South America7th Grade UBD - Unit 7 – The Americas

Preview

South America- South America has Earth’s

longest mountain range, large rain forests,

and is the home to the second longest river

in the world.

Brazil- Brazil has the greatest variety of

animals of any country in the world. It is

most well known for its dense forests and

the Amazon, the world's largest jungle.

Key Ideas- South America

South America is the fourth largest continent in size and

the fifth largest in population.

Almost half of South America’s area as well as its

population are located in Brazil.

Rapid urban growth continues to mark much of South

America.

People looking for better wages and living conditions are

leaving South America. Countries such as Guyana,

Ecuador, and Columbia are experiencing a large brain

drain.

Key Term

South America

– A continent

that comprises

the southern half

of the American

landmass,

connected to

North America

by the Isthmus of

Panama.

South America Geography

South America is the fourth largest

continent in size and the fifth

largest in population.

It is located primarily in the

southern hemisphere, is bordered

by the Atlantic Ocean to the East

and the Pacific Ocean to the West.

The geography of South America is

dominated by the Andes Mountain

Range and the Amazon River.

Key Term

Andes

Mountains-

The Andes are

the world's

longest

continental

mountain

range, located

in South

America.

Key Term

Amazon

River- The

second-

longest river

in the world

and is located

in South

America.

Beginning of Civilization of South American

Prior to European

colonization, the Incan

Civilization was a

dominant force in

South America.

In the 1500's, Spain

and Portugal colonized

much of South

America.

Oldest Civilizations of South America

One of the oldest civilizations of

South America is the Inca civilization.

The capital of the Inca civilization was

the city of Cusco in the Andes.

The Incas were known for their

distinct and developed culture.

The ruins of the Inca civilization

suggest that cities were built with

unmatched stonework and

constructed with great precision.

Native Civilizations found in South America

Of the three native civilizations found in South America (Mayas, Incas, and

Aztecs) the Incas were the least warlike. Their outstanding accomplishments in

art and agriculture have endured throughout the centuries as their knowledge

and expertise has been passed down from generation to generation.

Maya Incas Aztecs

Freedom Fighter

The colonies gained

independence in the

1800's with the help of

leaders like Simon

Bolivar.

South America’s

primary languages are

Spanish and

Portuguese.

Amazon Rainforest

Amazon rainforest is

home to many of the

strangest looking,

largest and smallest,

most dangerous and

least frightening,

loudest and quietest

animals on Earth.

Unique Animals of South America

Anaconda Andean Condor Piranha

Giant Tortoise Jaguar Capybara

Natural Resources of South America

Some of the natural

resources of South

America are coffee

beans, cocoa beans,

bananas, timber, rubber,

gold, spices, and salt.

Brain Darin

People looking for

better wages and

living conditions are

leaving South

America.

Countries such as

Guyana, Ecuador,

and Columbia are

experiencing a large

brain drain.

Key Term

Brain

Drain- The

loss of

highly

educated

and skilled

workers to

other

countries.

America's Brain DrainVideo- America's Brain Drain

Questions

1. Countries such as Guyana, Ecuador, and

Columbia are experiencing what as people are

looking for better wages and living conditions?

2. The colonies of South America gained

independence in the 1800's with the help of

leaders such as?

3. The geography of South America is

dominated by what two geographic features?

Answers

1. Countries such as Guyana, Ecuador, and Columbia are experiencing

what as people are looking for better wages and living conditions?

Countries such as Guyana, Ecuador, and Columbia are experiencing a

“Brain Drain”.

2. The colonies gained independence in the 1800's with the help of

leaders such as?

The colonies gained independence with the help of leaders like Simon

Bolivar.

3. The geography of South America is dominated by what two

geographic features?

The geography of South America is dominated by the Andes Mountain

Range and the Amazon River.

Key Ideas- Brazil

Brazil forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the

continent. It has borders with every South American country

except Chile and Ecuador.

Today, Brazil's politics and economy have become fairly

stable allowing Brazil to become an economic giant.

Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can

produce a great variety of crops.

Brazil is also South America's most industrial nation,

producing many types of chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.

Brazil- National Geographic TravelerVideo- Brazil- National Geographic Traveler

Key Term

Brasília-

The capital

city of

Brazil.

