Kidz Klub Connection 32
Hello Kidz Klub!
Happy Tuesday! And Happy Cinco de Mayo! Welcome to week 7 of our Kidz Klub Connection. I hope you are ready for more fun and exciting virtual learning.
With a new month comes new places to travel to. The month of May will take us all over the world on Where in The World !! We will journey to countries near and far, learning about their history, culture & language, cuisine, and other fun facts. We will be introduced to important citizens, visit famous landmarks, and learn regional recipes.
This week, we’ll head to our neighboring countries north and south of us: Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, and Bermuda.
In honor of today being Cinco de Mayo, we’re going to journey to our southern neighbor, Mexico. Let’s board our virtual airplane and off we go!
Be Safe. Be healthy. Enjoy!
Take good care.
Miss Charisse
Let's Learn About Mexico!
History:
Did you know … Mexico is a land of extremes, with high mountains and deep canyons in the center of the country, sweeping deserts in the north, and dense rain forests in the south and east. Did you know the Mayan people built enormous pyramids in Mexico? The pyramids reached above the treetops and had steep steps to climb to the top.
LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.
Culture & Language:
Did you know … Mexico is the product of a rich Native American heritage, three centuries of Spanish rule, and a shared border with the world's richest country, the United States. Today, many Mexicans are mestizos, which means they have a mix of Native American and Spanish blood. The majority of the Mexican population speaks Spanish, the official national language. However, another 60 indigenous languages are still spoken in Mexico. Their monetary unit is the peso.
Mexico City, Mexico:
Did you know … Mexico City is the capital and largest city in Mexico. Mexico City has 18.1 million people. It is the city with the second highest number of people in the world after Tokyo in Japan and just slightly more populated than Mumbai in India. Mexico City is known for its Templo Mayor – a 13th-century Aztec temple, the baroque Catedral Metropolitana de México of the Spanish conquistadors, and the Palacio Nacional, which houses historic murals by Diego Rivera. All of these are located in and around the Plaza de la Constitución, the massive main square also known as the Zócalo.
LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.
Famous Landmarks:
- Chichén Itzá - Chichén Itzá is an ancient Mayan city located on the Yucatán Peninsula.
- Teotihuacán - Teotihuacán, an ancient city possibly built by the Toltecs and is located in the state of Mexico.
- Paquimé Ruins - Paquimé, located in the state of Chihuahua, was a cultural center in north Mexico for over 300 years.
- Cuarenta Casas - Cuarenta Casas (Forty Houses) are cliff dwellings located in the state of Chihuahua and discovered by the Spaniards around the 16th century.
- Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl - Located on the eastern rim of the Valle de Mexico, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl are Mexico’s second- and third-highest volcanic mountains.
Famous Citizens:
Did you know …
- Felipe Calderon - President of Mexico
- Julio Cesar Chavez - Boxer
- Porfirio Diaz - President for nearly 30 years
- Placido Domingo - Singer
- Salma Hayek - Actress
- Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) - Soccer plaYer
- Miguel Hidalgo - Priest who led the Mexican Revolution
- Benito Jaurez - President of Mexico
- Frida Kahlo - Painter
- Montezuma II - Last Aztec emperor
- Carlos Santana - Guitarist and musician
- Fernando Valenzuela - Baseball player
- Pancho Villa - Revolutionary war hero
- Emiliano Zapata - Leader of the Mexican Revolution
Fun Facts
Did you know … The Mexican flag shows three bands in green, white and red. The emblem on the white ground shows an eagle standing on a cactus with a snake in the beak. What do the colours in the flag stand for? The colours of the Mexican flag stand for independence, unity and religion. The legend describes, that the Aztec settled and built their capital city which they named Tenochtitlan, which is today Mexico City, on the place where they saw and eagle sitting on a cactus, eating a snake.
Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated annually on May 5 and commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862?
Here are silly Cinco de Mayo jokes to make you giggle:
Q: What did the Mexican say after celebrating Cinco De Mayo?
A: Taco about a good time.
Q: What do you call Mexican food that slowly moves?
A: Inch-iladas.
Q: How do you break up a Cinco De Mayo celebration?
A: Call Nine Juan Juan.
All joking aside … Enjoy these Cinco de Mayo fun facts for kids …
Nachos
Mexican cuisine varies greatly by region but depends heavily on an ancient trinity of staples: corn (maize), beans and squash. Popular dishes vary by region and individual circumstances, but some of the more widely enjoyed foods are tortillas (flat bread wraps made from wheat or maize flour), enchiladas, cornmeal tamales (cooked within corn husks or banana leaves), burritos, soft–shell tacos, tortas (sandwiches of chicken, pork or cheese and vegetables enclosed in a hard roll), stuffed chili peppers and quesadillas (tortillas filled with soft cheese and meat). Other favorites are soups and spicy stews and seafood dishes. Among the preferred desserts are sweet breads, chocolates and dulce de leche (caramelized milk).
Here’s a video on how to make Mexican inspired nachos … Oh My!
