A. Refer to the information researched in lesson 1 regarding natural resources. How does the climate differ from one area to the next?

B. Could this effect the resources they produce?

C. List resources common to the economy: beef, leather, wool, grain, minerals (offshore deposits: petroleum & natural gas). Where would teak and mahogany come from? What is 'mutton'?

D. Read about plant and animal life indegenous to the North, the Pampas & the Andean regions.
 

A. Add icons of information researched in this lesson (eg. glue a picture of a guanaco, rhea, tapir or peccary on card stock, cut out and velcro to the map where they are found. How about plantlife such as eucalyptus, sycamore and acacia? Pine trees and cedar trees are prevolent at the base of the Andes in Patagonia. By associating what life is in what region, the children also begin to learn how climates differ and draw certain kinds of wildlife/vegetation.)

A. Research discovery of the region:

1. Christopher Columbus discovers South America. Buenos Aires has a monument in his honor. 

2. Research what happened after the discovery: Who first set foot on land? How many explorers followed (Magellan, de Solis, etc...)? What natives did they encounter? (Guarani, Incas, etc...) Why did the explorers find interest in the Rio de la Plata? (translate the name and that will give you a BIG clue!)

3. This would be a good time to view 'The Mission' together as a family. As I mentioned before, view it first and determine if it is appropriate for your children. It is historically moving, but is violent in nature as it was a time of oppression and war.

4. Tales Alive is a book of Multi-Cultural Folk Tales (I found my copy through Discovery Toys). There is a native tale in the book called "The Gentle People". 
 

B. Discuss the concept of a 'Melting Pot'. As Europeans began to migrate to South America, a mix of cultures settled in the Argentine region. How is this similar to the United States? Why is the country Spanish Speaking?

 
**Interesting note:  Look up why Brazil is the only Portuguese country in South America, while the rest has more Spanish and French influence.

C. What religious beliefs are prevolent in the country? (Majority is Catholic) 

1. This would be a good time to introduce how missionaries go to remote areas such as tribes of the Amazon and other natives of the continent.

2. Discuss how Jim Elliott and his group tried to reach the Auca tribe of Ecuadore in Central America. Although this topic may be mature for young children, the perseverance of the group can be gently explained as to how people often suffer for the sake of sharing the news of Jesus to those who don't know Him. Jesus tells us in Acts to "Go to the uttermost parts of the earth" and to proclaim his name unto the nations. Some have died for the cause. In this case, Jim's wife, Elizabeth, and 3 year old daughter, Valerie, returned to the Auca people and through Elizabeth's love and work, and the concern of others, they were able to break through to the Auca people and share the news of the Gospel. 

A good book to read at this time (as a family or assigned) would be Jim Elliott (Heroes of the Faith) Another missionary we took this opportunity to read about was David Livingstone. Although his mission was in the jungles of Africa, he led a very interesting and dangerous life for Christ as well, and helps to expose the children to a variety of missionaries of different times. There are many to chose from! For more suggestions, look into the Heroes of the Faithseries.

3. Discuss what it would've been like to be a missionary in an unknown land. Compare to what it is like for missionaries today. Are there differences? Similarities?
 

A. CREATING THE PAPER: Old paper is much more authentic looking and can spur more creativity in a child who's normally unwilling to write. You can even maintain lines if you wish, and use the journal for penmanship. Our journals are 5.25" high x 4" wide when closed (8" wide when opened). We kept our paper to 5" high x 7.5" wide. We used ruled paper as the children write the neatest that way. We dyed the paper with strong coffee (you can use several tea bags). Boil approx 2 cups water and mix it with 4-5 tablespoons instant coffee. Pour mixture in low flat pan with sides (13x9x2 works well). Set papers in, one at a time. CAREFULLY remove when you reach a desired color. We set ours outside to dry. After paper is totally dry, iron on medium setting until paper lies nice and flat. Don't worry about a few crinkles and creases--they add to the look! To further enhance the worn look of the journal, you can either tear the edges and stain with brown shoe polish, or better yet, carefully burn edges with a match (PARENTS, obviously, unless the student is mature enough to handle this). Keep a pan of water close by, just incase your paper turns into an inferno.

B. CREATING THE JOURNAL: We have often usedscrap leather (or leather looking vinyl as it's less expensive) and cut it to size. We would then stitch the paper down the middle of the journal by hand. In this case we opted for a simpler approach and just used jute  to hold the pages together via two punch holes. 

