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th 6 Grade Social Studies

Latin America Geography Unit Information

Milestones Domain/Weight: Geography 31%

Content Map: Content Map (includes all domains)

Latin America Study/Resource Guide

Latin America’s Geography Teacher Notes

Prerequisites: No elementary standards align to Latin America’s Geography

Unit Length: Approximately 12 days

Latin America Geo Study Guide | Latin America Geo Study Guide KEY

Click on the links below for resources by Essential Question:

EQ 1: Where are the major physical features and nations of Latin America located?

EQ 2: How do location, climate, and natural resources affect people in Latin America?

EQ 3: How have environmental issues affected Latin America?

th TCSS 6 SS Latin America Geography Unit

Essential Question and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) . Latin America Physical and Political Features Activator . SS6G1a.-SS6G1b. 1. Where are the major physical Essential* . Latin America Physical and Political Features ppt Sample Assessment features and nations of Latin . Latin America Physical and Political Features Map Items America located? Identification Gulf of . Latin America Physical Features Formative Assessment – Standard: Pacific There are two versions of this assessment. One is a blank political map and students have to label and illustrate SS6G1a. [Standard Breakdown] Mountains (simply) the physical features. Another is the map used in Locate on a and regional Sierra Madre Mtns the ppt and identification sheet but does not contain the political-physical map: Amazon lines and numbers. River, , Gulf of . Latin American Countries Formative Assessment Mexico, , Panama . Use Google to show some of Latin America’s physical Canal, Andes Mountains, Sierra features [contact the academic coach if you do not have Madre Mountains, and Atacama Cuba access to on your desktop] Desert. Haiti . Additional Maps Mexico o SS6G1b. [Standard Breakdown] Panama o Latin America Locate on a world and regional o Latin America 2 political-physical map the . Latin America Physical and Political Features Review Cards countries of Bolivia, Brazil, *Essential Vocabulary – these could be used for a variety of activities Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, listed in the Standards . Physical and Political Features Slipcover – Put unlabeled Panama, and Venezuela maps in clear slipcovers. Give each student a slipcover, vis- **Supplemental à-vis or expo marker, and paper towel (a sock is also good Vocabulary listed in and cheaper). Call out physical features or nations and have the frameworks students circle the feature or nation and hold up their and/or other state slipcover when instructed. document . Latin America Physical and Political Features Summarizer - There are two options for the summarizer. The one shown on the slide is the lower level version. Another version is higher level because students have to select a starting point, a direction, and determine the physical features and countries seen in each day. Additionally, a word bank is not included for the physical features and countries. . Additional Resources o Latin America Physical Features Reading Passage | Latin America Physical Features Reading Passage Fill-in-the-blank

TCSS 12/15/2015 2 th TCSS 6 SS Latin America Geography Unit

Essential Question and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) . Latin America Location, Climate, and Natural Resources ppt . SS6G3a. Sample Essential* 2. How do location, climate, and . Use the maps and questions to introduce each country Assessment Items Climate natural resources affect people comparison group . SS6G3b. Sample Natural Resources in Latin America? o Latin America Location, Climate, and Natural Assessment Items

Resources Map Notes . SS6G3 GOFAR CR Supplemental** Standard(s): o Mexico Maps Location, Climate, Rural o Venezuela Maps and Trade Urban SS6G3a. [Standard Breakdown] o Brazil Maps

Compare how the location, o Cuba Maps *Essential Vocabulary climate, and natural resources of . Latin America Location, Climate, and Natural Resources listed in the Standards Mexico and Venezuela affect Graphic Organizer – Students use the graphic organizer to where people live and how they take notes during the ppt and to make comparisons between **Supplemental trade. countries Vocabulary listed in . Latin America: Location, Climate, and Natural Resources the state frameworks SS6G3b. [Standard Breakdown] Summarizer | Latin America: Location, Climate, and Natural and/or other state Compare how the location, Resources Summarizer B document climate, and natural resources of There are three options. One option gives students statements Brazil and Cuba affect where in which they use to fill in a table comparing the countries. people live and how they trade. Another option gives students a blank table to fill in without statements and also adds a higher order thinking question. . Videos o The Landscape of Mexico and [6:48]

TCSS 12/15/2015 3 th TCSS 6 SS Latin America Geography Unit

Essential Question and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) . Environmental Issues in Latin America ppt . SS6G2a Sample Essential* 3. How have environmental . Environmental Issues in Latin America Graphic Assessment Items Air pollution issues affected Latin America? Organizer . SS6G2a GOFAR CR Destruction of . Videos – select one of the videos below Mexico Air Pollution Oil-related pollution Standard(s): o Mexico City Air Pollution .

