Middle America7th Grade UBD - Unit 7 – Middle America

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.

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.

Key Term

Middle

America - A

region of

southern

North America

comprising

Mexico,

Central

America, and

the

Caribbean's.

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.

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.

Middle America

Most people who

live in Middle

America make

their living on

farms and, as a

result, live in rural

areas.

The Panama CanalVideo- The Panama Canal

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.

Key Term

Panama

Canal- A canal

about fifty

miles long,

across the

Isthmus of

Panama, that

connects the

Atlantic and

Pacific

Oceans.

Key Term

Isthmus- A

narrow strip of

land with sea

on either side,

forming a link

between two

larger areas of

land.

Eyewitness To HistoryReading Activity- Eyewitness To History 21

Tourism

Tourism is a major source of income for many

of the Middle American countries.

Tourism has many advantages and

disadvantages: Advantages

oRegional economic options

oClean industry

Disadvantage

o Inauthentic representation of native cultures

Violence Scares Away TouristsVideo-Violence Scares Away Tourists

Questions

1. Middle America contains the America’s least developed

countries. New economic opportunities may help to

what?

2. Most people who live in Middle America make their

living on farms and, as a result, live in what types of

areas?

3. The Panama Canal, cuts through Middle America and

connects what two oceans?

Answers

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. The Panama Canal, cuts through Middle America and connects

what two oceans?

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

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.

Mexico City MegacityVideo- Mexico City Megacity

Key Term

Mexico

City- The

capital city

of Mexico.

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.

Geography

Mountains cover much

of Mexico.

Many of the

mountains and

canyons in Mexico are

rich with valuable

metals like silver and

copper.

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.

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.

Nature

The rain forests

and coastal

wetlands of eastern

Mexico are home

to thousands of

tropical plant and

animals species.

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.

Key Term

Mestizos - A

person of

mixed racial

ancestry,

especially of

mixed

European and

Native

American

ancestry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mexico's Day of the DeadVideo- Mexico's Day of the Dead

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.

Key Term

Fiesta- An

event

marked by

festivities or

celebration.

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.

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.

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.

Questions

1. 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?

2. For many Mexicans, the best chance for a

better life lies in what country?

Answers

1. 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.

2. 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.

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)

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)