Unit of Work
School: _______________________
Class: Standard 3
Theme: Patriotism
Teacher’s Name: _____________________________
Subject: Social Studies
Duration: 3 weeks
Goals:
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Recognize the importance of the National Symbols and appreciate the symbolism associated with them
Develop patriotism and civic pride
Recognize heroes and heroines who fought to help develop our nation
Appreciate the work done by our national heroes and benefactors in an effort to develop Belize
Become familiar with the names of several patriots and heroes of Belize
Appreciate historical buildings
To acquire, organize, analyze and interpret historical documents and sources used on Belize’s patriotic journey
Recognize the value of historical research.
Rationale:
Our country known as Belize is a Central American nation, bordered to the north by Mexico, the west and south by Guatemala and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. However, no matter
how magnificent, it must always be remembered that as a nation, Belize was created out of the back water British colony called British Honduras.
As a country, Belize is rich in culture and heritage built on colonialism, labor movements, border disputes and civic pride. The people who make up our quaint country are an eclectic
group of individuals bounded by a common past but who will embark on a rich future. However, to move forward, the students must be able to take an in-depth journey into that past to
know and understand not only who we are and where we came from, but also how and why Belize became an independent nation.
Through working in and around this unit and theme, students will be able to value and appreciate who they are and the struggle it took to get where we are as a country and as a people.
While Social Studies tend to be a mundane subject, journeying through this unit will help students to capture Belize in an integrated way not only through a historical view point, but an
economic and political perspective as well. Students will be able to learn of how our country was formed geographically and how we are to live together socially. Hence students will
develop civic and patriotic pride to eventually become law-abiding citizens of this multi-cultural, interdependent and democratic nation.
Skills: define, explain, compile, research, construct, compare and contrast, recall, create
Attitudes: appreciate, develop, acquire, organize, analyze, and understand
Topic/Subtopics
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Concepts/Skills/Attitudes
The National Symbols
The National
Symbols of
Belize including
the Coat of
Arms, The
National Prayer
and the National
Anthem
The National Flag
The colors of the flag are red,
white and blue. The red and
white represent the United
Democratic Party; the blue
and white represent the
People’s United Party. These
colors acknowledge the
importance of the two-party
system of democratic
government. In the center is
the Coat of Arms.
The Coat of Arms
The shield of the Coat of
Arms is divided into three
sections by a vertical line and
an inverted V. The base
represents a ship in full sail on
the waves of the sea. The two
upper sections show tools of
the timber industry of Belize:
a paddle, a squaring saw, a
saw and a beating axe. The
shield is supported by two
woodcutters. The one on the
right holds a beating axe over
his shoulder in his right hand
and the one on the left holding
a paddle over his shoulder in
Objectives
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Recall
information about
each National
Symbol
Activities
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Students will visit different discovery
stations with information on each national
symbol.
Students will discuss and share insight on
any information learned at the stations
Have children make a booklet with the
drawing of the national symbols and write
notes on each symbol.
Students will learn the correct words of the
national symbols and practice singing it as
a class.
During flag rising, the students will say the
National Prayer and sing National Anthem
on behave of the school, to show-case and
have the school learn the correct words.
Assessment Activities
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Worksheet
Class discussion
Research
Portfolio
Observation
Drawings
Praying and
Singing
Charts
Group work
Presentation
Puzzles
Game
Brainstorming
Assignment
Test
Class work
References
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History of
Belize – Nation
in the Making
A Geography of
Belize – The
land and its
people
Living Together
Books and
Teacher Guide
by Minerva
Aponte-Jolly
and Priscilla
Brown-Lopez
Our Local
Community
Books 1-3 by
Marcellus
Albertin and
Marjorie
Brathwaithe
Resource Guide
for Teaching
Social Studies
in Primary
Schools
Discovery
Stations
his left hand. Above the shield
rises a mahogany tree. Below
the shield is the motto scroll
with the words ‘SUB
UMBRA FLOREO’ meaning
‘Under the shade I flourish’.
A wreath of leaves encircles
the Coat of Arms.
The National Tree - The
Mahogany Tree
The mahogany tree is one of
the magnificent giants of our
forest. It can grow to over 100
feet tall. The mahogany
matures in 60 to 80 years. The
mahogany tree forms part of
our country’s Coat of Arms.
The National Flower –
Black Orchid
The Black Orchid grows on
trees in damp areas of Belize.
Its clustered bulb-like stem
varies in size up to six inches
long and carries two or three
leaves. The Black Orchid
flower has greenish-yellow
petals with a bit of white and
sepals with purple blotches
near the base. The center
called ‘the Lip’ is shaped like
a valve of a clam shell and is
deep purple-brown, almost
black in color, with eye-
catching purple veins.
The National Animal – The
Tapir
The tapir is the largest land
mammal of the American
Tropics and is locally known
as ‘mountain cow’. The tapir
is stoutly built with short legs
and can weigh up to 600
pounds. The tapir is
vegetarian and spends much
of its time in water or mud. It
is also a strong swimmer. The
tapir is a protected animal and
hunting it is illegal or
forbidden.
