Middle America

1. 7th Grade UBD - Unit 7 – Middle America Middle America

2. Preview • Middle America- Middle America is a fragmented realm that consists of all the countries from Mexico to Panama and all the Caribbean Islands. • Mexico- Few nations on Earth support as many plant and animal species as Mexico does. Mexico is a country rich in natural resources, like oil, silver, copper, and agricultural products. But political and economic failings have kept much of the population in poverty.

3. Key Ideas- Middle America • Most people who live in Middle America make their living on farms and, as a result, live in rural areas. • Tourism is a major source of income for many Middle American countries. • The Panama Canal cuts through Middle America and connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Ships use the canal, making Panama a crossroads of world trade.

4. Key Term Middle America - A region of southern North America comprising Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean's.

5. Introduction to Middle America • This realm contains the America’s least developed countries. • New economic opportunities may help to improve Middle America’s poverty. • It has a diversity of languages. • Middle America is all the land between the United States and South America.

6. Introduction to Middle America • In terms of total size, Middle America is not very large. • What Middle America lacks in size it makes up in complex and beautiful geography and cultural diversity. • It has volcanoes and spectacular shorelines, tropical forests, barren deserts, and scenic islands.

7. Middle America • Most people who live in Middle America make their living on farms and, as a result, live in rural areas.

8. The Panama Canal Video- The Panama Canal

9. Trade • The Panama Canal, cuts through Middle America and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. • Ships from both hemispheres use the canal, making Panama a crossroads of world trade. The canal made possible the exchange of both goods and ideas.

10. Key Term Panama Canal- A canal about fifty miles long, across the Isthmus of Panama, that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

11. Key Term Isthmus- A narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land.

12. Eyewitness To History Reading Activity- Eyewitness To History 21

13. Tourism • Tourism is a major source of income for many of the Middle American countries. • Tourism has many advantages and disadvantages: • Advantages • Regional economic options • Clean industry • Disadvantage • Inauthentic representation of native cultures

14. Violence Scares Away Tourists Video-Violence Scares Away Tourists

15. Questions • Middle America contains the America’s least developed countries. New economic opportunities may help to what? • Most people who live in Middle America make their living on farms and, as a result, live in what types of areas? • The Panama Canal, cuts through Middle America and connects what two oceans?

16. Answers • Middle America contains the America’s least developed countries. New economic opportunities may help to what? • New economic opportunities may help to improve Middle America’s poverty. • Most people who live in Middle America make their living on farms and, as a result, live in what types of areas? • Most of the population of Middle America live in rural areas. • The Panama Canal, cuts through Middle America and connects what two oceans? • The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

17. Key Ideas- Mexico • Spanish is the official language of Mexico. It is spoken by nearly the entire population of Mexico. • The Mexican government offers free education for children ages six to fourteen go to school. It has both public and private schools available. • Mexico is a country with great problems and great potential. But political and economic failings have kept much of the population in poverty.

19. Mexico City Megacity Video- Mexico City Megacity

20. Key Term Mexico City- The capital city of Mexico.

21. Geography • Mexico is a land of extremes, with high mountains and deep canyons in the center of the country, sweeping deserts in the north, and dense rain forests in the south and east.

22. Geography • Mountains cover much of Mexico. • Many of the mountains and canyons in Mexico are rich with valuable metals like silver and copper.

23. Nature • Few nations on Earth support as many plant and animal species as Mexico does. • Mexico is located partway between the Equator and the Arctic Circle, it is a refuge for animals fleeing extreme cold in the north and intense heat in the south.

24. Nature • In northern Mexico, deserts are full of plant and animal species that have found ways to survive the harsh environment. • On Mexico's west coast, gray whales swim thousands of miles each year from Alaska to breed in the waters off California.

25. Nature • The rain forests and coastal wetlands of eastern Mexico are home to thousands of tropical plant and animals species.

26. People and Culture • Spanish is the official language of Mexico. It is spoken by nearly the entire population of Mexico. • Mexico is the product of a rich Indian heritage, three centuries of Spanish rule, and a shared border with, the United States. • Today, most Mexicans are mestizos.

27. Key Term Mestizos - A person of mixed racial ancestry, especially of mixed European and Native American ancestry.

28. People and Culture • Mexican culture is known for the unified nature of the family. • The country’s divorce rate is among the lowest in the world. • Children regularly live with their parents until they marry. • Mexican family units stay connected. Often, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and children live in the same area or even in the same house.

29. People and Culture • Throughout its history, Mexico has been home to great artists. • The Maya and other Indians made impressive murals, sculptures, and jewelry. • Modern Mexican artists include great painters, photographers, sculptors, and muralists.

30. People and Culture • Mexicans take sports seriously. In ancient times, losers of a ritual ball game were once put to death. • In some dangerous sports, like bullfighting competitors still put their lives on the line.

31. People and Culture • One of Mexico’s holidays is the Day of the Dead. People visit their loved ones that have died. Family members go to the graves and bring flowers and make candy with names of loved ones on it.

32. Mexico's Day of the Dead Video- Mexico's Day of the Dead

33. People and Culture • Fiestas are big celebrations that include fireworks, dancing, and lots of food. • Piñatas are big decorations that you can hit with a stick and candy and toys fall out.

34. Key Term Fiesta- An event marked by festivities or celebration.

35. Education • Mexico has a free education and public and private schools. • Children ages six to fourteen go to school. They start at 8:00 am and finish at 1:00 pm. • Mexico is ranked thirty-second in education worldwide.

36. Government and Economy • Mexico is a country with great problems and great potential. • It is rich in natural resources, like oil, silver, copper, and agricultural products. • But political and economic failings have kept much of the population in poverty.

37. Government and Economy • The Mexico-United States border is the largest economic divide on Earth. • For many Mexicans, the best chance for a better life lies in the United States. • Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans come to the U.S., legally and illegally, each year in search of work.

38. Questions • On the Day of the Dead, one of Mexico’s holidays, people visit their loved ones that have died. Family members go to the graves and bring what to remember those who have passed away? • For many Mexicans, the best chance for a better life lies in what country?

39. Answers • On the Day of the Dead, one of Mexico’s holidays, people visit their loved ones that have died. Family members go to the graves and bring what to remember those who have passed away? • Family members go to the graves and bring flowers and make candy with names of loved ones on it. • For many Mexicans, the best chance for a better life lies in what country? • For many Mexicans, the best chance for a better life lies in the United States.

40. Independent Activity • What has been the “muddiest” point so far in this lesson? That is, what topic remains the least clear to you? (4 minutes)

41. Partner Activity • Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)