Latin America
What do you know about our
neighbors down south?
The term "Latin America" refers to Mexico and all countries and political
units in Central and South America. The area includes 33 independent
nations, along with French Guiana and some island possessions of the
United States, Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands. Landforms,
climate, and lifestyles in Latin America vary greatly. But common
experience and historical developments unite its peoples in many ways.
Latin America is a region of extreme contrasts. It is characterized by the
magnificent high Andes mountains and the massive Amazon River. There
are lush rain forests in the Amazon Basin, while Chile's Atacama Desert is
considered the driest area in the world.
Introduction to Latin America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFFp6rZa3C0&feature=related
Map of South America
http://earth.google.com/intl/en/index.html
Map of Latin America
Precipitation Map of South
America
Climatic Map of South America
Vegetation Map of South
America
Land and Water
 On the map, South America looks roughly like an inverted
triangle, with its broadest landmass in the north and tapering
almost to a point in the south. At its widest, it measures about
3,200 miles (5,150 kilometers) from east to west. It extends some
4,600 miles (7,400 kilometers) from north to south.
 South America has some of the most impressive geographical
features of any continent. The Andes, which run its entire length,
are the world's longest mountain chain; Aconcagua, in the
Argentinean Andes, is the highest mountain in the Western
Hemisphere. The Amazon, which empties into the Atlantic
Ocean, is the world's largest river in volume of water flow, and
its enormous drainage basin is covered by the world's most
extensive area of rain forests. Angel Falls on the Churun River in
Venezuela is the highest waterfall in the world, while Chile's
Atacama Desert, where it has not rained for centuries, is
considered the driest region on earth.
 World Atlas
 http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/salnd.htm
Each year, thousands of square miles of tropical rain forest are
cut down for timber or destroyed to provide land for farms, mines, and
roads. In Brazil (above) and elsewhere, fire is frequently used to quickly
clear large tracts of land.
Why Save the Rainforest…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKIgleUBDdE
Rivers
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The interior lowland is drained by three great river systems, the largest of which is
the Amazon. Second in importance is the Río de la Plata. The third main river
system is the Orinoco.
The Amazon - The Amazon is exceeded in length only by the Nile in Africa. It carries
more water than any other river in the world, draining an area nearly as large as
Australia. Originating high in the Peruvian Andes and fed by hundreds of tributary
rivers in six countries, it crosses the widest part of South America before emptying
into the Atlantic off northeastern Brazil.
Río de la Plata - The Río de la Plata is formed by the Paraná and its principal
tributaries, the Paraguay and Uruguay rivers. It is South America's most important
inland waterway. The Paraná rises in the highlands of southeastern Brazil and flows
in a generally southerly direction along the eastern border of Paraguay. It then
crosses into Argentina, where the Uruguay joins it to form the Río de la Plata
estuary on the Atlantic between Uruguay and Argentina.
The Orinoco - From its headwaters in the Guiana Highlands, the Orinoco River flows
northeastward through Venezuela to the Atlantic Ocean. More than half of the
Orinoco is navigable by fairly large ships. A small stream called the Casiquiare links
the Orinoco to the Amazon by way of the Río Negro.
Other Major Waterways - The Magdalena is the principal river of Colombia and its
chief artery of trade. Together with its main tributary, the Cauca, it flows northward
through Colombia's Andean ranges to the Caribbean Sea.
The São Francisco is the main waterway leading to the interior of eastern Brazil. It
rises in the Brazilian Highlands and flows in a northeasterly direction, parallel to the
coast, before turning abruptly on its journey east to the Atlantic Ocean. Navigation
along its route is interrupted by the Paulo Afonso Falls.
Some scientists say the Amazon
River is longer than the Nile
River…
The Nile River on
the left is located in
Egypt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta35C488dnE&feature=channel
To the right is the lush
forest and Amazon
River
Lakes
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South America has relatively few lakes. The largest, Lake Maracaibo, is
situated on the continent's northern coast, in western Venezuela. The
Maracaibo basin is one of the major oil-producing regions. Lake Titicaca,
which forms part of the border between Peru and Bolivia, in the Andean
region, is the world's highest navigable body of water. Nearby is the
much smaller Lake Poopó, about half Titicaca's size. Lagoa dos Patos, in
southern Brazil, is actually an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. A low peninsula
separates it from the open sea.
Climate
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South America has varied types of climate. These are influenced by such factors as elevation,
distance from the equator, winds and currents, and nearness to the surrounding oceans and
seas.
South America does not have the extremes of temperature found in North America. Its great
