Mexican Moments

Mexican Moments lesson plan

Investigate the Aztec calendar then create a fictional scroll calendar with details of an imaginary trip to Mexico.

  • 1.

    With Crayola® Scissors, cut large construction paper in half to make two long rectangular pieces. Put Crayola School Glue along one short edge and glue the sheets together to form a long calendar.

  • 2.

    Cut two strips of cardboard longer than the short ends of the calendar. Glue one to each end of the long sheet to form scroll handles. Dry overnight.

  • 3.

    Divide the page into the number of days of your Mexican journey with Crayola Fine Tip Markers and ruler.

  • 4.

    Refer to the Aztec calendar to find the symbol for each day (1 Crocodile, 2 Wind, 3 House, 4 Lizard). Two possible resources for details about this intricate calendar are <A href="http://www.azteccalendar.com">www.azteccalendar.com</A> and <A href="http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/montalvo/Hotlist/aztec.html">www.ai.mit.edu/people/montalvo/Hotlist/aztec.html</A>. Draw the symbols with Crayola Construction Paper Crayons. Decorate the scroll handles with Aztec calendar symbols.

  • 5.

    Ask a friend to help roll up the scroll by turning the cardboard strip handles simultaneously toward the middle. Anchor it to the back with adhesive tape.

  • 6.

    Each day of your imaginary trip to Mexico, add sketches and descriptions of the people, art, foods, architecture, music, fantasy souvenirs, and other ideas to your calendar.

Benefits

  • Children investigate the complicated, 52-year Aztec calendar. December 17 is the anniversary of the discovery of the 25-ton Solar Stone, or Aztec Calendar, found in 1790 by workers repairing Mexico City's Central Plaza.
  • Children construct a scroll calendar journal in the style of an Aztec calendar.
  • On an imaginary study trip to Mexico using various media sources, students record daily sketches and writings in their journals.

Adaptations

  • Explain that the Aztecs named their days with picture symbols instead of names like "Monday." Assist younger children and those with special needs in their search for these symbols on the Internet.
  • Challenge older students to rename days on recycled calendars following the Aztec calendar system.
  • Use scroll journals for exploratory journeys to other parts of the world where scrolls were common methods for recording information.