Taco Time
Mexican Food
Fun Facts
Animals
Unscramble
100
What is used to hold all of the taco fixings together?
A Tortilla!
Corn Tortillas (Tortillas de Maíz)
Corn tortillas are the national staple of Mexico and are naturally gluten-free.
- Masa Harina: Nixtamalized (lime-cooked) corn flour
- Warm Water: Used to hydrate the flour into a pliable dough
- Salt: Optional, added to taste
Flour Tortillas (Tortillas de Harina)
Flour tortillas are especially popular in northern Mexico and use wheat flour. [1, 2]
- All-Purpose Flour: The main base for structure and gluten
- Fat: Lard (traditional), vegetable shortening, or butter/oil
- Hot or Warm Water: Binds the dough and activates the gluten
- Salt: Enhances flavor
- Baking Powder: Optional (often omitted in traditional northern recipes, or used in small amounts for a softer, pillowy texture)
100
Tortilla chips are often dipped in this red style sauce:
Chips & Salsa!
What Salsa Means:
- Literal Translation: The word "salsa" literally means "sauce" in Spanish and Italian.
- Broad Definition: In Spanish-speaking regions, salsa is a general term for any cold or hot, smooth or chunky sauce.
- Historical Roots: Dating back to Aztec, Mayan, and Inca civilizations, mixtures of tomatoes, chili peppers, and herbs were originally created and used as sauces for meats and fish.
100
This 2017 Disney/Pixar Movie follows a young boy with dreams of becoming a musician, and features Mexican Culture!
100
Some Canadian Geese migrate to Mexico during the winter months
TRUE or FALSE
TRUE
Some Canadian geese travel as far as Mexico for the winter!
100
OATC
TACO
200
This popular dairy taco topping is usually grated or crumbled on top so it can melt!
Cheese!
200
What Mexican food is made from mashed avocados
Guacamole!
- Aztec Origins: The dish was first created in the 1500s by the Aztec Empire in Mexico.
- Name Meaning: Its name comes from the Aztec Nahuatl words ahuacatl (avocado) and molli (sauce or mixture), which evolved into guacamole.
- Traditional Ingredients: Authentic Mexican guacamole is made by mashing ripe avocados with serrano or jalapeño chiles, salt, and lime juice, often using a stone mortar and pestle called a molcajete. Onions, cilantro, and tomatoes are also commonly added.
- Cultural Use: In Mexico, it is frequently used as a condiment or topping for tacos, carne asada, and other local dishes, as well as an appetizer
200
This traditional style Mexican music features a band dressed in Mexican regalia and often features these instruments: violins, trumpets, and guitars.
Mariachi Bands!
Mariachi bands feature highly distinct, traditional Mexican regalia known as the traje de charro. This iconic uniform is a stylized version of the clothing worn by Mexican horsemen and cowboys (charros) from the state of Jalisco.
200
This big cat is Mexicos national animal:
A) Panther
B) Cheetah
C) Jaguar
C) Jaguar
200
ATJFIA
FAJITA
300
This is a popular white condiment for topping or dipping tacos!
Sour Cream!
300
Different from a taco, What Mexican dish is made by wrapping fillings inside a large tortilla?
A Burrito!
The main difference between a burrito and a taco is the size, the tortilla type, and how the wrap is sealed.
Taco
- Tortilla: Small (4 to 6 inches) and usually made of corn, though soft flour can also be used.
- Shape: Folded in half (like a U-shape) or left open, with the filling showing along the top.
- Fillings: Usually features a single main protein (like grilled meat) with simple toppings like onions, cilantro, and salsa.
- Portion: Small and light; you usually eat two or three as a snack or meal.
Burrito
- Tortilla: Large and thick, made of wheat flour (because corn tortillas would crack if rolled this way).
- Shape: Rolled into a tight, sealed cylinder that encloses all the food completely.
- Fillings: Loaded with a heavy combination of meats, beans, rice, cheese, and sauces.
- Portion: Large and filling; one burrito is usually a complete meal on its own
300
What kind of bird is featured on the Mexican flag?
A) Hawk
B) Eagle
C) Vulture
B) Eagle
The bird on the Mexican flag is a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
Key Details
- The Scene: The eagle is perched on a prickly pear cactus (nopal) and is shown devouring a rattlesnake.
- The Legend: The image comes from an Aztec prophecy. Their god told them to build their capital city where they found an eagle on a cactus eating a snake. They found this sign on Lake Texcoco and built Tenochtitlan, which is modern-day Mexico City.
- Symbolism: The eagle represents strength and the sun, while the snake represents the earth
300
What kind of Monkey is Native to Mexico?
A) Tamarin Monkeys
B) Spider Monkeys
C) Baboons
B) Spider Monkeys
300
XMEOIC
MEXICO
400
People like to squeeze this green fruit on top of their tacos for some extra tang!
Limes!
400
What dish is made with a tortilla, melted cheese, and other fillings, then folded and toasted?
A Quesadilla!
400
This beautiful flying insect travels to Mexico each year to spend their winters!
Monarch Butterflies!
Monarch butterflies migrate to central Mexico every autumn to escape freezing northern winters and survive until spring. They travel roughly 3,000 miles to the high-altitude Oyamel fir forests in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in central Mexico.
400
This animal in Mexico lives near Volcanoes!
A) Rabbits
B) Deer
C) Mountain Goats
A) Rabbits
The volcano rabbit, also called the teporingo or zacatuche, is a tiny, rare rabbit that lives in the mountains of Mexico. It gets its name because it lives in high-altitude grasslands near volcanoes!
Here are some fun facts about this unusual animal!
1. They are tiny!
Volcano rabbits are among the smallest rabbits in the world. They grow to around 23–33 cm long and weigh roughly as much as a can of soup!
400
ENJLAOPA
JALAPENO
500
What is a vegetarian or vegan taco usually filled with for protein to substitute meat?
Beans / Refried Beans!
Refried beans are a traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex dish made from cooked, mashed beans that are fried or baked once in a small amount of fat and seasonings.
500
What Mexican sweet treat is often made from fried dough and coated with cinnamon sugar?
A Churro!
500
This Mexican tradition is a celebration that honours and remembers loved ones who have passed away:
Day of The Dead / Día de los Muertos
This day is all about celebrating loved ones who have past rather than mourning! Their spirits live on through the hearts of their loved ones! Families may create colourful altars with photos, flowers, and favourite foods.
500
This aquatic salamander is native to Mexico!
Axolotl!
Did you know Axolotl's have the ability to regrow their limbs?
500
ELDQISUELA
QUESEDILLA