northern bulge lies on or near the equator, giving this large area of the continent a tropical
climate, except in the higher elevations of the Andes. The Amazon Basin, Guiana Highlands,
much of the Brazilian Highlands, and some coastal areas are hot and humid the year round, with
heavy rainfall and temperatures averaging about 80°F (27°C).
Much of the narrower, southern half of the continent has more distinct winter and summer
seasons, although winters are generally mild. Since the region is south of the equator, the
seasons are reversed, with winter falling between June and August and summer between
December and February. A Mediterranean type of climate is found in central Chile and parts of
Argentina, which benefit from the moderating influences of the surrounding oceans.
Because of their great height, the Andes act as a climatic barrier, blocking the passage of
moisture-laden winds from the east and contributing to the semi-arid and desert conditions of the
Peruvian coast and northern Chile. The coldest regions of South America are in Tierra del Fuego
and the Andes, where temperatures can fall below 32°F (0°C). Some of the highest temperatures
occur in the Gran Chaco, with readings well above 100°F (38°C) common in summer.
To locate the weather in South America
http://www.weather.com/outlook/weatherbyregion/SAMER
From rainforests and deserts, to
bustling cities Latin America
shows diversity
Natural Resources
Latin America is both rich and poor. Natural resources are many and
varied, but they are unevenly distributed. The region is a major
exporter of bauxite, iron ore, copper, and lead, for example. But it has
very little coal, and only five or six nations are self-sufficient in
petroleum. Much of the world's coffee, bananas, and sugarcane is
produced there, but basic foodstuffs like wheat must be imported.
Latin America contains the oldest universities in the Western
Hemisphere, but many of its people today cannot read or write.
Regional incomes are near the world average but are far below those
of the more industrialized nations. Rapid population growth and
increasing urbanization have created many demands that are difficult
to meet.
Vegetation
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South America's considerable natural resources include areas of good soil,
abundant deposits of many minerals, and a great diversity of plant and animal life.
Soils - The continent has two main types of fertile soils. One is alluvial, or soil
deposited by rivers, found in the floodplains of the rivers. The other is the grassland
soil found in the Pampas of Argentina and similar areas of Uruguay. Soils of the
desert areas can also be made to produce crops if irrigated. The least fertile are
mountain soils, which are too thin and stony, and soils of the tropical forests,
whose nutrients have been washed away by the heavy rainfall.
Vegetation - More than 40 percent of South America is forested. Most of this
consists of tropical rain forest, or selva, occupying the Amazon Basin, parts of the
Guiana and Brazilian highlands, and the Pacific coast of Colombia. Among the
numerous varieties of trees found here are mahogany, rosewood, Brazil nut, wild
rubber, palm, and cacao. Plants and tropical flowers, including many kinds of
orchids and giant water lilies, grow in profusion. Tropical thorn trees and other
scrub vegetation cover much of the Gran Chaco. Small areas of evergreen forest
are found in southern Brazil and central Chile.
The extraordinary diversity of the Amazonian selva is now threatened by
deforestation. This is due to a number of factors, including increased road building,
logging, and the growth of new settlements.
About 30 percent of the continent consists of grasslands. The tropical grassy
plains, or savanna, that cover parts of Venezuela and Colombia and much of the
Brazilian Highlands are most suitable for grazing cattle. The temperate grasslands
of the Pampas of Uruguay and eastern Argentina are utilized for farming as well as
cattle raising.
Art, dance, and relaxation are all part of a
day’s work.
Latin American Art
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dPAn2B5YZg
Watch Latin American Dancers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ0T5jkCTxA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQkAlFBzses
Colonial Times
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The colonial history of Latin America is very different from the much shorter
colonial periods of the United States and Canada. Three centuries of Spanish
and Portuguese rule gave Latin Americans little experience in self-government.
In the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, the king was supreme. The Spanish
king ruled through the Council of the Indies and through the viceroys
(governors who represented the king in the colonies). The Portuguese king
governed through the Transmarine Council. The members of both councils
were appointed by their king and lived in Spain and Portugal. The councils
issued laws, supervised the church, and regulated trade and trade routes.
This system of government meant that people born in the New World had little
opportunity to govern themselves. A few criollos were appointed to the cabildos
or senados da camara (town councils), as regidores (town councillors). The
mestizos had even fewer social and political rights. They were even less
prepared for self-government. The Indians who worked for the landowners and
mine owners were treated like slaves. The blacks, who worked on the
