Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | America: U.S. and Its Influences in Latin America

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to provide a clear and detailed view of the lesson's objectives, preparing students to identify and critically analyze the impact of the United States on Latin America. This will serve as a basis for practical activities and discussions that will promote a deep and contextualized understanding of the topic.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the main aspects of American interference in Latin America, covering political, commercial, economic, and cultural spheres.

2. Analyze historical and contemporary examples of this interference and its consequences for Latin American countries.

Side Objectives

1. Encourage students' critical thinking by relating historical events to contemporary situations.
2. Foster discussions about the American cultural influence in the media and daily lives of Latin American countries.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to encourage students to start thinking critically about the topic, connecting with contemporary and historical information they find by themselves. This process helps create a solid foundation for subsequent practical activities and promotes a collaborative and interactive learning environment.

Warming Up

🗺️ To start the class, explain to students that American influence in Latin America is not just an issue of economy and politics, but it also affects culture, commerce, and people's daily lives. Ask students to use their cell phones to find an interesting fact about U.S. interference in Latin America. They can look for topics such as political actions, trade agreements, cultural influences, or historical and contemporary events that exemplify this interference. After a few minutes, ask them to share with the class what they found.

Initial Reflections

1. 📌 How has U.S. foreign policy influenced the governments of Latin America throughout history?

2. 📌 What are some examples of trade agreements between the U.S. and Latin American countries? How do these agreements impact local economies?

3. 📌 In what ways does American culture manifest in the daily lives of Latin American countries?

4. 📌 What historical events mark U.S. interference in the internal affairs of Latin American countries?

5. 📌 How do U.S. media and entertainment affect local cultures in Latin America?

Development

Duration: 70 - 80 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to creatively and collaboratively explore the historical and contemporary aspects of U.S. interference in Latin America. Using digital technologies, they will develop research, synthesis, and communication skills, promoting a more engaged and contextualized learning experience.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Digital Journalists: Coverage of a Historical Event

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop research skills, information synthesis and digital communication, while deepening understanding of historical events of U.S. interference in Latin America.

- Description: Students will organize themselves into groups of up to 5 people to simulate a team of journalists covering a historical event of U.S. interference in Latin America. Using their online research skills, they must create a series of posts for a social media platform (such as Instagram or Twitter) that describe the event in a detailed and engaging way, including images, videos, and hashtags.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group will choose a historical event of U.S. interference in Latin America (such as the Monroe Doctrine, the Cuban Revolution, the Panama Invasion, among others).

• Using cell phones and computers with internet access, students must research details about the chosen event.

• Based on the collected information, each group will create a series of posts for a social media platform. The posts must include:

• A summary of the event in language accessible to the general public.

• Images and videos related to the event.

• Relevant hashtags to increase the reach of the posts.

• Each group will present their posts to the class, explaining the event and the communication strategy chosen.

Activity 2 - Historical Influencers: Vlog from the Past

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Encourage creativity, research skills and audiovisual production, while deepening students' understanding of historical events of U.S. interference in Latin America.

- Description: Students will create a vlog as if they were digital influencers living during a historical event of U.S. interference in Latin America. Using cell phones, each group will be responsible for creating a video of up to 5 minutes recounting their 'experience' and expressing opinions about the chosen event.

- Instructions:

• Organize the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group will choose a historical event of U.S. interference in Latin America.

• Students must research the event to gather detailed information.

• Using cell phones, each group will create a video of up to 5 minutes simulating the daily life and reactions of a digital influencer from that time.

• Act out and record their 'experience' during the event, including opinions and feelings.

• The videos should be edited to include captions, effects, and transitions for greater realism.

• Present the videos to the entire class, explaining the historical context and the creative approaches used.

Activity 3 - Podcast Debate: Contemporary Impacts

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop research skills, critical discussion, and audio production, as well as provide a deep understanding of the contemporary impacts of U.S. interference in Latin America.

- Description: Students will create a group podcast episode discussing the contemporary impacts of U.S. interference in Latin America. Each group will choose one aspect (political, economic, cultural) to debate, using audio resources to make the discussion more engaging.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group will choose an aspect of U.S. interference in Latin America as the focus of the podcast (political, economic or cultural).

• Students must research the topic to gather current and relevant information.

• Use cell phones or audio recorders to capture the group's discussion, simulating a podcast episode.

• Include an introduction, main discussion, and conclusion in the episode, in a structured and engaging way.

• Add sound effects and background music to enhance the quality of the podcast.

• Present the podcast to the class and discuss the points raised during the recording.

Feedback

Duration: 15 - 20 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to promote critical reflection on the learning acquired, allowing students to share their experiences and insights while practicing respectful and constructive communication. Group discussion and 360° feedback help consolidate knowledge and develop collaboration and critique skills.

Group Discussion

💬 Group Discussion: Start the discussion by asking each group to briefly present the results of their activities (Digital Journalists, Historical Influencers, Podcast Debate). Use the following script to introduce the discussion:

1. Invite a representative from each group to share their main discoveries and reflections from their activities.
2. Ask how the activity helped to better understand U.S. interference in Latin America.
3. Encourage students to make connections between different events and aspects addressed.
4. Question about the challenges encountered during the activity and how they were overcome.

Reflections

1. 🧐 Reflection Questions:

1. What was the most surprising discovery you made about U.S. interference in Latin America?
2. How do U.S. actions in the past influence international relations in Latin America today?
3. In what ways does American culture impact the daily lives of Latin American countries?

360° Feedback

🔄 360° Feedback: Instruct students to give constructive feedback to their group peers. Use questions like:

1. What do you think your peer did well during the activity?
2. What could be improved in the approach or execution of the activity?
3. How did your peer help enrich the group's work?

Remember to emphasize that feedback should always be respectful and constructive.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

🚀 Purpose: This final stage is intended to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the class, connecting practical activities to contemporary reality. The goal is to ensure that students leave the class not just with information, but with a deep and contextualized understanding, ready to apply it in future discussions and in the critical analysis of the world around them.

Summary

🎬 Animated Summary: In our digital journey today, we delved into the history and influences of the U.S. in Latin America. 🚀 We started by understanding political, commercial, economic, and cultural interferences, explored historical events with the 'Digital Journalists', relived the past as 'Historical Influencers' and debated contemporary impacts with our vibrant podcasts! 📱✨

World Connection

💡 Connection to the Current World: The discussion about U.S. influence in Latin America is more relevant than ever. We live in a globalized world where political, economic, and cultural decisions of one nation can resonate around the globe. The relationship between the U.S. and Latin America shapes international politics, global trade, and even the pop culture that we consume daily.

Practical Application

🌍 Applications: Understanding American interference in Latin America helps students decipher contemporary global processes and how they affect their own lives. It can open doors to discussions about national sovereignty, globalized economy, and the cultural influence that shapes values and behaviors throughout the region.