. Mexico City Air Pollution [6:10; linked in ppt] Supplemental** SS6G2a. [Standard Breakdown] . Air Pollution in Mexico City Documentary [10:57; Explain the major environmental linked in ppt] covers the steps Mexico has taken concerns of Latin America to reduce air pollution. There is a point in the regarding issues of air pollution in video where they refer to “contingencies”. Pause *Essential Vocabulary Mexico City, Mexico, the the video and explain to students that they are listed in the Standards destruction of the rain in saying the air pollution situation is better, but

Brazil, and oil-related pollution in there is still the possibility of future events of **Supplemental Venezuela. severe air pollution that cannot be predicted with Vocabulary listed in the certainty. state frameworks and/or o – Select one or two of the other state document videos. Some focus on causes and effects while others focus on solutions. . Time Lapse Devastating Deforestation [linked in ppt] . How Brazil is halting Deforestation in the Amazon [need to play in Chrome] . CNN Explains: Deforestation . Amazon Rainforest Deforestation: [3:17; student project with some spelling errors but a quick synopsis] . Greenpeace: Stopping Amazon Deforestation . is Speaking: I am the Rainforest [1:45] o Oil-related pollution in Venezuela . Oil spill blackened and fouls river in eastern Venezuela Lake Maracaibo and Oil’s Influence . Environmental Issues in Latin America Summarizer

TCSS 12/15/2015 4 th TCSS 6 SS Latin America Geography Breakdown of Standards

SS6G1a. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map: Amazon River, Caribbean Sea, , Pacific Ocean, Panama Canal, Andes Mountains, Sierra Madre Mountains, and Atacama Desert. [Back to Resources] Know [Data/Facts]: Understand [Think/Process]: Do [Apply]: . The location of major physical features in Latin . How to find these locations on a map . Locate features on a world map [DOK 1] America . Locate features on a regional physical/political . Essential Vocabulary map [DOK 1] o Amazon River o Caribbean Sea o Gulf of Mexico o Panama Canal o Andes Mountains o Sierra Madre Mountains o Atacama Desert

SS6G1b. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela [Back to Resources] Know [Data/Facts]: Understand [Think/Process]: Do [Apply]: . The location of major nations in Latin America . How to find these locations on a map . Locate features on a world map [DOK 1] . Essential vocabulary . Locate features on a regional physical/political o Bolivia map [DOK 1] o Brazil o Colombia o Cuba o Haiti o Mexico o Panama o Venezuela

TCSS 12/15/2015 5 th TCSS 6 SS Latin America Geography Breakdown of Standards

SS6G3a. Compare how the location, climate, and natural resources of Mexico and Venezuela affect where people live and how they trade. [Back to Resources] Know [Data/Facts]: Understand [Think/Process]: Do [Apply]:

MEXICO . Describe geographic factors of Mexico and . Compare Mexico & Venezuela’s . Location: ; South of U.S.; Venezuela location, climate & natural resources. Gulf of Mexico –East; Pacific Ocean - West . Describe how geographic factors impact the . Explain how geographic factors . Varying Climate (Terrain) people and how the country trades in Mexico affect where people live and how o Desert – North – dry hot and Venezuela they trade. (Generalize from given o Mountains & Plateaus – Central facts) o Rainforest – South – humid tropical . Draw conclusions based on location, . Natural Resources: petroleum (oil), silver, copper, climate and natural resources and and gold how it affects population density. . Where people live: Urban Areas – Industrial; Central Mexico; Largest city – Mexico City . How they trade: Easy trade with US; Access to water

VENEZUELA . Location; Northern Hemisphere; – Northern; Caribbean Sea – North; East of Colombia . Climate (Terrain); Rainy Season; Mountains (alpine) – Andes; Rainforest – humid tropical; Grassy Plains . Natural Resources: petroleum (oil), iron ore, nickel, and coal . Where people live: Urban Areas – Industrial; Along the coast – Caribbean Sea & Lake Maracaibo; Tourism & Oil Industry . How they trade: Easy trade; Access to water; Specialize in Oil Industry; Import Food from US