plantations, actually were slaves. Thus, only the criollos gained some
experience in government.
1800’s –Present
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In the 1800's, most Latin American countries revolted and became
independent republics. The criollo group included the higher clergy, the
wealthy landowners and mine owners, and the merchants. These leaders
were overwhelmingly conservative and sought to maintain the social,
economic, and political systems of the colonial period, but without the
Spanish rulers. They firmly believed that the people were not ready for
self-government due to lack of education, perceived racial inferiority, and
great geographic barriers of mountains, jungles, and deserts.
Independence was followed by quarrels between liberals and
conservatives. These two groups were divided on economic policy and
on the question of the relationship between the government and the
Roman Catholic Church. They also disagreed about whether the
provinces or the federal government should exercise the greater power.
The liberals opposed the Church's ownership of land and its control of
education and marriage, but the conservatives supported the Church.
The liberals opposed government control of the economy, but the
conservatives (who usually controlled the government) favored
governmental control of financial investments and tariffs. Finally, liberals
wanted less centralization of government, while conservatives favored
more centralization.
Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca fortress city in presentday Peru, is South America's most famous
archaeological site.
•Ancient Civilization
•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtdL3YMHyTI&feature=related
A Way of Life
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Traditionally, Latin Americans are early risers. Around seven o'clock, they have a
breakfast of coffee and milk, hot chocolate with buns, or, in Central America and
Mexico, tortillas and beans. If they can afford it, they have eggs and bacon. They
work until noon or one o'clock, when they go home to eat the big meal of the day.
After the meal, many people take a siesta, or afternoon nap. It is still common for
many shops and businesses, as well as farms, to stop work for two or three hours
in the middle of the day. Intense heat and high altitudes make this habit necessary
and desirable. This results in a work day that begins earlier and ends later than it
does in the United States.
In many regions, however, the traditional siesta is disappearing. Many urban
businesses are changing to lunch breaks of an hour or less. As working hours
change, so does the character of the midday meal. At six or seven o'clock, the Latin
American eats a snack called a merienda. Dinner is eaten quite late in Latin
America--nine o'clock or even later.
A large part of Latin America remains rural and agricultural. Many Latin Americans
live in villages that are shut in by great mountains or rivers. These people are likely
to be Indians whose way of life is strongly influenced by that of their ancestors. But
the huge migration of large numbers of people--particularly young people--from
rural to urban areas is an important recent trend.
As cities have grown larger, the differences between rural and urban ways of life
have begun to disappear. The construction of highways and roads connecting cities
and the countryside has increased travel and interaction. Better communication
systems also help to bridge distances. Transistor radios, cell phones, and satellite
television are now found even in the most rural areas and serve better than the
written word to spread information and ideas.
Customs
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Throughout Latin America, the extended family is held dear. Loyalty and
responsibility to one's family is extremely important. Parents teach their
children obedience and respect for authority. Piety, gallantry, and
courtesy are also carefully cultivated in the Latin American child. These
qualities are also emphasized in courtship. Customs are rapidly
changing. But prior to marriage, couples are typically chaperoned.
In Latin America, a girl does not lose her own family name when she
marries. If Cecilia López marries Juan Díaz, she becomes Cecilia López
de (of) Díaz. Her family name also lives on in her children. Her son Pablo,
for example, would be known as Pablo Díaz López; her daughter
Catalina, as Catalina Díaz López. All legal documents--baptismal records,
school certificates, passports--bear in sequence the given name, father's
family name, and mother's family name.
Catholic children--rich or poor, urban or rural--are baptized and named
for the saint on whose day they were born. Frequently the names of
other close members of the family are added, so that a child sometimes
has five or six names.
Tradition
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In cities and in the country, the choice of a godfather and godmother
(compadres) is of very great importance. Nothing brings two Catholic
Latin Americans closer together than for one to be the godparent of the
other's child. The child's religious upbringing, welfare, education, and
even support are sometimes entrusted to the godparents. Baptism takes
place in the church and is followed by a party. In the country, this party
includes a feast, dances, and songs. In the city it is customary to dance
to popular music and eat sandwiches and cakes.
Wedding ceremonies usually take place in church. But the preparations
and the celebrations that follow a wedding vary from country to country,
