Aims:

1. To develop the concept that a country's economic system influences all of the people in terms of their ability to find jobs, have goods to buy, and earn the income to buy these goods.

2. To develop an understanding of how goods are produced and how income is earned in Brazil.

3. To appreciate the fact that a country's natural resources and geography influence its economic development.

Standards:

1. Understand the patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface.

2. Explain the impact of technology on the environment, economies, and people of Latin America.

3. Focus on an economic look at Latin America and the role played in the global world.

4. Describe the ways in which individual, groups, and governments make choices, in order to meet their needs and wants when faced with scarce resources.

5. Participate in group meetings.

6. Prepare and deliver presentations.

7. Read and interpret line graphs.

Setting:

The activities in this lesson will be followed by the students in the "Economy Cooperative Learning Group." Roles will include researchers who will find information online using web sites chosen by the teacher, recorders who will record the important information found by the researchers (information may be recorded using a word processing application such as Learning Company's Student Writing Center or Microsoft Word), illustrators who will be responsible to find online photos (from web sites that will be prescreened by the teacher) or create illustrations of the topics researched by the group using a drawing and painting application such as Kidpix, reporters, who share the information with the class both in oral reports and in written reports, and web designers who will place the textual information and graphics onto a web site for the class's Virtual Travel Brochure.

Vocabulary:

Dictionary.com an online dictionary may be used to introduce and define the vocabulary words. 

Motivation:

Brainstorm to Develop a list of questions to be answered about Brazil's economy. Place on a T Chart as below: 

1. Students will use the following web sites to complete the T Chart above:

http://fe.doe.gov/international/brazil.html

This is the Fossil Energy International web site. Information found here includes information about Brazil's energy policy, a l description of the energy situation in Brazil, an environmental summary, brief privatization and economic summaries, and a short discussion of some strategic issues.

http://eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/brazil.html

This web site describes production of oil, natural gas, coal, electricity and environmental issues affecting Brazil's economy.

http://odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/br.html

CIA factbook on Brazil-Provides statistical information on Brazil's economy.

http://immigration-usa.com/wfb/brazil_economy.html

Facts and narrative description of Brazil's economy.

http://latinsynergy.org/brazil.html#The%20Economy

This web site is Brazil's Country Profile. here students can find information about farming, industry, power, and transportation in Brazil..

http://graphicmaps.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/brecon.htm

Find out which products come from Brazil at this site.

http://state.gov/www/background_notes/brazil_0700_bgn.html

This United States Department of State web site provides a profile of Brazil including Brazil's economy.

http://worldrover.com/vital/brazil.html

World Rover provides facts about Brazil from the C.I.A. Factbook.

http://encarta.msn.com/find/related.asp?pg=7&ti=761554342&ct=1

Encarta's Online Encyclopedia may be used to find information related to Brazil's
export crops, fashion business, forest industry, hydroelectric power and labor force.
 

2. Use the graphs below to answer the following: 

b. What is the major power source for producing electricity?

c. Explain the differences in Brazil's consumption of petroleum from its production of petroleum.

d. How is the demand for petroleum met?

3. Use the land use map below to answer these question. 

From the information obtained in the research phase of this lesson, oral and written reports will be produced and shared with class. These reports will include pictures and drawings as visual aids.

Evaluation:

Students will be evaluated on their use of the Internet to find information about Brazil's economy and synthesize that information to produce oral and written reports. Students should also be able to conclude that there is a relationship between the geography, location, climate and natural resources of a region and its economy. Students will also be evaluated on their choice and use of visual aids, and their ability to communicate the information in their reports to the class in their presentation.

Follow Up: Students may produce a three dimensional land use map using papier mache or modeling clay.

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