TCSS 12/15/2015 6 th TCSS 6 SS Latin America Geography Breakdown of Standards

SS6G3b. Compare how the location, climate, and natural resources of Brazil and Cuba affect where people live and how they trade. [Back to Resources] Know [Data/Facts]: Understand [Think/Process]: Do [Apply]: BRAZIL . Describe geographic factors of Brazil and Cuba . Compare Brazil & Cuba’s location, . Location; ; South America; . Describe how geographic factors impact the climate & natural resources. Largest country in S. America; Coastline on people and how the country trades in Brazil and . Explain how geographic factors affect Cuba where people live and how they trade. . Climate (Terrain): Low Elevation (no mtns); 2/3 (Generalize from given facts) Rainforest – Tropical and temperate zones; Warm . Evaluate a variety of maps (population & humid distribution, natural resources, . Natural Resources: Timber ; large amount climate, physical-political) and explain of minerals; – rich soil: coffee beans, why people live in certain areas. oranges, sugarcane; Iron Ore – steel . Where people live: Urban Areas – Industrial; Along the coast – Tourism and Trade . How they trade: Easy world-wide trade; Access to water – Atlantic Ocean; with many S. American countries; Coffee - #1 Export CUBA . Location: Northern Hemisphere; Largest Caribbean Island; Caribbean Sea; 90 miles South of FL . Climate (Terrain): Tropical and Semi-tropical; Warm, moderate temperatures due to ocean breeze; Ample (plenty of) rainfall . Natural Resources: cobalt; nickel; iron ore; copper; salt; and petroleum (oil); Agriculture – Rich soil: coffee beans, sugarcane, tobacco; Forests . Where people live: Urban Areas – Industrial – 85% factories; Along the coast – Tourism; Rural Areas – Agriculture – few people live here because gov’t owns the farms . How they trade: Easy world-wide trade; Access to water – Caribbean & Atlantic Ocean; Sugarcane - #1 Export; Embargo – NO Trade with US

TCSS 12/15/2015 7 th TCSS 6 SS Latin America Geography Breakdown of Standards

SS6G2a. Explain the major environmental concerns of Latin America regarding issues of air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico, the destruction of the rain forest in Brazil, and oil-related pollution in Venezuela. [Back to Resources] Know [Data/Facts]: Understand [Think/Process]: Do [Apply]: Mexico City, Mexico . What causes air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico . Explain the causes and effects of air . Environmental Issue – Air Pollution . How air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico affects pollution in Mexico City, Mexico. . Ranked #4 – Air pollution city in the world the environment and the connection it has to (Generalize from given facts) . Location – Valley in Central Mexico acid rain . Explain what the Mexican government . Physical Feature – Sierra Madre Mtns trap the air . What steps the government has taken to help is doing to help reduce the pollution. pollution (smog) reduce air pollution in Mexico City . Collect and display information related . Causes of Air Pollution: Population Density – . Identify the importance of the Amazon to Mexico City’s air pollution. Overcrowding; Industry – Factory Emissions; Rainforest . Explain the factors causing the Automobile/Vehicle Emissions . Identify the reasons for deforestation destruction of the rainforest. . Effects: Damage to ; Harm to humans; Acid . How does deforestation in the Amazon . Describe the concerns, issues, and Rain – damage to buildings and ancient ruins rainforest of Brazil affect the environment consequences regarding the . Gov’t Solutions: Limits on how often you can drive . Identify immediate concerns and long-term destruction of the rainforest in Brazil your car into Mexico City; Strict inspections on consequences of deforestation . Collect and display information related automobile emissions; Alternative fuel for . Why oil is such an important resource to to destruction (deforestation) of the automobiles & factories Venezuela’s government rainforest. Amazon Rainforest - Brazil . How oil pollution in Venezuela affects the . Explain the importance of oil in . Environmental Issue – Deforestation (destruction) environment Venezuela. of the rainforest . Describe the effects of oil pollution in . Causes of Deforestation: Building ; New Venezuela Settlements; Farming – Crops; Cattle Ranching; . Collect and display information related Logging – Timber; Mining to oil pollution in Venezuela. . Effects / Concerns: Soil Erosion; Less . . Issues/Consequences: ; Loss of Habitat; Less Oxygen – Amazon Rainforest is sometimes referred to as the “lungs of the earth” Venezuela . Environmental Issue – Oil Pollution . Importance of oil – 50% of government revenue . Effects of Oil spills: Damage to plants & ; Harms fishing industry (kills fish); The threat of contamination from oil pits seeping into fresh water sources; Closed tourist resorts . Gov’t Solutions: State oil company is working to clean up oil pits; Adopted policy to focus more on environmental protections

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