Lessons - Middle/High
Also see: Elementary Teaching Ideas , Central America Quiz, Teaching Stories
Resources by country: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Introduction to Central America
Middle and High School
This lesson introduces students to key people in Central American history through a short interactive, introductory activity. Read a story about how students at Dunbar HS in Washington, D.C. reacted to the lesson and more feedback from students after participating in the lesson.
Exploring the Histories of El Salvador and Guatemala with Literature
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
In this instructional unit, students draw on the When We Were Young website and literature (fiction and nonfiction) to understand the civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala and the ongoing effects of these conflicts on Central America and the United States.
The Roots of Immigration from El Salvador and Current Policy Debates
Middle and High School
Most of the current immigration debates ignore the historical roots of migration to the United States and the history of immigration policy in the latter half of the 20th century. This series of lessons uses the country of El Salvador as a case study to provide important historical context for contemporary immigration issues. The lessons were developed for use in conjunction with the website When We Were Young There Was a War.
U.S. Policy in Central America
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
The countries in Central America have played a significant role in the rise of the U.S. empire. This series of lessons invites students to investigate the role of the United States in Guatemala and El Salvador in the 20th century. The lessons were developed for use in conjunction with the website When We Were Young There Was a War.
Salvadoran History Through Poetry
Middle and high School
In this two-part lesson by Justin Sybenga, students explore the history and culture of El Salvador through Claribel Alegria’s poem “Little Cambray Tamales” and then write their own recipe poems.
Inside the Volcano: A Curriculum on Nicaragua
Middle and high school
This teaching guide by Bill Bigelow and Jeff Edmundson includes interactive lessons on land distribution in Nicaragua before the revolution, the Sandinistas, the role of the United States, the literacy campaign, Ben Linder, and the Honduran connection.
Personal Creed
Middle and High School
In this lesson by Justin Sybenga, students use the lens of Claribel Alegria’s poem “Personal Creed” to understand how the civil war in El Salvador (1980-1992) shaped the experience and perspective of this accomplished poet and an entire generation of Salvadorans.
Poetry Fires the Revolution
High School
In this series of three activities, students gain background knowledge on life in Central America during a volatile period of war and unrest in order to understand the risks writers, artists, and poets took. Students analyze poetry and commemorate how a poet from Central America used poetry and action in the fight for social change.
Geography is History: Locate the Countries of Central America
ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4+), MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
This interactive map lesson provides students with clues based on the history and geography of Central America so that they can find and remember the location of each country.
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale
Elementary AND Middle SCHOOL
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh is one of the best books we’ve seen for children on the experiences of families forced to migrate to the U.S. to survive. In a child-friendly format, the story addresses the push factors, the hardships caused by family separation, the dangerous journey through Mexico, and crossing the border. The Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), on behalf of the Américas Award, produced an extensive teaching guide to accompany the book written by Katrina Dillon in 2015.
Rediscovering America
Elementary, Middle and High School
Rediscovering America/Redescubriendo América is a bilingual collection of short stories, essays, poetry, folktales, and songs from Latin America and the Caribbean for K-12 on conquest and resistance.
Leaving Home: Socratic Dialogue with Art
elementary and middle school
Students are introduced to noted Guatemalan artist Paula Nicho Cumez and explore the emotions of leaving home through a Socratic dialogue about a painting. This short teaching activity by Lynda Tredway can be adapted to various ages.
Beauty and Eco-Relationships in the Natural World of Central America
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
In this lesson, students learn about three different animals -- a bird, a frog, and a butterfly (the Motmot of El Salvador, the Exquisite Spike-Thumb Frog Plectrohyla exquisita of Honduras, and the Owl Butterfly from Guatemala). All these creatures are indigenous to Central America and help us understand the region’s ecosystems.