Sunday, February 20, 2011

PANAMA FROM A TO Z

Though small, approximately the size of South Carolina, Panama has a story to tell. From early times when pirates plied the Caribbean waters to the later building of the Panama Canal, this Central American country has played an important role in commerce and tourism. There are activities to suit every desire, and restaurants to delight anyone’s taste. The Panama Planner: Your Guide To Travel In Panama is a wonderful pictorial resource for travelers. You can also click on this youtube link for a virtual Panama tour and a visual look at what you might see as a visitor.

Here are some ABCs of this amazing country:

A = Artisan Fishing at Playa Blanca is an exciting sight. Lucky visitors to Casa Guardia can watch this phenomenal event from the rancho and pool area. Tourists wandering along the beach are allowed to help fishermen pull in large nets filled with local fish one can buy right on the beach. Pelicans and frigate birds wait for an easy dinner.

B = Buildings tower high in Panama City, creating an awe inspiring skyline

C = Colon, the Atlantic entrance to the Canal, has spectacular beaches and underwater beauty.

D = Dollars are the same as in the U.S.

E = El Valle de Anton features artisans’ market daily

F = Favorite snacks include snow cones and fried plantain rounds. Friendly people abound

G = Green season is mid-May to mid-December. Dry season is mid-December to mid-May.

H = Handicrafts are created by members in seven living Indian cultures. They include molas, nut carvings, woven baskets, and jewelry.

I = Isthmus is the narrow area where the canal was built.

J = Jungle and rainforest tours are available daily.

K = Key domestic industries include the canal, tourism and financial services

L = Le Bistrot French Restaurant with guitarist Gelasio Morales is a “must visit” tourist treat in Panama city.

M = Music lovers enjoy salsa, pop and American rock. Guitar is a favorite instrument.

N = National Bird is the Harpy Eagle

O = Ornithologists delight in observing hundreds of bird species

P = Panama Canal is called the 8th wonder of the world

Q = Quetzal birds are particularly beautiful. (See "bird species)

R = Retirement mecca for people from all over the world

S = San Blas Islands are a Caribbean paradise

T = Tropical climate boasts 85 degree F average daytime temperature.

V = Vegetable Ivory, another name for the tagua nut, holds beautiful art carvings

W = Water activities include white water rafting, surfing, diving, sailing and sportfishing

X = Xoko Restaurant (pronounced cho ko) located in Santa Clara has the best Gazpacho I have ever tasted. Chef Rolando Sanchez has a couple of secret ingredients that make a difference!

Y = Year round sunshine and outdoor lifestyle makes a great vacation destination

Z = Zipline rides through a rainforest canopy and over a waterfall should not be missed.

Right now children in Panama are enjoying their summer vacation. It is from mid-January to mid-April. According to my sources, kids love softball, basketball, volleyball and biking. Little girls like Barbie dolls, jumping rope, and swinging. TV and video games are popular with all children as are outdoor games like "hide and seek".

For teachers and homeschoolers here are some important
statistics about the country and schools in Panama. Following that are some books you can read to your students or own children about the country along with seven engaging activities that will allow students to have an armchair cultural adventure.

Conejito: A Folktale from Panama is a story about a bunny who tries to avoid being eaten by a fox, lion and tiger.

The Panama Canal by Elizabeth Mann and Fernando Rangel, gives young people an understanding of how the canal was constructed in a way that is easy to understand.

Into Wild Panama by Elaine Pasco offers a glimpse into the flora and fauna of Panama.

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies and Jane Chapman tells about a little baby Loggerhead turtle who grows up, leaves her home and later returns.

Over In The Jungle by Marianne Berkes and Jeanette Canyon is a beautifully illustrated rhyming and counting book based on rainforest animals.

If you like teaching with "multiple intelligences" centers consider these:

Linguistic: Read the story above about the Panama Canal. Copy a map and have children trace the location of the canal.

Interpersonal: With partners make a relief map of Panama, including the canal. Make boats of paper or clay and place them in the canal.

Intrapersonal: After hearing the story Into Wild Panama, go to the internet and look up the harby eagle, the national bird of Panama. Draw or print a picture of it. Write three facts about the eagle.

Logical Mathematical: Read the story Over in the Jungle. Make your own jungle counting book. Learn to
count in Spanish. Learn some other words as well. Click on the "count in Spanish" site.

Bodily-Kinesthetic - Take the class outside for a game of hide and seek, or play a variation of it in the classroom while listening to salsa music.

Visual-Spatial - Read about the various handicrafts of the Panamanian indian tribes. Find pictures of molas on-line and have students design molas with crayon or craypas. Try weaving with paper strips. Check out the sites above to see baskets and molas. Color the flag of panama by printing off a copy from the flag site.


Musical - Have a tape recorder or other cd player with latin music for listening. Try dancing the basic cha cha in the classroom. Listen to Panama's national anthem.

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