Central and South America Options
Movies
Note to Students and Parents:
The following descriptions of the films are from the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com). Details and a parent’s guide to a film’s possibly objectionable material can be found at this site. Some of the movies are rated “R”, so NO CREDIT WILL BE GRANTED FOR R-RATED MOVIES WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM A PARENT OR GUARDIAN E-mailed to the teacher.
Missing: (1982) PG-13, 3 hours
Based on the real-life experiences of Ed Horman, this is the story of an American father of conservative background who comes to a South American country to search for his missing son, a journalist. Ed joins with his daughter-in-law Beth, who like her husband is politically polarized from the father, in prying through the bureaucracy and dangerous political intrigue in search of their son and husband. Little by little, the father comes to realize that his own beloved government is not telling him the truth.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this movie change your views on US policy in Central and South America during the Cold War?
Letters from the Other Side: (2006) Unrated Documentary, 2 hours
Video letters carried across the U.S./Mexico border interweave the lives of several women to tell the stories of those left behind in post-NAFTA Mexico. An inside look at the lives of immigrants.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this movie change your views on the subject of illegal immigration to the United States?
Videos:
PBS Frontline: BATTLE FOR HAITI. 2011. (1 hour)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/battle-for-haiti/
Can Haiti be rebuilt without the rule of law? A year after the earthquake, PBS presents a powerful look at the violence threatening the country’s stability…and future.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What can Haiti do to get itself back on its feet?
Books: (Most books can be checked out by the teacher)
Balch, Oliver. Viva South America: A Journey through a Restless Continent:
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about life in Brazil?
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What can be done to help the situation in Colombia?
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Was Chavez a "good guy" or a "bad guy"?
Invisible Hards: Voices from the Global Economy (5 hours for all 3 articles, or fewer for individual articles).
Stories from those at the bottom of global free trade.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Has this story/these stories changed or supported your views on free trade?
Graphic Novels:
Jacobson, Sid and Ernie Colon: CHE (5 hours)
A graphic novel (comic book) biography of the South American revolutionary.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is Che a hero or a villain?
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of American Empire. Chap. 9: Resurgence of Empire
(2 hours) Click Here.
The story of the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua, and America’s attempts to undo it including the Iran-Contra Affair.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this change your views on US policy in Central and South America during the Cold War?
Articles:
Finnegan, William. Letter from Tijuana. "The New Yorker" 2008. (2 Hours)
think drug use is a victim-less crime? Do you How the drug war has taken over this city bordering the United States. Click Here.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What shocked you the most?
Travel Stories:
Power, Matthew. Lost in the Amazon (1 hour) Click here.
A few days with a guy crazy enough to try to walk the entire length of the Amazon jungle.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about the Amazon?
Guillermoprieto, Alma. Bolivia’s Wrestlers (1 hour) Click here.
…because you know you’ve always wanted to learn about the all-female professional wrestlers of Bolivia!
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about women's roles in Central America?
Cohen, Roger. The End of the End of the Revolution (2 hours) Click here.
Daily life in Communist Cuba as the trade embargo and decay of the system make life worse.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this article make you more or less likely to support the US economic embargo on Cuba?
Smart Bell, Madison. Mine of Stones (2 hours) Click here.
History, politics, poverty and voodoo in Haiti—the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is Haiti a place you'd like to visit?
Hitt, Jack. Say No More (1 hour) Click here.
Spending time with the very last speaker of one of South America’s native languages.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What, if anything, should be done to keep endangered languages alive? Is it necessary?
Ryder Howe, Jack. An Impossible Place to Be. (1 hour) Click Here.
Life in the Darien Gap—the Wild West of Central America.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is the Darien Gap a place you'd like to visit?
Rinella, Steven. Me, Myself and Ribeye. (1 hour) Click here.
Mmmmm…steak.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about South America and its culture?
Berlinski, Mischa. Venance LaFrance is Not Dead! (2 hours) Click here.
One guy scamming and surviving his way through Haiti
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is LaFrance a good guy or a bad guy?
Activities:
Restaurant Visit: Dine at a Central our South American restaurant that specializes in NON-Mexican food. Try something new, review it, and describe the differences between that country’s food and Mexico’s. (2 hours)
Other:
Got an idea for a source or an activity that should be on the list? Do not be afraid to run your idea past Mr. Lewin, who is always on the lookout for more and better materials.
Movies
Note to Students and Parents:
The following descriptions of the films are from the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com). Details and a parent’s guide to a film’s possibly objectionable material can be found at this site. Some of the movies are rated “R”, so NO CREDIT WILL BE GRANTED FOR R-RATED MOVIES WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM A PARENT OR GUARDIAN E-mailed to the teacher.
