Use this high interest resource to combine ELA, math, and social studies lessons built around the Readers’ Favorite Award winning novel Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza, about the daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries on Capitol Hill. This 32-page guide includes cross-curricular lessons, research projects, and fun activities that allow students to practice close reading, listening skills, and improve text-based vocabulary in English and Spanish. Questions challenge students to analyze and comprehend story elements. The guide also introduces basic civics instruction with an emphasis on how Congress works and a writing exercise where students send a letter or postcard to their representative. There is even a fractions exercise based on recipes mentioned in the book. Can also be used with the free podcast The Fina Mendoza Mysteries.