NYCDOE: Passport to Social Studies - grade 5, Mexico case study

Note to Teachers: To help with remote and hybrid learning, digital materials for this unit are available on the NYCDOE TeachHub. Access these materials by following these instructions.

This is a sample case study of Mexico relating to the grade five scope and sequence, titled Mexico Case Study. It was developed by a team of NYCDOE staff and teachers, in collaboration with scholars of the humanities and social sciences as well as museum curators. Students will immerse themselves in the topic by discussing focus questions, reading and analyzing a rich collection of diverse primary and secondary sources, examining artifacts, and interpreting images, such as paintings and photographs, maps, and political cartoons.

This guide offers a multitude of perspectives on the geography, history and cultural practices of this first epicenter of civilization in North America. Topics of representative lessons in this unit include exploring how key people and important events led to Mexico’s independence from Spain, analyzing primary sources to compare and contrast different perspectives among Mexicans, Texans and Americans involving conflicts like the Alamo, the Mexican-American War and the Battles of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo, and identifying the impact of natural resources and industries on Mexico’s economy. Lessons will also emphasize issues of civil rights and immigration in Mexico, where students will establish positions and present their opinions, providing support with relevant information and data.

To evaluate student mastery of content knowledge, cognitive processes, and critical thinking skills, this unit includes formative assessments, and a performance-based assessment activity, which has students selecting four texts to analyze and then write an informative essay about Mexico’s important cultural contributions, including traditions, language, arts, music, religious beliefs and leisure activities.

Please note: the complete set of NYCDOE K-8: Passport to Social Studies Core Curriculum materials include a wide-range of trade books and primary documents, in addition to this unit of study. In order to support rigorous social studies instruction and student inquiry, we recommend that teachers integrate these resources into their daily instruction and assessment plans.