National Geographic: Discovering Mexico
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/mexico/
This National Geographic site will help you understand the challenges faced by different social and economic classes in Mexico and Mexico City. Clicking on the “Journeys” section will take you to the farthest reaches of urban and rural Mexico. Here you will learn about differences in the day-to-day lives of Mexican citizens. In the “Tour Guide,” visit “Go to Mexico City” and “Daily Dispatches” to learn about the diverse urban lifestyles in this unique city.

PBS Global Tribe: Mexico Journal
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/globaltribe/countries/mex_journal.html
This PBS site explores the “three P’s” often associated with Mexico City: poverty, pollution, and population. An excellent photo journal investigates the lives of young people in the city. For example, “Eco-Punks” are young people who struggle with poverty and lack of opportunity. Another section explores El Carocal. This organization works with the homeless street children of Mexico City. Another article focuses on Aztec youth who struggle to maintain their traditions in the modern world.

Civilization.ca—Maya Civilization: The Maya Today
http://www.civilization.ca/civil/maya/mmc08eng.html
Six million Maya inhabit an area spreading from Guatemala to Mexico. This site highlights the adaptability of the Mayan culture and its chances for survival in the 21st century. The pictures and text reveal the modern lifestyles of the Mayan people. The site explores how the Maya have maintained their traditions over the centuries. It also discusses how the pressures of the modern world are threatening these people’s way of life.

Jaguar-Sun
http://www.jaguar-sun.com/contents.html
Celebrate the history and culture of the ancient Maya at this colorful site. Visitors will learn how the Maya have managed to hold on to many aspects of their unique way of life. You will gain insights into their history, culture, and ancient kingdoms. You will learn about challenges and successes experienced by modern-day Maya. The site also has excellent regional maps and descriptions of the Mayan calendar and Mayan writing.

National Geographic.com Kids: Flying Into the Eye of a Hurricane
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/0308/hurricane/
This fun, interactive site will entertain you. Dramatic photographs and short videos show hurricanes in action. Fly into a virtual hurricane. Explore hurricane tracks through the Atlantic and Caribbean. You can also learn more about how to survive one of these violent storms.

Canadian Hurricane Centre: All About Hurricanes
http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/hurricanes.html
This engaging site has a wide range of resources and statistics to help you understand the life cycle a hurricane. Learn how these storms form, how they are named and categorized, and how they impact human populations. You can also explore hurricanes of the past, including some major Caribbean storms. Younger children will enjoy the “Just for Kids!” section.

 Amazon Watch: Defending the Amazon
http://www.amazonwatch.org/
This site investigates the competing interests battling over the resources of the Amazon rainforest. You will find interactive maps, photographs, and short essays about industrial “mega projects” that threaten this region’s natural resources. Links explain how people like you can help preserve this sensitive and important region. This is a large site, so take your time visiting the different sections listed at the top of the homepage.

Rainforest Web: World Rainforest Information Portal
http://www.rainforestweb.org/
This portal serves as a great jumping-off point to a wide range of online resources on the protection of rainforests. Links are grouped under these questions: “Why are rainforests important?” “What’s happening in the rainforests?” “Why are rainforests being destroyed?” “How are rainforests protected?” and “How can I help?”

Mountain Voices: Interviews with Peruvian Mountain Dwellers
http://www.mountainvoices.org/peru.asp
This site covers many of the issues affecting the daily life of residents of the Peruvian Andes. Simply click on any topic in the “Local Themes” list, such as “Community Activities” and “Festivals.” One of the site’s most interesting features is a series of interviews that reveal the challenges of life in this region. You can read a short summary of each interviewee before reading the actual interview. These oral histories will help you better understand the lives of these fascinating people. To read the full interviews, you will need to register with the site. Be sure to check with your parents or teacher before submitting any personal information.

Mountain Partnership
http://www.mountainpartnership.org
This site helps visitors develop an appreciation of mountains as a vital part of the environment. It presents information on issues like poverty, mining, forest use, tourism, and watersheds. It also explores how mountain peoples have adapted to their environments. A variety of regions are covered, including the Andes. Teachers and students interested in advanced topics will find this site particularly useful.