C. CONTENT: Our assignment was to become a missionary desiring to reach the lost for Christ. With what we'd been able to learn about the natives of Argentina (the Guarani are the primary natives), we wrote a series of entries describing accounts of arriving in a foreign land, finding the native people, observing their customs and sharing the gospel. The children would write about imaginary natives who 'came to Christ' during their stay. They would also include their frustrations, elations, joys and fears. 

A. In the U.S. the drink of choice (for the most part) is coffee. In Argentina, the primary drink is Yerba Mate (pronounced 'yare-ba ma-tay'). This particular green, digestive tea is not only high in healthy properties, but is also a 'social' tea as to how it is shared! The actual 'mate' is typically a gourd that has been hollowed out and chared on the inside with a hot coal. It is then filled half way with the herb and filled with hot but not boiling water. It is sipped with a metal 'bombilla' (bomb-bee-ja) ('ll' is traditionally pronounced 'y' in classic Spanish, however Argentine diction treats 'll' as similar to 'j') or straw with a basket on the end. The following sites have information on the history, plants, properties and social implementations regarding the rules and graces of sharing mate!

LINK! Information about Yerba Mate:
http://reality.sgi.com/omar/personal/argentina/mate.html

LINK! Facts, Health, Chemistry,Legend, How-to's, Fellowship re.Yerba Mate:
http://www.yerba-mate.com/
 

 1. If you have access to an Argentine, Latin America or Chilean grocer, see if they carry yerba mate. Try some! It is safe for all ages and can be brewed in a coffee maker (1 rounded spoonful per 2-cup pot) This is called 'mate cosido' or 'mate brewed'.

2.(PROJECT!) Make a mate! If you have gourds available to you, simply find one that will sit the flattest, shear the top off and hollow it out. Do not scrape it so thin that it will poke through, but empty it well. Allow it to dry until hardened (A low temp of 200 degrees in the oven for a bit might speed this along). Using a burning lump of charcoal, roll it around on the inside until blackened. Paint the outside with acrylics or use a woodburning tool to create a design (be careful not to burn through it!). Shellac when finished. The hardest part would be finding the bombilla! 

B. There is a variety of music in Argentina, again due to it's melting-pot heritage, however a couple stand out in particular. 

1. The most important components of traditional Argentine music are the gaucho folk songs and dance. A gaucho is a cowboy or herdsman of the pampas, and many were wandering minstrels playing ballads on their guitars. Like the cowboy of the western U.S., the gaucho lives on as a heroic, romantic and gentlemanly figure in the folklore, music and literature of South America. (More regarding gauchos will be addressed in lesson 5)

2. The Tango also originated in Buenos Aires, giving way to a form of ballroom dance throughout much of the world. It is perhaps Argentina's most famous contribution to modern music.

LINK! Tango Music located at:
http://www.tangototango.com/

3. Other forms of music were Indian music from the north provinces, European influences and a small amount of African music. Symphony music as well as opera are also important to Argentine culture.

LINK! A variety of South American music descriptions:
http://www.rootsworld.com/rw/feature/sa.html
 

4. Artists often painted life representing port life in Buenos Aires or guachos on the pampas.
 

C. Traditions with food are brought from the original countries and shared with others to create a banquet of the best Europe has to offer! However one thing stands alone. Beef is not only a prime export of Argentina, but is eaten daily in a variety of ways. Traditionally, a side of beef is skewered, planted in the ground on an angle toward the fire and roasted. Beef is lean and wonderful in taste as the cattle are left to graze on the rich pampa grass.

D.(PROJECT!) Make traditional Alfajores cookies while listening to Argentine music!

ALFAJORES COOKIES
(yum!)

100 gm. butter (just under one stick)	1/2 lemon rind, grated
150 gm. sugar (2/3 c.)	1  1/4 c. cornstarch
1 egg + 1 yolk	1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. flour

Mix butter & sugar until creamy. Add egg, yolk and lemon rind. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch, flour and baking powder. Combine mixes. Roll out on floured table. Gently form into dough and let sit for 1/2 hour. Stretch out to a minimum of 1/4" thin and cut. Put on greased cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes. DO NOT ALLOW TO BROWN. When cooled, spread 'Dulce de Leche'* between two cookies and roll in confectioner's sugar. Makes approx. 1.5 doz. finished.

* If you can not find Dulce de Leche in your area (and that is likely!), you can substitute caramel dip used for apples. I have also taken a can of sweetened condensed milk and immersed it in boiling water (still in the can, unopened), gently boiling it for 2-3 hours (keep can under water at all times). 

E. Enjoy eating the Alfajores while watching Argentine World Cup Soccer! You library may carry or have access to previous World Cup Tournaments on video.