NOV20
All country briefings

North America · Country briefing

Mexico

A child-friendly mission briefing for 20 November — capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.

  • Capital
    Mexico City
  • Population
    ~128 million
  • Time zone
    America/Mexico City (UTC -6)
  • Currency
    Mexican peso (MXN)
Mexico, with Mexico City marked
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Climate in November: Mild; dry season starting in many regions.

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico

The capital

Mexico City

Photo · Unsplash

Fun facts

What makes Mexico a bit special.

  • Chillies

    Over 60 different kinds

  • Monarchs

    Millions migrate here each winter

  • Pyramids

    Mayan and Aztec ones, taller than houses

  • Day of the Dead

    Joyful, colourful family remembering

  • Chocolate

    First made by the Aztecs from cacao

  • Mariachi

    A famous Mexican folk music style

Native animals

Wildlife your partner class might know best.

  • 🐆

    Jaguar

    The biggest cat in Mexico

  • 🐬

    Vaquita

    World's rarest porpoise

  • 🦎

    Axolotl

    Can regrow whole body parts

  • 🦋

    Monarch butterfly

    Migrates from Canada to Mexico every year

  • 🦅

    Golden eagle

    Mexico's national bird

School life

In a Mexico classroom

Many schools open with a Monday flag ceremony.

Typical school day: Often morning shift 08:00–13:00 or afternoon 14:00–18:30.

School year: August to July.

Greetings to learn

Say hello like a local

  • ¡Hola!
    Spanish · OH-la
  • ¡Buenos días!
    Spanish

Five questions to ask

Conversation starters

  1. 01What music do you listen to?
  2. 02What's a holiday you love?
  3. 03What's your favourite snack?
  4. 04What sports do you play?
  5. 05What's a Mexican word you wish more people knew?

What not to assume

Friendly cautions

  • ℹDía de los Muertos is at the start of November; some classes may discuss it.
  • ℹMexico has many Indigenous communities with their own languages and customs.

Culture

Food, music, sport, festivals.

  • Food

    • Tacos
    • Tamales
    • Mole
    • Pozole

  • Music

    • Mariachi
    • Banda
    • Cumbia
    • Pop

  • Sport

    • Football
    • Boxing
    • Lucha libre

  • Festivals

    • Día de los Muertos (Nov)
    • Independence Day (Sep)
Reflection prompts
  • “How does your country remember people who have died?”
  • “What would you put on an altar of memory?”

Could your class meet Mexico?

Choose Mexicowhen you register — we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.

Register your classroom