Social Studies

In this lesson, students will play a board game in order to become familiar with Caribbean geography by tracing a theoretical buccaneer route and will also become familiar with the products of colonial America.

In this lesson, students will recognize and describe a favela and the life of the favelados, be able to explain the economic reasons behind the formation of a favela and explain the social consequences of life in a favela

Students will explore a reading describing how Brazilian slaves were treated as commodities instead of human beings. After, students will be be able to descrivbe a Brazilian slave auction as well as some of the types of work performed by slaves in Brazil.

This unit provides an introductory look at Brazil and its physical and human characteristics. The unique characteristics of Brazil will be explored from a geographic spatial perspective. Students will be asked to compare and contrast their life in the United States with teens living in Brazil. Students will understand that Brazil has a unique clture characterized by people who, in spite of poverty and oppression, display open-mindedness, optimism, friendliness, hospitality, caring attitude fullness of life, love of music and more! Brazil is indeed the "land of happiness".

In this lesson, students will examine the economic situation, cultural elements and grassroots community development in contemporary Salvador, Brazil. Students will write a persuasive letter to an appropriate media outlet of their choice championing the cause of Dida, a community improvement organization in Salvador, Bahia or another similar group in the region.

This unit contains four lesson plans which each span over one class period, making this unit four periods long. Day one focuses on the historical narrative of Candomble, day two focuses on identifying the primary orixas of Candomble, day three focuses on the various rituals and ceremonies practiced in Candomble and day four consists of the role of ancestors in the religion.

In this lesson, students will gain general background information on the production of coffee. Students will learn what a coffee fazenda looks like and how it works. Students will also understand the importance the coffee in Brazil's economy has when it comes to trading with the United States.

In this lesson, students will learn how the institution of slavery was incorporated into folklore in Brazil with a message of hope and freedom. Students will elaborae on what a folk hero is and how it ties into folktales which are commonly used in Latin America.

In this unit, students will engage in a study of primary and secondary sources about the cultural and historical significance of Capoeira. Students will understand that Capoeira is a means for preserving cultural identity and for expressing Brazilian culture and history. Email our Outreach Coordinator cconlin@email.arizona.edu for the lesson plan and materials.

In this lesson, students will learn to dance the samba and will recreate their own Carnival, a very important holiday celebrate in Brazil that most citizens participate in every year. Students will also make their own carnival masks and wisdom wands.