from religion to religion, and from region to region. A civil ceremony is
considered as binding as a religious one.
The status of women is improving throughout Latin America.
Professional opportunities vary from country to country and group to
group. But more women have careers in government, science,
diplomacy, and business than ever before.
Culture
 In most Latin American countries, the Indians' contributions are
old and many-sided. For this reason, some people prefer to call
the region Indo-America. But this term is not entirely accurate.
Costa Rica, Argentina, and Uruguay are largely European in
origin. In most of the Caribbean, Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and
French Guiana, the African rather than the Indian has been the
dominant influence on life and culture.
 Latin Americans are fine artisans and still make many things by
hand. Although mass-produced goods are now very common,
unique handcrafted items can still be found. Latin American
designs are original and colors are bold, so that the simplest
dish has individual beauty. The pottery and ceramics of Latin
America are unique and varied. Each region uses its own
designs.
 Native Peoples of Latin America
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnz5SomARgI&feature=relate
d
Holidays
 Holidays - Each country has its own holidays to celebrate-independence day, the birth or death of a national hero, or the
anniversary of an event in the nation's history. But most of Latin
America's holidays are religious in nature. Every village, town,
and city has its patron saint. Religious pilgrimages, folk dances,
songs, and fireworks are familiar ways of celebration. New Year's
Day, Carnival, Easter Sunday, All Souls' Day, and Christmas are
some of the major holidays observed by most Latin Americans.
 Carnival, or Mardi Gras, is a celebration introduced by the
Spanish and Portuguese. People wearing masks and elaborate
costumes parade through the streets. Festive parties are held in
most homes. Carnival is a burst of joy and freedom before Lent,
a 40-day period of self-denial practiced by most Christians. The
carnivals of Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Brazil in particular
are internationally famous.
 All Souls' Day is observed by visits to cemeteries. People bring
flowers, foods, and pictures of the dead. In some places there
are all-night vigils and prayers. Respect for the dead makes this
one of Latin America's most solemn days.
A Different Kind of Doll!
If you live in Mexico, Latin America, Southern California or many other places with traditions strongly
influenced by the Latin American and Mexican culture you will soon find yourself surrounded by the
celebration of the Day of the Dead on All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
This lively tradition, which celebrates and honors departed family members, is growing in popularity and I
recently read that it has spread to Europe as well. In honor of this tradition I thought it might be fun to
make a Day of the Dead doll or "calacas". But to do that properly you will need the skull face.
The ancient people of Latin America saw the skull as a symbol of life, not as a symbol of death as we
generally perceive it today.
Similarities
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Easter Sunday is a high point in religious celebration. The day may begin with the
burning of a papier-mâché Judas in the streets. It may close with an evening stroll
in the plaza as a band plays. Young men break colored eggshells filled with confetti
or perfume and shower the contents on young women as they stroll in opposite
directions around the square.
Christmas is observed, with slight variations, throughout Latin America. In Brazil,
dancing and carols often precede midnight mass. In Costa Rican homes, an entire
room is set aside for a nativity scene. In Chile, thousands of people gather at the
little town of Andacollo to pay homage to the Virgin Mary. Many Colombians put up
Christmas trees.
Nowhere does Christmastime last longer or have more magic than in Mexico. There
the season, called La Posada, begins on December 16. Each night, families and
their guests act out Mary and Joseph's search for lodging. There are prayers and
songs. Candies, fruits, other food, and punch are available for all.
The children enjoy breaking a piñata each evening. The piñata is a clay pot covered
with papier-mâché and colored tissue paper and filled with candies, fruits, and
coins. It may take one of many shapes, such as a head of lettuce, a donkey, a fish, a
ship, or a stork. When it is broken, children scramble for the contents. It is the
cheerful end to each evening from December 16 through December 24 (Christmas
Eve), when the family attends midnight Mass.
Santa Claus, a figure in Latin American celebrations, has been received
enthusiastically. Gifts may also be received on January 6, celebrating the visit of the
three Magi (kings) to the infant Jesus. Children may leave a bundle of hay or a pot
of water for the Magi's camels.
Cuisine
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Two famous dishes made from cornmeal are arepas and
tamales. Arepas are cakes made from a special type of
cornmeal known as masa arepa, a fine white cornmeal. The
batter is dropped onto a comal, or hot griddle, to cook and
then is served with butter and a topping of grated queso
blanco, a slightly tangy white cheese popular in this region.
Tamales, from Mexico, are made by working cornmeal, called