Missing: (1982) PG-13, 3 hours
Based on the real-life experiences of Ed Horman, this is the story of an American father of conservative background who comes to a South American country to search for his missing son, a journalist. Ed joins with his daughter-in-law Beth, who like her husband is politically polarized from the father, in prying through the bureaucracy and dangerous political intrigue in search of their son and husband. Little by little, the father comes to realize that his own beloved government is not telling him the truth.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this movie change your views on US policy in Central and South America during the Cold War?
Letters from the Other Side: (2006) Unrated Documentary, 2 hours
Video letters carried across the U.S./Mexico border interweave the lives of several women to tell the stories of those left behind in post-NAFTA Mexico. An inside look at the lives of immigrants.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this movie change your views on the subject of illegal immigration to the United States?
Videos:
PBS Frontline: BATTLE FOR HAITI. 2011. (1 hour)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/battle-for-haiti/
Can Haiti be rebuilt without the rule of law? A year after the earthquake, PBS presents a powerful look at the violence threatening the country’s stability…and future.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What can Haiti do to get itself back on its feet?
Books: (Most books can be checked out by the teacher)
Balch, Oliver. Viva South America: A Journey through a Restless Continent:
- Chap. 5, Life in the Space Reservoir: Brazil and Race. (4 hours)
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about life in Brazil?
- Chap. 8, Into the Hands of Tyrants: Colombia and Violence (3 hours) Click here.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What can be done to help the situation in Colombia?
- Chap. 9, Operation Bolivar: Venezuela and Revolution (3 hours) Click here.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Was Chavez a "good guy" or a "bad guy"?
Invisible Hards: Voices from the Global Economy (5 hours for all 3 articles, or fewer for individual articles).
Stories from those at the bottom of global free trade.
- Ana Juarez, Garment Worker (Mexico) (2 hours) Click here
- Francisca Cocon, Farmer (Guatemala) (1 hour) Click here
- Martin Barrios, Labor Organizer (Mexico) (1 hour) Click here
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Has this story/these stories changed or supported your views on free trade?
Graphic Novels:
Jacobson, Sid and Ernie Colon: CHE (5 hours)
A graphic novel (comic book) biography of the South American revolutionary.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is Che a hero or a villain?
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of American Empire. Chap. 9: Resurgence of Empire
(2 hours) Click Here.
The story of the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua, and America’s attempts to undo it including the Iran-Contra Affair.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this change your views on US policy in Central and South America during the Cold War?
Articles:
Finnegan, William. Letter from Tijuana. "The New Yorker" 2008. (2 Hours)
think drug use is a victim-less crime? Do you How the drug war has taken over this city bordering the United States. Click Here.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What shocked you the most?
Travel Stories:
Power, Matthew. Lost in the Amazon (1 hour) Click here.
A few days with a guy crazy enough to try to walk the entire length of the Amazon jungle.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about the Amazon?
Guillermoprieto, Alma. Bolivia’s Wrestlers (1 hour) Click here.
…because you know you’ve always wanted to learn about the all-female professional wrestlers of Bolivia!
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about women's roles in Central America?
Cohen, Roger. The End of the End of the Revolution (2 hours) Click here.
Daily life in Communist Cuba as the trade embargo and decay of the system make life worse.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Did this article make you more or less likely to support the US economic embargo on Cuba?
Smart Bell, Madison. Mine of Stones (2 hours) Click here.
History, politics, poverty and voodoo in Haiti—the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is Haiti a place you'd like to visit?
Hitt, Jack. Say No More (1 hour) Click here.
Spending time with the very last speaker of one of South America’s native languages.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What, if anything, should be done to keep endangered languages alive? Is it necessary?
Ryder Howe, Jack. An Impossible Place to Be. (1 hour) Click Here.
Life in the Darien Gap—the Wild West of Central America.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is the Darien Gap a place you'd like to visit?
Rinella, Steven. Me, Myself and Ribeye. (1 hour) Click here.
Mmmmm…steak.
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: What did you learn about South America and its culture?
Berlinski, Mischa. Venance LaFrance is Not Dead! (2 hours) Click here.
One guy scamming and surviving his way through Haiti
Need a prompt for a topic? Try: Is LaFrance a good guy or a bad guy?
Activities:
Restaurant Visit: Dine at a Central our South American restaurant that specializes in NON-Mexican food. Try something new, review it, and describe the differences between that country’s food and Mexico’s. (2 hours)
Other:
Got an idea for a source or an activity that should be on the list? Do not be afraid to run your idea past Mr. Lewin, who is always on the lookout for more and better materials.