Resources for Teaching About the Americas (RETANet) is a database of curriculum materials which promote creative, interdisciplinary teaching about issues related to Latin America. Begun in 1994, RETANet was originally a collaborative initiative between the LAII and the UNM Latin America Data Base (LADB). A summer institute for K-12 teachers held during that year produced an initial set of sixty five lesson plans. Since that time, the LAII has continued to expand RETANet by developing and disseminating a range of curricular materials related to teaching about Latin America in K-12 classrooms.

Founded with support from the US Department of Education, the project continues today with ongoing assistance from the LAII and partial funding derived from the LAII’s US Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center grant. All RETANet resources are freely available to educators everywhere. Please see below for the curricular materials currently available as part of the RETANet database.

News in the Classroom - written by LAII staff, these modules integrate current events in Latin America through critical consideration of articles in the Latin America Data Base (for which teachers receive free access)

Lesson Plans - developed by teachers, these discrete, multidisciplinary lesson plans explore the Americas through Art, Math, Language Studies, Science, Social Studies and Spanish

Thematic Guides - in-depth examinations of topics that have ongoing relevance to the Americas

Vamos a Leer Educators Guides - each guide consists of lesson plans and activities that accompany a specific book featured in our monthly book group, Vamos a Leer.