The National Bird
The Keel-billed Toucan is
the National Bird of Belize.
The toucan has a great, canoeshaped bill which is brightly
colored green, blue, red and
orange. The toucan is about
20 inches in length and is
mostly black with yellow
cheeks and chest, red under
the tail and white patches at
the base of its tail. The
toucan likes to eat fruits and
eats by cutting with the
serrated (saw-like) edge of its
bill.
The National Anthem of
Belize
First known as ‘Land of the
Gods’, Land of the Free is
the national anthem of Belize.
The words were written by
Samuel Alfred Haynes and
the music was composed by
Selwyn Walford Young in
1963. It was officially
adopted in 1981.
The National Anthem –
Land of the Free
O, Land of the Free, by the
Carib Sea
Our manhood we pledge to
thy liberty!
No tyrants here linger,
despots must flee
This tranquil haven of
democracy
The blood of our sires which
hallow the sod,
Brought freedom and slavery
oppression’s rod,
By the might of truth and the
grace of God.
No longer shall we be hewers
of wood.
Arise! Ye sons of the
Baymen’s clan,
Put on your armours, clear the
land!
Drive back, the tyrants, let
despots fleeLand of the Free by the Carib
Sea!
Nature has blessed thee with
wealth untold,
O’er mountains and valleys
where prairies roll;
Our fathers, the Baymen,
valiant and bold
Drove back the invaders; this
heritage bold
From proud Rio Hondo to old
Sarstoon,
Through coral isle, over blue
lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels,
the stars and moon;
For freedom comes tomorrow’s noon.
Chorus
The National Prayer of
Belize was written by George
C. Price
The Belizean Prayer
Almighty and Eternal
God, who through Jesus
Christ has revealed Your
glory to all nations, please
protect and preserve Belize,
our beloved country.
God of might, wisdom
and justice, please assist our
Belizean government and
people with Your Holy Spirit
of counsel and fortitude.
Let the light of Your
divine wisdom direct our
plans and endeavors so that
with Your help we may attain
our just objectives. With You
guidance, my all our
endeavors tend to peace,
social justice, liberty, national
happiness, the increase of
industry, sobriety and useful
knowledge.
We pray, O God of Mercy, for
all of us that we may be
blessed in the knowledge and
sanctified in the observance of
Your most holy law, that we
may be preserved in union
and in that peace which the
world itself cannot give. And,
after enjoying the blessings of
this life, please admit us, dear
Lord, to that eternal reward
that You have prepared for
those who love You. Amen
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National Heroes
and Benefactors
Heroes and Heroines
A hero or heroine is a person
who does something
extraordinary and good,
usually for other people. This
includes being very brave or
committed to working for
others.
George Cadle Price – The
first Prime Minister of Belize.
George Cadle Price was born
January 15th, 1919.
He
entered politics in 1947 with
his election to Belize City
Council. Three years later on
September 29, 1950 he co
founded the People’s United
Party with Phillip Goldson
and Leigh Richardson. He is
known as the ‘Father of the
Nation’ because he brought
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Recall
information
known about a
particular hero or
heroine
Develop a
portfolio of
National Heroes
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Students will visit different discovery
stations with information on each national
hero and heroine.
Students will discuss and share insight on
any information learned at the stations
Research a hero chosen from a list.
Students will do a simple research about
that hero (i.e. birth place and year, year of
death if applicable, simple complete
sentences about what contribution that hero
made to enhance the country of Belize)
Observe pictures of specific heroes of
Belize (here, game ‘Who’s that Person’ can
be played)
Construct a poster on a national hero to be
displayed in the classroom
about the movement for
Belize
to
become
an
independent
nation.
In
September 2000, he became
the first person to receive
Belize’s highest honor: The
Order of National Hero for
the prominent role he played
in leading his country to
independence.
Phillip Stanley Wilberforce
Goldson
A Belizean newspaper editor,
activist and politician, He was
a founding member of the
People’s
United
Party,
National Independence Party,
The United Democratic Party
and the National Alliance for
Belizean Rights. He pioneered
the village council system and
enacted a new education
ordinance making primary
education
free,
granted
government assistance to
secondary schools for the first
time and initiated special
allowances
for
retired
teachers. In September 2001,
he was presented with the
Order of Belize. In September
2008 he was posthumously
awarded
with
country’s
highest honor given to a
Belizean: The Order of
National
Hero.
The
international airport was
renamed after him.
Cleopatra White
Cleopatra White was a nurse,
community leader, a singer,
social worker and a dramatist.
She was devoted in keeping
the culture of Belize alive
through
storytelling
and
composition of many Creole
songs. Cleopatra White was a
devoted nurse and was a
founding member of the
Black
Cross
Nurses
Association in Belize. This
organization
worked
to
improve public health care
and health education in
Belize. In 1953 she was
awarded the Victoria Medal
and in 1958 she traveled to
England to receive a Member
of the British Empire Medal.
