Central America Lesson

Central America

The narrow strip of land, or isthmus connecting North and South America

Quick Facts - South America…
●is mountainous

●has many volcanoes

●experiences frequent earthquakes

Central America’s

Seven countries

​Central America's

Seven Countries

Introducing Central America

Question:

How many countries are in Central America?

Multiple Choice

How many countries are in Central America? 

• 10

• 5

• 7

• 12

Takeover:

● Central America was conquered by the Spanish 500 years

ago

● Many people are mixed Spanish and Native American

descent.

● Each country has its own mix of peoples.

○ Those of Native American descent
○ Those of European descent
○ Those of African descent (mostly along the Caribbean

coast)

The Mayan People

●

The Maya had a powerful empire around AD 200-900

●

They built great cities

●

Their empire covered most of…
○

Guatemala

○

Belize

○

Mexico

○

Honduras

○

El Salvador

○

“Ruined cities can still be found in the jungles of Guatemala.

“The Maya are no longer powerful, but they still make up nearly half of
Guatemala’s population” (Doherty 20).

The Mayan People

Multiple Choice

How do the Maya farmers know when to plant their crops? 

• The sun and the sky tell them. 

• The moon and the stars tell them.

• Their ancient ancestors tell them.

• The elder of the village tells them

Multiple Choice

What are some of the words that represent who the Maya people are?

• sun, mother, land, corn

• stars, moon, ocean, valley

• father, mother, water, horizon

• fire, water, earth, rubies

Multiple Choice

Why are some of these foundational words similar in sound in all of the Mayan languages?

• They don't

• They are all the same language

• They all come from the same language of origin

• They all come from Latin

The Soccer War

“Central America has suffered from decades of civil wars and conflict between countries.
One war broke out between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969, after they had played soccer
against each other in the World Cup. The real reasons, however, were disagreements over
land, trade, and Salvadorean refugees in Honduras” (Doherty 21).

Multiple Choice

What were some of the reasons behind the Soccer War?

• arguments between Honduras and El Salvador over land

• arguments between Honduras and El Salvador over trade

• arguments between Honduras and El Salvador over refugees

• All of the answers are correct

The Panama Canal

● “A channel of water 65km (40 miles) long that cuts through

the Pacific Ocean.

● “Each vessel that uses the canal must pay a fee according to

its weight.
○ This means that while ships pay thousands of dollars,

Richard Halliburton, who swam through the canal in
1928, only paid 36 cents” (Doherty 21).

The Panama Canal (Video Posted in 2013)

Multiple Choice

What is the fee for traveling the Panama Canal based on?

• income

• weight

• status

• reason for the voyage

Worry Dolls

“Children in Central America sometimes make tiny, bright dolls
called worry dolls. There is a legend that if they tell the dolls
their worries at night and then place them under their pillows, by
morning all their worries will have disappeared” (Doherty 21).

Multiple Choice

What are Worry Dolls usually made out of?

• Sticks and yarn

• Pipe cleaners

• Felt

• Spoons, yarn, and glue

Rainforest Life

“A large area of Central America is covered by rainforest, which is home to a
huge variety of plants and animals. But the rainforest is being devastated and
many plants and animals may die out as trees are cut down to make timber
for export, and to clear land for farming” (Doherty 21).

Tropical Rainforests

Multiple Choice

What type of rainforest is found in Central America?

• Temperate

• Tropical

Multiple Choice

How much rain falls each year in a rainforest?

• 100 inches

• 100 feet

• 100 yards

• 100 meters

Multiple Choice

Between which latitudinal lines are most tropical rainforests found?

• Between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer

• Between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Equator

• Between the Equator and the Arctic Circle

• Between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle

Multiple Choice

Why are rainforests described as the “lungs of the earth”?

• They "inhale" carbon dioxide and "exhale" oxygen

• They move in and out like lungs

• They are shaped like lungs

• They breathe so that we don't have to