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)