masa harina (the corn is treated with lye before it is ground),
and lard into a dough. This dough is typically filled with bits
of meat, fish, beans, and/or vegetables. A banana leaf is then
wrapped around the filling, and the entire package is
steamed.
Snack foods, or street foods, such as tamales and
empanadas, originally from Argentina, have become known
throughout the world. The tradition of little plates of food,
eaten at any point during the day, comes from the Spanish
tapas. Empanadas are made by filling a yeast-raised dough,
similar to a rich pastry dough, with a savory filling such as
well-seasoned cooked meats, fish, or beans; these pouches of
food are then baked.
Some of the main dishes you see below
are served over rice or in corn tortillas
The Market
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVTJxWq62XY
Language
 Spanish and Portuguese. Nearly two-thirds of the people of Latin
America speak Spanish, and about one-third speak Portuguese.
The Spanish once ruled more than half of the now-independent
countries of Latin America, while Portugal held power in Brazil,
the single largest country. Language is therefore one of the
cultural elements many Latin Americans have in common. A
Puerto Rican poet or an Argentinian novelist can be read by a
Panamanian, a Honduran, or a Mexican.
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An Argentinian or a Peruvian can understand the Spanish of a Spaniard.
A Brazilian can understand a native Portuguese. But Spanish and
Portuguese as spoken in Latin America differ somewhat in speech
pattern, rhythm, and accent from the languages spoken in Spain and
Portugal.
Information on language
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyGa-Bs3GA&feature=related
Education
 All South American countries provide free public education. In
addition, there are numerous private schools, many of them
church sponsored. Education levels vary widely, however, from
country to country and between rural areas and the cities. The
literacy rate, or percentage of people able to read and write,
ranges from a high of more than 96 percent in Guyana to about
78 percent in Bolivia.
 There are numerous universities, in addition to colleges and
technical schools. Some universities date from the first century
of the colonial era. The oldest, the National University of San
Marcos in Lima, Peru, was founded in 1551.
Education can look very different in rural areas of
Latin America
Finding a way to educate street children
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSsH-1WDs9c
Animal Life
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South America's wild animal life is as varied as the continent itself. The larger
mammals include great cats such as the jaguar and mountain lion and the smaller
ocelot. The surefooted llama, alpaca, guanaco, and vicuña--all relatives of the
camel--have traditionally been used as pack animals in the high Andes and are also
prized for their fine wool.
Other distinctive forms of wildlife are the capybara, the world's largest rodent
(above right photo), which may exceed 100 pounds (45 kilograms) in weight; the
piglike peccary; the vampire bat; the howler monkey; the giant armadillo; and the
anaconda, a water snake that can reach a length of 25 feet (7.6 meters).
South America is also home to many unusual species of fish. These include the
voracious piranha, which feeds in schools that can devour large prey in minutes;
the electric eel; and the air-breathing lungfish.
South America is thought to have more species of birds than any other continent.
The rain forests are home to tiny, jewel-like hummingbirds and various kinds of
vividly colored parrots, macaws, and large-beaked toucans. Larger birds include the
rhea, a kind of ostrich, which inhabits the savannas; the harpy eagle, which is large
enough to prey on monkeys; and the Andean condor, the largest of its kind, with a
wingspan of some 10 feet (3 meters).
Weird animals of Latin America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBrStxuOJbs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ouWOGJk5E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdJ-itYBK9Q
Government and Defense
Unstable governments in modern times have often swung back and forth between
civilian and military rule. Authoritarian governments, in which people have no
control over the actions of their leaders, have been more common under the military.
In some countries, military rulers brought about reforms and pushed for more social
equality. By contrast, democratically elected presidents have sometimes behaved like
dictators.
Today most nations in Latin America are multiparty democracies in which power
changes hands in an orderly fashion. In some countries, however, although elections
may be held and a civilian president installed, the real power remains with the
leaders of the military. Reducing military control remains one of Latin America's
greatest challenges.
Government and Economy Link
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/govinfo/foreign/gov_latamgvt.html
Latin American Presidents
http://www.andrewclem.com/LatinAmerica/Presidents.html
Economy and Growth
 Latin America is undergoing rapid, but very uneven economic growth. Lying
largely in the tropics, the region has been a major supplier of foodstuffs and
raw materials to the more industrialized countries. Its large natural
concentrations of petroleum and nonferrous metals are important sources of
export earnings, and, since World War II, an increasing effort has been made