Introduction

Brazil has the greatest variety of

animals of any country in the

world. It is home to 600 mammal

species, 1,500 fish species, 1,600

bird species, and an amazing

100,000 different types of insects.

The Brazilian landscape is varied.

It is most well known for its dense

forests and the Amazon, the

world's largest jungle.

Geography

Brazil is the largest country in

South America.

It forms an enormous triangle

on the eastern side of the

continent with a 4,500-mile

coastline along the Atlantic

Ocean.

It has borders with every South

American country except Chile

and Ecuador.

Geography

Brazil is most well known

for the Amazon, the

world's largest jungle.

It also has dry

grasslands, rugged hills,

pine forests, sprawling

wetlands, immense

plateaus, and a long

coastal plain.

Geography

The Amazon is not one river

but a network of many

hundreds of waterways.

Its total length stretches 4,250

miles, making it the second

longest river on Earth.

Thousands of species live in

the river, including the

infamous piranha and the boto,

or pink river dolphin.

Geography

Southeastern Brazil was once

completely covered with dense

forest.

Now it is the country's

industrial capital, home to

Brazil's biggest cities: São

Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

It covers only 11 percent of the

country but houses 43 percent

of its population.

Nature

In the central-western part of

Brazil sits a flat, swampy area

called the Pantanal.

This patchwork of flooded

lagoons and small islands is the

world's largest wetland.

Here live giant anacondas,

huge guinea pig relatives called

capybaras, and fierce alligators.

Key Term

Lagoon- A

stretch of salt

water

separated

from the sea

by a low

sandbank or

coral reef.

Nature

For thousands of years, people

have been exploiting the

jungles of Brazil.

But since Europeans arrived

about five centuries ago, forest

destruction has been rampant.

Huge areas of the Amazon are

disappearing every year.

The government has

established many national

parks and refuges, but they

only cover about 7 percent of

the country.

Eyewitness To HistoryReading Activity- Eyewitness To History 22

History

Brazil was added to the map of the

world during the great European

explorations in the late 15th

century led by Portugal and Spain.

When Europeans first reached the

coast of Brazil, the country was

home to about 30 million

indigenous people, or Amerindians.

Today, only about 300,000 remain,

living primarily in Brazil's remotest

places.

History

Portugal established its first colony in

Brazil in 1530.

Colonists created sugarcane

plantations along the coast and sent

diamonds and gold back to Europe.

Soon, people from West Africa were

brought to Brazil to work as slaves.

The discovery of large inland gold

reserves brought thousands of

people from the coasts and as far

away as Europe to the interior of the

country.

History

In 1789, Brazilians tried

to kick out their

Portuguese rulers. The

rebellion was soon put

down, but it started a

movement toward

independence.

By 1822, Brazil was a

sovereign nation.

People and Culture

Brazil has produced

some of the best soccer

players of all time. The

most famous of all is

Pelé.

Brazil has won the World

Cup soccer finals five

times, more than any

other nation.

Government and Economy

From 1888 until recently,

Brazil has struggled with

democracy.

But in 1985, the military

government was

peacefully removed, and

by 1995, Brazil's politics

and economy had become

fairly stable.

Government and Economy

Brazil has many different soils and

climates, so it can produce a great

variety of crops.

Its agricultural exports include

sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa

beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and

tropical fruits.

Brazil is also South America's most

industrial nation, producing

chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.

Doing Business in BrazilVideo- Doing Business in Brazil

Questions

1. What are Brazil's two biggest

cities?

2. Brazil’s agricultural exports

include things such as what?

3. Brazil is South America's most

industrial nation and makes

products such as?

Answers

1. What are Brazil's two biggest cities?

Brazil biggest cities are São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

2. Brazil’s agricultural exports include things such as what?

Brazil’s agricultural exports include crops such as

sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans,

rice, and tropical fruits.

3. Brazil is South America's most industrial nation and makes

products such as?

Brazil’s industry main exports include chemicals, steel,

aircrafts, and cars.

Independent Activity

The world is full of problems, and a

person who dedicates themselves to

addressing and finding solutions to a

big problem is called an "activist". 

Studying the life and work of an

activist can help us understand how

many of the rights, conditions, and

privileges we now take for granted are

actually the result of hard-work and

sacrifice. 

Research the life of Simon Bolivar then

write a 150 word summary of his life.

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)