She was a pioneer of rural
health nursing. She dedicated
her life to caring for the
physical, spiritual, cultural
and social well-being of
Belizeans.
Henry
Edward
Ernest
Victor Bliss (Benefactor)
Henry Edward Ernest Victor
Bliss was born in Marlow,
county
of
Buckingham,
England on 16 February,
1869. He was an engineer by
profession and had been
appointed a Justice of the
Peace. A marriage to Ethel
Alice Bliss produced no
children. It was during his
early adulthood that Bliss
became the Fourth Baron of
Portugal. Baron Bliss was
wealthy enough that he retired
early to his love of seafaring
and fishing. However, in 1911
at the age of 42, the Baron
was stricken with paralysis
that left him paralyzed from
waist downward, confining
him to a wheelchair. Once the
World War I had come to an
end in 1918, Baron Bliss
commissioned the building of
his yacht Sea King II and
when completed in 1920, the
Baron prepared and left
England. His next stop was
Trinidad where he contracted
food poisoning shortly after
arriving. After that he, he
would head for Belize (then
British Honduras), following
up an invitation from the
Attorney General. After a
brief stop in Jamaica, , the Sea
King II on January 14th,
1926, dropped anchor in the
harbor of Belize City. After
arriving in Belize, the Baron's
health seemed to improve. He
took every opportunity to
venture forth in his small
launch to go fishing, to visit
the cayes and to visit the
barrier reef. Unfortunately,
about a month after arrival,
doctors called to the yacht to
attend to the Baron found him
to be gravely ill. Baron Bliss
asked that the Governor of
Belize, Sir John Burdon, visit
him aboard his yacht. When
the Governor arrived, the
Baron informed him that he
wished to bequeath the bulk
of his estate to the country of
Belize. Three weeks later, on
9 March, 1926, the Fourth
Baron Bliss of Portugal
passed away. He had never set
foot on Belizean soil.
The Baron Bliss Trust was to
invest his money, and all
income generated from the
principal would be used for
the permanent benefit of
Belize and all its citizens. The
money is not to be used for
churches, dance halls or
schools, except agricultural or
vocational. Only the interest
is to be spent
 Historical
Buildings
Historical Buildings and
Monuments
Something designed and built
as a lasting public tribute to a
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Recall
information
known about a
particular
historical building
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In groups, students will visit different
discovery stations with information on
historical buildings.
Students will discuss and share insights
on any information learned at the
person, a group of people or
an ever important site or
structure that is preserved
because of its historical,
cultural or aesthetic
importance.
Baron Bliss Lighthouse
Located in Belize City is an
honor to one of Belize’s
greatest patrons named Henry
Edward Ernest Victor Bliss.
Bliss was a baron of Portugal
who was born in Britain. The
Baron Bliss tomb and
memorial is next to the
lighthouse. He was a person
who left a large trust fund for
the people of Belize. Henry
Edward Ernest Victor Bliss
was a wealthy British Baron.
House of Culture
The House of Culture
formerly being the residence
of the British Governor of
Belize. In 1814 this building
was a symbol of British
Colonial rule as the
Government House, the seat
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or monument
Use information
given to answer a
questionnaire
Summarize and
share information
learnt about each
historical building
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stations.
Students will answer particular
questions on a question sheet relating
to information read.
After 10 minutes students will listen for
signal and rotate to the next discovery
station.
In groups, students will briefly
summarize and share details of one
historical building.
of colonial government until
1981 when Belize got its
independence from the British
Commonwealth.
Museum Of Belize
The Museum of Belize is a
two storey brick fortress in
Belize City that was once Her
Majesty’s Prison. It was
constructed as a prison in
1857 but opened in its current
role in 2002. It housed
criminals from the colonial
period to soon after
Independence and today
visitors are able to see a
historical road map into
Belize’s past.
St. John’s Cathedral
Belize has a Cathedral dating
back to the early 1800s.
Building began in 1812 and
was completed in 1820. This
is the oldest surviving
colonial period building as
well as the oldest Anglican
Church in Central America. It
is also the only Anglican
Cathedral in the world outside
England. St. John’s
Cathedral was built by slaves
with bricks brought to Belize
as ballast in the hulls of ships
from Europe.
Supreme Court House
While Belize’s first Court
House, a wooden structure,
was built in 1818. It was not
until June 26, 1820 that the
first sitting of the Supreme
Court was held. This rather
drab wooden structure that
housed the Supreme Court’s
first sitting did not change
until 1880 when a beautiful
wooden building was
constructed.
The Swing Bridge
The Belize City Swing
Bridge was constructed in
Liverpool, England and
brought to Belize City by a
United States company
headquartered in New
Orleans. It replaced several
wooden bridges that had been
built since the mid-1800s by
locals to cross Haulover
Creek. The bridge was
constructed in 1922 and
installation was finished in
1923.