TERM GOALS
 Mexico is a land of three cultures including that of the Indian, the
Spanish and the Mexican people today
 Locate Mexico on a map
 Learn about the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the fight for
independence
 To understand how specialization helped develop advanced societies in
Mexico
 To explain the role of the Roman Catholic Church and the social pyramid
as support of Spain’s rule in Mexico.
 Mexico is a nation rich in cultures and traditions. Today Mexicans are
shaping a new modern culture that blends the past with the future.
 To identify people and events important to Mexico’s fight for
independence from Spain.
 To identify the three landforms (mountains, plains and plateaus) that
are found in Mexico
 To familiarize themselves with the culture of Mexico from ancient times
to modern day.
 To identify reasons why reform was needed in Mexico in the 1800s.
 To identify the causes and reasons of the Mexican revolution of 1910.
DRIVING QUESTION W/REAL-WORLD RELEVANCE:
 What did the Spanish conquerors learn from the Indians of Mexico?
 What did the Indians learn from the Spanish?
 Why was it difficult for the people of Mexico to establish a strong,
WEEKLY BENCHMARKS
central government?
 How did strict Spanish rule lead to the revolution in Mexico?
 Compare and contrast Mexico’s economy, government and culture with
the United States.
 America’s first Indians built great civilizations in Mexico
 Mexicans fought to free themselves from Spain so that they could
develop their country in their way and for their own benefit.
 Mexico has a wealth of natural resources which has helped develop a
strong economy and rebuild as a nation
 The Mexican people have a rich and proud heritage that springs from
Indian, Spanish and Mestizo heritage.
LANGUAGE: VOCABULARY and STRUCTURES
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
Key people: Cortes, Moctezuma, Santa Anna
Key places: Teotihuacan, Valley of Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula, Veracruz,
Rio Grande
Other terms: specialize, stela, chinampa, conquistador, encomienda,
mestizo, hacienda
 Museum of Natural History, movie: Mexico then and now, Interview with
Mexicans, Mexican feast
CULMINATING PROJECTS AND PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF
LEARNING
INFORMAL ASSESSMENTS:
Mexican luncheon with classroom presentation
RESOURCES: Internet websites: National Geographic for kids,
Anthology: United States and its neighbors
Quizzes, social studies notebook review
Date
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
WEEK 1:
T. P. Mexico is the
country located below
the United States and
contains various
landforms affecting the
life of the Mexican
people.
T. P. Spanish influence in
Mexico greatly changed
the way of life of the
Indian civilization there.
WEEK 2:
T. P. Strict Spanish rule
and the Roman Catholic
church impacted their
lives.
T. P. The causes and
reasons of the Mexican
revolution of 1910 include:
the Spanish control of
land and wealth, Santa
Anna’s role and forcing
Indians to farm land with
little or no pay.
WEEK 3:
T. P. There are
differences and
similarities (government,
culture and economy)
between Mexico and the
United States.
THURSDAY
FRIDAY