to develop domestic manufacturing for a growing internal market. But as a
whole Latin America must still be described as one of the world's
economically underdeveloped areas.
 The rate of population growth—close to 3% per year—is the highest
in the world. Because of the climate and the terrain, most economic
activity is carried on in the temperate highlands and along the coastal
rim of South America and Central America. A movement is under
way to integrate the economies of the region, and the effort has met
with its most significant success in Central America.
 Agriculture and Community efforts
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIWsxo5nNgg
 Economic Indicators
Trade
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China, the United States, and western Europe are the continent's major
trading partners. Trade among the countries of the region is also
important. There are several regional trade groups. The largest is
Mercosur (or Mercosul in Portuguese). It links Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay, and Uruguay. The Andean Community brings together Bolivia,
Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Both groups encourage trade among their
members. They do this by reducing or eliminating barriers to trade.
Chile has a two-way trade agreement with the United States, as does
Peru. In total, Chile has over 50 trade agreements with other countries
and trade groups, including the European Union (EU), Mercosur, China,
India, South Korea, and Mexico.
In 2008 the leaders of the 12 South American countries created the Union
of South American Nations (UNASUR). UNASUR is modeled after the EU.
It will bring together Mercosur, the Andean Community of Nations, and
other regional groups. Its purpose is to strengthen all forms of regional
cooperation, including trade.
Latin Trade News
http://latintrade.com/
Guatemalans and other Latin Americans are renowned
for their handmade pottery.
Latin American Pottery
http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1T4TSHA_enUS341&q=latin+american+pottery&um=1&ie=UT
F8&source=univ&ei=Y8tNTMzXFcG88gazsa2HDA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnu
m=1&ved=0CDEQsAQwAA
Trade is back on the rise
Facts and Figures
 Location And Size: South America extends from: Latitude-12°; 24' N to 56° S. Longitude--34°; 45' W to 81° 21' W.
Area--approximately 6,883,000 sq mi (17,827,000 km2).
Highest point--Aconcagua, 22,834 ft (6,960 m). Lowest
point--Valdés Peninsula, 131 ft (40 m) below sea level.
Population: 381,000,000 (estimate)
Principal Lakes: Maracaibo, Titicaca, Poopó.
Principal Rivers: Amazon; Paraná, Paraguay (both part of
the Río de la Plata system); Orinoco; Magdalena; São
Francisco.
Principal Mountain Ranges: Andes--Highest peak:
Aconcagua (in Argentina).
Principal Deserts: Atacama (in Chile).
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Visit The Brooklyn Children”s Museum
http://www.brooklynexpedition.org/latin/gateway2.html
Flags
http://www.justmaps.org/flags/la/
The Future
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South America has a promising future but also a number of problems. In
contrast to the early years of independence, the nations of the continent
realize that cooperation is vital to all their interests, and many have
banded together in regional pacts. In addition to the Latin American
Integration Association, these include the Organization of American
States (OAS), the Andean Common Market, Mercosur, and the proposed
Free Trade Association of the Americas.
In 2009, the leaders of twelve South American nations met in the
Brazilian capital of Brasília and established the Union of South American
Nations (UNASUR). UNASUR, which is modeled after the European Union
(EU), integrates Mercosur and the Andean Common Market. The goal of
the new organization is to unify its members' transportation, energy, and
immigration policies. The members also hope to establish a South
American parliament. The pact will go into force when it is ratified by the
legislatures of the member states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and
Venezuela.
The continent's continuing problems include the rapidly growing
population; poverty within the Indian, rural, and unemployed urban
populations; and a shortage of educational facilities in many areas.
Now you are ready to begin your own journey. When you have the
country name you are studying and your research guide please go to the
Culturegrams site below.
Culturegrams
http://online.culturegrams.com/kids/kids_region.php?contid=7&wmn=South_America
Grolier Online
http://go.grolier.com/
Sirs Database
http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/search?keyword1=
latin+america&stype=basic&sort=relevance&easy=on&mod=on&chal=on
A Latin America Virtual Field Trip
http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_clawson_wrg_9/47/12235/3132387.cw/content/index.html
Geography Online
http://geographyworldonline.com/latin.html
Latino Resources
http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~cmmr/Latino.html
Why Study in Latin America?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOZB1Ywf1sU
Can you imagine being transported to far-flung locales such as Latin America? Latin America
is a place south of the United States rich in not only culture and tradition, but also a region
where land, resources, and economy are very different from our own and in the same respect
similar in so many ways. To be an expert researcher you will need to find many facts and
information about the country you will be studying.

