1. Central America Geography December 1 and 2, 2016
Physical Geography
Geography
December 1 and 2, 2016

2. UNIT 3 – Chapter 9: Central America
Objective:
Students will analyze and interpret graphs pertaining to Central America and detail its significance in the Western Hemisphere
Essential Question:
How are landforms created?
How does culture effect a population?
How can conflicts arise because of the diffusion of culture in an area?
Why do cultures sometimes conflict with one another?

3. Notebooks

4. Do Now Topic: Ancient Mayan Saying
What do you think this ancient Maya saying suggests about the Maya’s view of nature?
“Who cuts the trees as he pleases cuts short his own life.”
Write a response to this. What do you think this means?

5. Countries of Central America
There are 7 countries in this region:
Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama

6. Map of Central America

7. Early History
Similar to Mexico. [People of Maya descent live in Guatemala].
1500s Europeans begin colonizing the region. [Spain]
1600s British arrive and colonize.
Colonists started plantations. [Sugarcane and Tobacco].
Indians forced to work plantations.
Africans brought in later as slaves.

8. Early History

9. Late 1800s: Britain leaves Nicaragua
Independence
1821: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua from Spain.
1903: Panama from Columbia.
Late 1800s: Britain leaves Nicaragua
1981: British Honduras becomes Belize

10. Roman Catholicism: Most common religion in region.
Culture
Mestizo: Region’s largest ethnic group. [People of mixed European and Indian ancestry]
Spanish: Official language in most countries. [Many people speak Indian languages]
Roman Catholicism: Most common religion in region.

11. Culture [Cont.]
Shares many traditional foods with Mexico.
Tomatoes, hot peppers, and cacao are native to region.
Celebrate special saints’ feast days.
Government: Countries have been rules by dictators, but today region’s countries have elected governments.

13. Closure Topic: Ecotourism
Explain how Ecotourism can be important to a country, such as Costa Rica?
Page 186

14. Caribbean Islands Geography December 7 and 8, 2016
Physical Geography
Geography
December 7 and 8, 2016

15. Caribbean Islands Objective: Essential Question:
Examine and differentiate the various cultural, economic, and political aspects of the Caribbean Islands by comparing and contrasting information.
Essential Question:
What were the cause and consequences of European Colonization?

16. Do Now Topic: Cacao and Cardamom
Read the definitions of Cacao and Cardamom in your textbook on page 184 & 185.
Q-What do the words have in common?
One is a cocoa bean and the other is a spice native to India. Q-Speculate how an Indian spice might have become widely used in Central America

17. Closure Topic: Comparisons
Q-What is one thing at least 3 Caribbean countries have in common?
History, Government / Economic, Culturally?
Be specific!
I don’t accept answers like this:
“They have similar government, history, economy, and culture…”
I accept answers more like this:
“Haiti, Cuba, and Dominican Republic have a history of governments following a … style…”

18. Caribbean Islands Cultural History
Physical Geography
Geography
December 9 and 12, 2016

19. Caribbean Islands Cultural History
Objective:
Analyze the various cultural aspects of the Caribbean Islands and understand the unique history by researching vocabulary terms.
Essential Question:
What were the cause and consequences of European Colonization?
How have dictators influenced the region.
Why did dictators influence the region, moreso than other areas?
Why are many areas less developed than others?

20. Do Now Topic: Dictators
Look up the term Dictator in your textbook on page 184.
Q-What is a dictator?
Q-What happens to a dictators opponents?
Q-Why do you think dictators flourished in Central America / The Caribbean more than other places? Examine the map on page 179.

21. Culture

23. Culture
Most islanders are of African or European descent or are a mixture of the two (Mulattos).
Mixtures of European, English, French, and African languages spoken on the islands.
Ex. Haitians – French & Creole.
Protestant Christianity most numerous religion.
Santeria – Combination of Catholicism & African religions.

24. Foods, Festivals, and Music
Most celebrated holiday: Carnival.
A time of feasts & parties before the Christian season of Lent.
Music:
Calypso Music – Trinidad & Tobago.
Reggae Music – Jamaica
Merengue – Dominican Republic

25. Closure Topic: Ch. 9 Tripod
Provide a “Vocabulary Tripod” to one vocabulary term from Chapter 9 of your choosing.
Word:
Define
An Example
Use in a Sentence
Example: Strait: A narrow passage way that connects two bodies of water. [Define]
Tierra del Fuego [Example]
Magellan was looking for a strait when sailing around the world that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans [Sentence]

26. Cuba Largest and most populated country.
Capital: Havana.
Communist Govt. since Fidel Castro seized power in 1959.
Has supported Communist guerrilla movements trying to overthrow other govts.
Many Cubans who oppose Castro have become refugees in the US.
US Govt. has banned trade with Cuba and citizens cannot visit.
Most farmland organized into cooperatives. Govt. owns all land.

27. Haiti Occupies the mountainous west of Hispaniola.
Poorest country in the Americas.
Dense population.
Suffers from many corrupt Govts.
Many Haitian refugees have come to the US to escape poverty & political violence.
Capital: Port-au-Prince.
Economy: Sugar & Coffee.
Grow Plantains – type of banana.
Severe tsunami in 2003 devastated country.
Haiti

28. Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans are US Citizens but with no voting power.
Eastern Greater Antilles.
Once a Spanish Colony, today it is a US Commonwealth – Self-governing territory associated with another country.
Puerto Ricans are US Citizens but with no voting power.
Unemployment high and wages low.
Debate on independence or the 51st state.

29. Dominican Republic
Occupies eastern Hispaniola.
Former Spanish Colony.
Capital: Santo Domingo.
First permanent European settlement in the Western Hemisphere.
Not a wealthy country.
Suffers from low economy, education, healthcare, and housing.
Main economy: tourism & agriculture.

30. Activity: h