UNIT #4:
Geography of Latin America
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OVERVIEW
Central America and the Caribbean is the first mini-unit taught in the “Geography of Latin America” unit. This topic covers major land and water features, climate, environmental issues such as deforestation and poaching, tourist destinations, the Panama Canal, historic events, Aztecs, Maya and America’s relationship with Cuba and Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and development in Haiti
This topic covers the following fourteen countries:
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Cuba
- Jamaica
- The Bahamas
- Puerto Rico
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
LEARNING TARGETS
- Students can identify the fourteen countries of Central America and the Caribbean.
- Students can argue what factors distinguish Central America and the Caribbean as regions.
- Students can analyze the significance of tourism in Central American and Caribbean countries in terms of economy and ecology.
- Students can compare and contrast the climates and environmental hazards of Central American countries and the Caribbean.
- Students will be able to explain how natural hazards and human activity affect the environment in Central America and the Caribbean.
- Students can trace the historical developments in the construction of the Panama Canal and analyze the canal’s significance in world trade.
- Students can argue about the effectiveness of how the Aztecs interacted with the environment hundreds of years ago.
- Students will be able to argue how the Spanish-American affected America’s relationship with Cuba and Puerto Rico.
- Students will be able to compare and contrast America’s relationship with Cuba and America’s relationship with Puerto Rico.
- Students will be able to describe how government corruption and natural disasters affect Haiti’s level of economic, political and social stability.
- Students can evaluate the countries of Central America and the Caribbean’s level of economic stability using key economic indicators to justify their response.
- Students can identify and locate major land and water features in Central America and the Caribbean.
TOPICS and TERMS
- COUNTRIES of CENTRAL AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas
- ANCIENT EMPIRES: Aztec, Maya, Chichen Itza (Maya),
- CLIMATE and LAND: Rio Grande, Yucatan Peninsula, Sierra Madres, West Indies, Hispanola, rainforests, ecotourism, hurricanes
- OTHER KEY TERMS and PLACES of NOTE: Poaching, Mexico City, Megacity, Panama Canal
OVERVIEW
South America is the second mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Latin America” unit. This topic covers: Vertical zonation, ranching in South America, major land and water features, the Amazon, Falkland Islands, climate zones, mega cities, favelas, standard of living comparison, Machu Picchu, the Lesser Antilles, the Galapagos, historic events, languages of South America, immigration patterns, and the political crisis in Venezuela.
This topic covers the following thirteen countries:
- Venezuela
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Brazil
- Bolivia
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- Chile
- Argentina
- Suriname
- Guyana
- French Guiana
LEARNING TARGETS
- Students can identify the thirteen countries of South America.
- Students can argue what factors distinguish South America as a region.
- Students can argue where and why South Americans use vertical zonation to grow crops.
- Students can explain how South America’s land use affects indigenous populations.
- Students can argue about the significance of the Amazon River and the Amazon River Basin.
- Students can trace the history of the Falkland Islands.
- Students can analyze the development, significance and effects megacities have on its residents.
- Students can define favelas, explain factors that led to their development, and argue how favelas impact residents.
- Students can argue about how European colonization affected South America’s indigenous population and shaped South America’s language, religion and holidays.
- Students can explain the historic migration patterns Suriname and argue how those migration patterns impacted Suriname’s culture.
- Students will be able to describe how Venezuela’s authoritarian government affects Venezuela’s level of economic, political and social stability.
- Students can evaluate the countries of South America’s level of economic stability using key economic indicators to justify their response.
- Students can identify and locate major land and water features in South America.
TOPICS and TERMS
- COUNTRIES of SOUTH AMERICA: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana
- ANCIENT EMPIRES: Inca, Machu Picchu, Indigenous,
- CLIMATE and the LAND: Vertical Zonation (Tierra Nevada, Tierra Helada, Tierra Fria, Tierra Templada, Tierra Caliente), Llanos, Pampas, Amazon River, Amazon Rainforest/River Basin, Lesser Antilles, Brazilian Highlands, Patagonia, Strait of Magellan, El Nino,
- OTHER KEY TERMS and PLACES of NOTE: Gauchos, Tributaries, Falkland Islands, Favela, the Galapagos, St. Croix, Trinidad and Tobago, Treaty of Tordesillas, General Pinochet, Bolivarian Movement, Catholicism, Rio de Janiero, Carnival, Primate City
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