“The goal is to encourage and support teaching about Central America in K-12 schools so that students can learn about this region, which has many ties to the United States through foreign policy, immigration, commerce, and culture.”
Teaching Central America is a part of Teaching for Change. It offers free downloadable lessons, bios, and poetry and prose from Central American writers, whose literature was used to shine a light on key issues in Central America. These issues include the need for land reform, recognition of indigenous and women’s rights, exploitative labor practices, environmental destruction, political repression and violence, and U.S. intervention. Each lesson outlines objectives, necessary materials, time allocation and procedure, with specific goals and corresponding activities.
- Introduction to Central America
- Personal Creed
Teaching for Change
- Readings
- Teaching Reflections
- Teaching Activities
- Discussion and Debrief Questions
- Writing Prompts
- Links to Data and Outside Resources
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes: This curriculum looks at the history of colonialism and other systems of power that contribute to social inequalities; however, there is little focus on personal action. There is focus on the need to recognize systems of inequality and commitment to take action against it.
Presence Evaluation: Minimal Presence
Evaluation Notes: The curriculum provides few opportunities to take action on issues that affect the community.
Presence Evaluation: Not Present
Evaluation Notes: This curriculum doesn’t focus on different levels of schools.
Presence Evaluation: Some Presence
Evaluation Notes: The lessons reviewed focus more on the historical injustices that occurred in Central American rather than a focus on systems wide approaches to change.
Presence Evaluation: Some Presence
Evaluation Notes: The curriculum includes explicit teaching of social justice principles.
Presence Evaluation: Some Presence
Evaluation Notes: There is a some degree of self-reflection in the lessons reviewed. One example is featured within the Personal Creed lesson where students write about their own beliefs and connections to their community.
Presence Evaluation: Not Present
Evaluation Notes: To date, there has been no empirical study of this curriculum to evaluate its effectiveness.
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes: This curriculum focuses on inclusion and equity within the Central American context.
Presence Evaluation: N/A
Evaluation Notes: We are unable to evaluate this domain since it is best measured through observation.
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes: The curriculum focuses on the ways social identities within the Latin American context have been marginalized.