Overview

In 2010, Traditional Mexican Cuisine was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Intangible cultural heritage represents inherited traditions from the past and contemporary practices. In this unit, students will learn about the cultural importance of Mexican cuisine across time by studying Pre-columbian Maya artifacts, colonial codices, modern posters, street art, and other primary sources. Indigenous ethnic diversity, combined with the infusion of Old World foods upon the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century, has created a cuisine worthy of a place on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This unit is in English for use in Art or Social Studies classes and can be adapted to the proficiency level of Spanish language learners. Many of the online sources recommended in this unit are available in English and Spanish.

Lesson Plans

Lesson 1: Cultural Heritage

Cultural identity, cultural heritage, and food: cultural identity, cultural heritage, and food

Lesson 2: Using Ancient Maya Artifacts to Learn About Indigenous Contributions to Mexican Cuisine

Tangible history, analysis of ancient objects, object-based observations- activities, digital archive search for ancient Americas objects

Lesson 3:Tracing Mexican Cuisine During the Colonial Period

Latin American and European influences on Mexican cuisine, the use of food as a tool for power, and the effects of food on society

Lesson 4:Threats to Traditional Mexican Cuisine

Genetically-modified foods and NAFTA; street art and contemporary expression