1. Maps – Political, Physical, & Population
a. Create or find a map of your country. Locate and label major cities, populations, landforms, and bodies of
water. Don’t forget to include a map key and compass rose with a paragraph that describes where your
country is located using absolute and relative location.

2. Country Flags
a. . Research your nation’s flag. Create a replica and describe the meaning behind the colors and symbols as
well as how it relates to the people of your country.

3. History & Landmarks
a. Create and illustrate a timeline that shows at least 5 key moments in your nation’s history. Don’t forget to
research the history and explain why they are an important moments.

4. Culture (traditions, celebrations, language)
a. Describe your nation’s cultural characteristics include the language spoken, why it is spoken, phrases used,
3 main holidays or celebrations and cultural foods that are still eaten today. Don’t forget to include
similarities and differences among your country and the country you are researching.
5. Climate and Land
a. Create a line graph showing the high and low temperatures over ten months (weather.com) for one city in
your nation. Discuss the climate of the country and tell how the people in their country adapt to that climate.
b. Describe important physical features of their country. Don’t forget to explain how those physical features
help or negatively affect the people of their country.

6. Resources, Vegetation, and Economy
a. Research and examine the resource and product maps for your nation. Your research will help you to
explain how the people use each of the main resources. Don’t forget to describe the import and export
process your country uses to help maintain the country’s economy using natural resources, products and or
vegetation.
b. Research and examine a vegetation map for your nation. List, describe and illustrate (or use photos) three
most common types of vegetation and food products in the country. Don’t forget to describe how the
vegetation helps the country’s dependence on itself and interdependence with other countries.

