Mexico

Lesson 1

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MexicoGeography

Essential Questions

1) What are the physical and political features of Mexico?

2) How have the people of Mexico adapted to its climate and vegetation?

Lesson #1 VocabularyDefine the vocabulary:

VocabularyisthmusPeninsulaTierra calienteTierra templadaTierra friaFrostplateau sierra

Isthmus A small strip of land, with water on both

sides that connects two larger areas of land.

Peninsula

A Piece of land that is mostly surrounded by water.

Tierra Caliente

A climate term used in Mexico meaning “hot land”.

Tierra templada

A climate term used in Mexico meaning “temperate land”.

Tierra fria

A climate term used in Mexico meaning “cold land”.

frost A covering of tiny ice crystals that form on

a surface when dew or water vapor freezes

Sierra A chain of mountains whose peaks look

like the edge of a saw.

PlateauA high, flat area of land

What are the physical and political features of Mexico? (p. 172-174)

LANDFORMS (10) BODIES OF WATER (6)

CLIMATE (3)

Don’t Do These

CITIES (11)

BORDERS(3) OTHER INTERESTING FACTS (3)

LANDFORMS (10)

Isthmus of Tehuantepec Baja California Plateau of Mexico Sierra Madre Occidental Sierra Madre Oriental Sierra Madre del Sur Popocatepetl Senora Desert Yucatán Peninsula Rain Forest Beaches Islands

BODIES OF WATER (6)

Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte) Pacific Ocean Gulf of Mexico Gulf of California Caribbean Sea Bay of Campeche

CITIES (11)

Mexico City * Cancun Guadalajara * Acapulco Tijuana * Puebla Mexicali *Veracruz Ciudad Juarez Monterrey

BORDERS(3)

United States Belize Guatemala

Interesting Facts

Mexico has 31 states. Cancun is a tourist spot. Volcanoes start in Mexico because the

movement of tectonic plates.

What are the physical and political features of Mexico?LANDFORMS (10)Isthmus of Tehuantepec Baja CaliforniaPlateau of MexicoSierra Madre OccidentalSierra Madre OrientalSierra Madre del SurPopocatepetl Senora DesertYucatán PeninsulaRain Forest

BODIES OF WATER (6)Rio Grande (Rio Grande del Norte)Pacific OceanGulf of MexicoGulf of CaliforniaCaribbean SeaBay of Campeche

CLIMATE (3 DESCRIBE) CITIES (11)Mexico City * Cancun Guadalajara * Acapulco Tijuana * PueblaMexicali *VeracruzCiudad Juarez Monterrey

BORDERS(3)United StatesBelizeGuatemala

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS (3)Answers will vary

Do Now

Mexico’s Climate

What are the different climate zones in Mexico? Read pages 175-176. Complete the main idea chart for Mexico

with a partner.

tierra caliente

Hot landElevation sea level to 3,000 feetHot summersMild wintersNo frost

tierra templadaTemperate landElevations between 3,000 and 6,000 feetAverage temperature is between 80F and 50F.Most of Mexico’s farms are in this area.Most of its people live in this zone.

tierra friaCold landElevation above 6,000 feetTemperatures are not real cold or real hot.Frost is unusual in areas below 8,000 feet.The highest mountains peak are colder and

covered with snow all year-round.

On the last page (back) in your notebook: Summarization Activity

Ticket out the door Explain the major climate zones in Mexico.

Give at least 2 details for each type of climate zone.

Write this in paragraph form.

The three major climate zones in Mexico are

Summarization Activity

Dear Mr. Fisher Letter:

Tell me what important facts you know about the geography of Mexico. Be as specific as you can be.