This collection of 14 folk drama scripts is drawn from the Hispanic culture and traditions of the American Southwest and designed for use in educational settings. The plays are short, simple, and easy to produce. A single play can fill a class period, while several plays grouped together would make a school assembly. Six plays, intended for grades 4-8, are based upon folktales of the Hispanic Southwest. Selected for their strong dramatic situations and characters, the stories are descended from classic European folktales. Three plays, intended for elementary students, are animal fables that teach a moral lesson through the adventures of their animal characters. Four plays are related to religious holidays and enhance the experience and understanding of Mexican traditions associated with Christmas, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12), and El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead--November 1-2). The final play is a historical play based on events behind the battle of Puebla in 1862, when the undermanned and underequipped Mexicans defeated the French army in Napoleon's first attempt to extend his empire to the Americas. Through the years, the holiday of Cinco de Mayo has evolved from a memorial of this battle into a more encompassing celebration of Mexican cultural pride and accomplishment. The book's introduction provides tips on casting, staging, costumes, and use of Spanish words, while introductions to individual plays give background information. Includes a glossary of Spanish words, a bibliography, costume illustrations, and a short biographical note about the author. (TD)