7. Politics and Government

a. Research online articles describing your nation’s current events and explain how the people confront the
problems facing their nation. Write (type) a persuasive letter to your nation’s leader from the perspective of
a citizen that convinces the nation’s leader to act by using evidence from the article to support your case and
suggest ways to solve with the problem. Use empathy if you lived there what would they wish was different.
Take a look at it from several different perspectives before writing. (land developer, financier, peasant, etc.)

8. Animals

a. Describe and illustrate (or use photos) three animals that live in your country that are most representative
to that country. Describe how these animals survive and their place within the food chain. Don’t forget to
explain why they are significant & how do they relate to others, including what they know about the
environment based on these kinds of animals.
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9. Interesting Extras
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Find a traditional song and sing from your world community.
Build a tool that is important to your world community
Create a piece of traditional clothing
Create a newscast, interview, or round table discussion on the problems your world community faces today
Build a model of a shelter , community, or multi-box diorama
Teach the class how to play a traditional game or create a game using your country’s geography facts
Create a poetry anthology that reflects your country’s culture
Create a travel brochure or photo story of your country
Content: Latin America - 5 Themes of
Geography

Human Environment & Interaction - The relationship between people and the environment.
Students will learn how the physical characteristics of a country’s environment affect the people
who live there and how people who live there affect their country’s environment.

Place – Students will learn how each country is different from any other place in the world; which
include physical features (terrain, landforms, bodies of water, natural resources, and climate) as well
as human features (the type of work people do, population, cultural influences, man-made features
such as buildings, airports, roads, and unnatural borders).

Movement – Students will learn how the movement of people, goods, and ideas provide
opportunities for the exchange of values and customs among cultures, and create economic and
political interdependence.

Region – A region is a group of places that share one or more common features such as climate,
physical features, population, culture, history, political and governmental systems. Students will
learn how to compare a country to other countries in order to see what unifying characteristics make
them part of the same region as well as how to explain what region a country belongs to.

Location – Students will learn how to describe where a country is in terms of absolute location
(telling exact position of a place using latitude and longitude) and relative location (approximate
directions such as “My country is twenty miles northwest of the Panama Canal”).
Understandings

The over arching understanding of our geography unit on Latin America is
“Where we live impacts how we live”. The underlying understandings below the
larger concept revolve around the five themes.

Physical and human features unify a place and differentiate that place from every
other place.

The movement of people, goods, and ideas provides opportunities for the exchange of
values and customs among cultures

Global economic and political systems create and fosters interdependence between
countries (or U.S. states)

Responsible global citizens respect the earth and its inhabitants
Resources

Latin America. (2010). Encyclopedia Americana. Retrieved July 18, 2010, from Grolier
Online http://ea.grolier.com/article?id=0239530-00

Jones, D. M. (2010). Latin America. (T. M. Davies, Jr., Rev.). The New Book of
Knowledge®. Retrieved July 18, 2010, from Grolier Online http://nbk.grolier.com/cgibin/article?assetid=a2016660-h

Álisky, M. (2010). Latin America: Culture. Encyclopedia Americana. Retrieved July
18, 2010, from Grolier Online http://ea.grolier.com/article?id=0432876-00

Street, J. H. (2010). Latin America: Economy. Encyclopedia Americana. Retrieved
July 18, 2010, from Grolier Online http://ea.grolier.com/article?id=0432877-00

Harrison, J. P. (2010). Latin America, History of. Grolier Multimedia
Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 18, 2010, from Grolier Online
http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0167580-0