Exploring Our World: Western Hemisphere People, Places, and Cultures

Chapter 9: Latin America Today

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about Mexico’s people, government, culture, and economy. Closer ties with the United States and Canada have brought changes to Mexico’s economy. The country has moved toward a service-based and manufacturing-based financial system and away from an agricultural-based economy. The Web site on Mexico tells the story of its changes through statistics and short articles, and includes information on the role of the United States in Mexico’s economy.

Lesson Description
Students will visit the U.S. Department of State’s Web site on Mexico. They will read and decipher information on how Mexico makes its money. They will answer questions based on what they’ve read.

Instructional Objectives

1. The learner will be able to understand and explain the changes occurring in Mexico’s economy.
2. The learner will be able to discuss how and why the United States is contributing to the changes.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. 4%, 26%, 70%
2. commerce and tourism, financial services, and transportation and communications
3. They are taking the parts and assembling cars to export to the U.S.
4. the United States, 66%
5. What happens in the U.S. relationship with Mexico can have a direct impact on millions of Americans, whether the issue is trade, homeland security, immigration, or democracy. More than a half-million Americans live in Mexico and more than 2,600 American companies have operations there.