ARGENTINA (Lecciones 5-8)

LECCIÓN CINCO: At this time a good reference book on Argentina would come in handy. One should be available through your library. We usedArgentina(Cultures of the World) by Ethel Gofen. There are many others I've seen that would work just as well. Ones with a variety of maps and pictures are more interesting and provide a wider variety of visual experiences. You may also want to see what tour information a travel agency might carry on Argentina. There are usually abundant photos in pamphlets and travel guides that can be cut up and used for posters, charts,  projects and such.

 
I. DAILY LIFE & CUSTOMS: (The Gaucho & The Language)
A. Research 'the gaucho'. What contribution did he make to Argentine history? What characteristics is he known for?
1. How did he dress? (baggy pants over boots with elaborate spurs, a wide belt of silver or coins, a piece of material or leather wrapped from the front waist through the legs and to the back, a woolen poncho, a flat-brimmed hat, and  colorful scarf)

2. What talents did he have? (horsemanship, handling cattle, music, leather working)

3. What weapons did he use in capturing wild horse and cattle? (lasso & bola)

LINK! The Argentine Gaucho:
http://www.argentour.com/gaucho.html

LINK!Gaucho Belt:
http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/facon/tirador.html

LINK!Gaucho Knives (Facones):
http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/facon/index.html

4. Read: On the Pampas
 

B. (PROJECT!) Create a leather burning:
1. Use a wood burning kit to create an illustration on leather (the stiffer leather works better in this case). Fill it in by painting with acrylics. If you don't have access to a wood/leather burning kit, just paint a picture on the leather.Choose the Argentine flag, the Andes, Iguacú Falls, a gaucho, or a guanaco! Be creative!

C. Although Argentina is made up of several nationalities, their primary language is Spanish. 

1. Choose ten words and 5 sentences and find out their Spanish translations

LINK! AltaVista Translations:
http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate

2. Observe the Spanish alphabet. How is it different from ours? How are the sounds pronounced?

a b c ch d e f g h i j k l ll m n ñ m o p q r s t u v w x y z




LECCIÓN SEIS:
 

I. GOVERNMENT:
A. Look at Argentine Currency. What is their currency of choice? (peso) How does it compare to the American dollar? The franc? The pound? The yen?

LINK! Currency Exchange:
http://www.travel.com.hk/currency/curr_ar.htm

B. Research the Argentine flag. What is the symbolism behind the sun? The colors of the stripes? 

LINK! Argentine Flag & History:
http://fotw.digibel.be/flags/ar.html

C. What type of political system does Argentina have? Who is their President? Research how their government has changed over the years. 

1. Look into the Perón Era. How was Perón an influencial man? Was it truly for the good of the people? How was his wife viewed by the public and why?
II. BUENOS AIRES: ('Good Air'...or 'weather' to be more exact)
A. Discuss economy, industry and exports. What are the major sources of industry in Buenos Aires? Why?

B. Why would La Boca have an impact on economy for the country? What does 'La Boca' mean? Why would it be named that?

C. What is an obelisk?

LINK! Photo of Obelisk and Buenos Aires at dusk:
http://www.odysseyphoto.com/major/cu/LA_ARGEN.html

LINK! República Argentina - Secretaría de Turismo (great site of general info. Nice music to listen to while you browse!)
http://www.wam.com.ar/tourism/g/reg6/reg6.htm



LECCIÓN SIETE:
 

I. (PROJECT!) BEGIN A 'CHART OF FACTS' - Suggestions for Content would Include:
A. Founding of the country - who? when? where?
B. Natives of the area
C. Major Cities
D. Population
E. Major Exports
F. Natural Resources
G. The Arts
H. The Language
I. What kind of Government? Who is president?
J. Religion
K. Currency
L. Geographical  Interests

This project can be typed, used for penmanship, illustrated, whatever you feel the children would learn best from without squelching the enthusiam from all of the numerous facts. We enjoyed seeing the chart accomplished as it gave us an overall view of the facts of the country on paper. 

LINK! Facts about Argentina:
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ar.html
 



LECCIÓN OCHO:
 


I. CONTINUE FACT CHART

II. MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR ARGENTINE DINNER
 

A. Design a menu/invitations

B. Decide on menu choices:

LINK! Argentine Recipes:
http://titan.glo.be/~gi30255/arg.htm
http://www.ma.iup.edu/Pueblo/latino_cultures/recipes.html#argentina

C. How about designing a passport for each of your guests? Create a sticker (after finding an Argentine graphic on your computer, run off multiple copies on label stock) and have them sign in as they arrive! Assign them each a providence and put a few facts about their providence or the country in general on a place card at their seat. As your guests mingle, have them inquire about the different facts and allow each person a few stickers of 'their providence' to place in each person's passport after they have found out all of the facts. Everyone will leave with a headful of knowledge and a quaint keepsake as well!


¡Viva Argentina!

 
 
LESSONS 1-4  
LESSONS 5-8  
LESSONS 9-10  

Questions or Comments? 
Email us at:
amypak ("at" sign) homeschoolinthewoods.com

Back to 
Home Page