Central and South American Resources NAME: Jennifer A. Wetzel SCHOOL: Ravenna High School WORKSHOP LOCATION: Kent State University TITLE OF COMPANION CONTENT PATHFINDER: Kicking the LMC Up a Notch with Spanish-Speaking Countries GRADE LEVEL(S): 11th-12th CURRICULUM/SUBJECT AREA: Spanish SPECIFIC TOPIC: Central and South American countries CONTENT INFORMATION The topic of this pathfinder is the study of the geography, history, and culture of Central and South American countries. Intended for Spanish IV students doing individual research assignments, this pathfinder is geared towards providing general print and online resources for students, in addition to activity resources for the teacher. This pathfinder is to be used by students to complete research projects and for teachers planning to assign the research topics to the students. In this way, all parties involved know what materials they have access to in the library media center. Dewey Decimal call numbers associated with this topic include: B7390 Customs, etiquette, folklore B7460 Spanish and Portuguese languages B7641.59 Cooking characteristic of specific geographic environments, ethnic cooking B7917.2 Geography of Middle America B7918 Geography of South America B7972 General history of Middle America B7980 General history of South America Subject headings for this topic include: B7Central America B7Central AmericabDescription and travel B7Central AmericabHistory B7Central AmericabSocial life and customs B7South America B7South AmericabDescription and travel B7South AmericabHistory B7South AmericabSocial life and customs REFERENCE BOOKS Countries and Their Cultures. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. In this reference series, 225 countries are discussed according to their shared cultural similarities. Each entry examines the foods, rituals, pastimes, arts, and other cultural traits that define the countries of the world. Photographs and maps illustrate the information presented. The Encyclopedia Americana. Danbury, Conn.: Grolier, 2003. This thirty-volume encyclopedia contains articles on the countries and nations of the world. Included in the articles on Central and South American countries is information on the geography, economy, government, and people of the country. A historical and cultural overview is also given. Hanson, Karen. Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World. Detroit, Mich.: Thompson Learning, 2002. The four-volume set profiles the food and recipes of over sixty countries. Entries include cultural information on the country and the importance of the specific foods in their culture. The set is indexed for easy identification. Lands and Peoples. Danbury, Conn.: Grolier, 2003. Each volume in this six-volume set concentrates on a specific geographical region, i.e. Asia, North America, etc. For every country in that region, a detailed analysis is given about the geography, history, people, and culture. Color photographs, maps, flags, and other graphics enhance the presentation of the information. Though the scope of each country is covered in-depth, the text is easy to read and understand. Latin America: History and Culture. New York: Scribnerbs Sons, 1999. Dubbed ban encyclopedia for studentsb, this resource is derived from Scribnerbs Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture and is written for a student audience. Written to align with school curriculum, this resource contains information on the history, literature, government, geography, current events, and other topics about Latin American history. National Geographic Country Guidebooks. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2003-. Produced by the National Geographic Society, these guidebooks provide a background of each country available. Information includes history of the area, vignettes on the history, and culture and life of the country. Maps of the area are also included. To locate this series of guidebooks, one must look up the country name as the title, such as Mexico Guidebook. Oxford Spanish Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. This Spanish-language dictionary contains the definitions of over 300,000 words and phrases, including Latin American Spanish. The dictionary allows users to look up a Spanish word to find its meaning or look up an English word to find the Spanish translation. Since students will be using Spanish-language resources in this project, this dictionary will allow them to better understand the words and the context of the text they use for research. Worldmark Encylopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Group, 1998. Organized by continents, this four-volume set discusses the cultural groups found in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Entries include information on the food, clothing, rites of passages, religion, education, and other defining characteristics of the worldbs cultural groups. Worldmark Encylopedia of the Nations. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Group, 2004. In its eleventh edition, this six-volume set contains information on 200 countries from around the world. Entries, though ranging in depth of coverage, contain information on climate, banking, government data, demographic statistics, culture, and more. The sixth volume contains biographical information on national leaders. This set can help students learn the basics about the countries they are studying. PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES Alsop, Thomas W. Internet Assignment Book: Instant Internet Exercises for Spanish Class. Auburn Hills: Teacherbs Discovery, 2004. This book contains reproducible worksheets on the culture and history of Spanish-speaking countries, including topics like el DC-a de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) and the Aztecs. The compilation of 83 research topics includes corresponding website addresses to aid student research. Mulholland, Janet Healy. Chico Chile Dice: Vamos a SuramC)rica. Auburn Hills: Teacherbs Discovery, 2004. A resource for teachers, this book introduces South American countries to students learning Spanish. Reproducible worksheets contain text to introduce the individual countries, followed by exercises for students to complete. Map and flag activities are also included. WEBSITES FOR STUDENTS Altapedia Online. 2003. Latimer Clarke Corporation. 14 April 2004. http://www.atlapedia.com This website contains key facts and statistics, in addition to physical and political maps, of the countries of the world. Users may access the countries from an alphabetical listing of countries. Then, they will be given statistical data and information on the geography, climate, people, religion, language, and history of the country. The website also contains homework resources for teachers. CIA: The World Factbook. 1 January 2003. Central Intelligence Agency. 14 April 2004. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ Compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency, this website contains information on the nations of the world and is updated weekly. Users may access profiles of countries, look at flags of the world, use world maps, and compare nations. This site is authoritative and comprehensive. Country Studies. 6 February 2004. Library of Congress Federal Research Division. 14 April 2004. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html As the online version of the books previously published by the Library of Congress Federal Research Division and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Army, this website contains research information on 102 countries, including several Central and South American countries. The information contains a description and analysis of the history and social, political, and economic systems of the countries. Since the research was conducted between 1988 and 1998, users should use other website for current events and up-to-date information on a country. Cultural Profiles Project. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 14 April 2004. http://www.settlement.org/cp/ Sponsored by a Canadian organization that aids in the relocation of citizens from other countries, this website contains profiles of Central and South American countries, in addition to other countries of the world. Each cultural profile provides an overview of life and customs in the profiled country, including family life, health care, sports and recreation, government, and other facets of life. Google Search Engine. 2004. Google. 15 April 2004. http://www.google.com/ This search engine claims to search over four billion web pages. In completing research, students may search for websites or images on any given topic. The use of Boolean operators and other search techniques allows users to narrow their search and obtain better hits. Students can use this search engine to locate information on Central and South American countries or about specific information about those countries. INFOHIO ELECTRONIC RESOURCES Britannica Online. 2004. Encyclopedia Britannica. 15 April 2004. http://www.infohio.org This online encyclopedia allows students to search for specific topics, including countries of the world. Users may also simultaneously search for related websites, magazine articles, images, and video clips on their topic. Encyclopedia features allow users to jump back and forth between sections of text, identify the meanings of words they do not know, and shows users how to cite the entry in their bibliography. Enciclopedia Universal en EspaC1ol. 2004. Encyclopedia Britannica. 15 April 2004. http://www.infohio.org This online Spanish-language encyclopedia contains over 47,000 articles, 65,000 dictionary entries, and 8,300 images. Students may use this comprehensive website to research topics for Spanish class, including information on Central and South American countries. As this resource is written entirely in Spanish and does not contain a translation feature, it is appropriate for higher-level Spanish students but not beginners. MEDIA RESOURCES Amazing Destinations: Treasures of South America. Silver Spring, MD: Discovery Channel School, c2002. This video from the Discovery Channel tours the natural and historical treasures of South America. Viewers will meet the ruins of the ancient Inca city of Cuzco, Peru and see the cataracts at Iguazu Falls. A solid production of the wonders of South America. National Geographic. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2004. In the National Geographic magazine, feature articles are compiled on the countries and cultural groups of the world. These in-depth articles contain both historical and current information about the countries and their peoples. Users may obtain a National Geographic index to see in which issues a specific country was covered. The Buried Mirror. Chicago, Ill.: Public Media Video, 1991. Narrated in English, this five-volume video series introduces the Spanish-speaking world, including Spain, Central America, and South America, to viewers. Information is presented on the history, culture, and diversity of the Hispanic world. Activity packets that contain vocabulary exercises, puzzles, and writing projects can be used in collaboration with the videos. The Sights and Sounds of Central America. Melville, N.Y.: Video Knowledge, 1998. This video explores the geography and culture of Central America. The information presented shows the daily life and activities in several Central America countries.