Nombre: ______Fecha: ______
Costa Rica
Population: 4,195,914
Area: 19,730 square miles
Capital: San José
Money: el colón
Language: Spanish
Tico is another way to say Costa Rican. It refers to the tendency of Costa Ricans to add –tico on to the end of words. The national soccer team of Costa Rica is called “Los Ticos”.
Costa Rica is filled with nature. There are many places where one can walk in tropical gardens, observe volcanoes, and play in hot springs. Costa Rica has extensive coastlines and river systems. The rich volcanic soil and temperate climate support some of the densest, most diversified forests in the world. These forests support many species of birds, animals and insects.
The most well known crafts in Costa Rica are the painted oxcarts or carretas. These are made of wood and are painted in traditional, colorful designs. Sarchi is considered the home of these painted oxcarts. The use of oxcarts dates back to the late 1800s when they were used to transport coffee beans before the railroads were built. Originally the carts were plain wood.
The phrase “pura vida” reflects the identity of Costa Ricans. It describes their optimism, tranquility, and happiness in life.
Ecotourism is the key to Costa Rica’s economic development. The industry brings in about 1 million visitors annually and generates $1 billion a year and is the second largest source of income for the country.
Nombre: ______Fecha: ______
Puerto Rico
Population: 3,958,128
Area: 3,515 square miles
Capital: San Juan
Money: el dólar estadounidense
Language: Spanish and English
Puerto Ricans are known as “boricuas”. This is an affirmation of their culture.
Puerto Ricans participate in their musical heritage. Drums and other percussion instruments are popular reminders of the African heritage of the island. Puerto Rican music is a blend of European and African elements.
San Juan has many beautifully restored buildings. The Morro fortress was used by islanders to protect themselves from pirates and other invaders. It was constructed in 1539 and is used today as a museum.
Many people like to go shopping at the Plaza Las Ámericas in San Juan. This mall is the largest in the Caribbean and has many of the same stores and restaurants found in the United States. The interior is decorated with art that represents the history and nature of Puerto Rico.
Masks are an important part of celebrations in Puerto Rico, especially during Carnival. Ponce’s Carnival celebration is the oldest on the island, dating back to the 19th century. It is celebrated right before Ash Wednesday and features parades, costumes, dance and music.
Nombre: ______Fecha: ______
Argentina
Population: 40,482,000
Area: 1,068,302 square miles
Capital: Buenos Aires
Money: el peso argentino
Language: Spanish
Argentineans use the voz form instead of the tú form.
La Boca is an interesting neighborhood in Buenos Aires that is filled with many colorful houses. Many artists live here and you can visit lots of museums, buy arts and crafts, and watch singers and tango dancers.
Tango is a typical and popular dance found in Argentina. It originated in the late 1800s and its popularity spread to every city. It is now synonymous with Argentinean culture.
Las tiras cómicas (comic strips) represent the people of a country and their ideas and activities. Mafalda is a comic strip that reflects the ideas of a very optimistic, young girl in Argentina.
The word pampas comes from Quechua, an indigenous language that extends throughout the Andes. Pampa means flat surface and this area has a lot of soil and prairie. Gauchos live here and tend to cattle and maintain a ranch. They get up very early and spend long days in the sun wearing a big sombrero.
Patagonia is a diverse region that makes up the southern part of the country. It has largely untamed forests, mountains, glaciers, valleys and lakes. It is a popular tourist area for adventurous travelers. Visitors to the area can find opportunities for sailing, trekking, mountain climbing, fly-fishing, whale watching, and skiing.
Nombre: ______Fecha: ______
México
Population: 104,959,594
Area: 761,606 square miles
Capital: Mexico City
Money: el peso mexicano
Language: Spanish, Maya, and other Indigenous languages
Two famous artists from Mexico are Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The two artists are married. Kahlo painted personal subjects and Rivera painted social themes.
Ulama is a ball game that has a history of more then 3000 years in Mexico. There are ruins of more than 600 courts where this game was played. Players would hit a heavy rubber ball with their hips, arms or a special bat. They were not able to use their hands or legs. Points would be lost if the ball touches a hand/leg or falls to the ground. Adults and children can still be found playing a version of this game today.
More than 1 million Mexicans speak náhuatl, the language of the Aztecs. From this language we get words like chocolate, tomate, and chile.
There is a legend that deals with two volcanoes called Ixta and Popo. They are named after La Princesa Ixtaccíhuatl (Ixta), a beautiful princess and Popocatépetl (Popo), a brave soldier going to war to try to win her hand in marriage. Her father was the emperador who told him that in order to marry his daughter he needed to win the war. Another jealous warrior told Ixta that Popohad died in the war and out of sadness she died too. In the end, Popo took Ixta to the highest mountain where the gods transformed them both into mountains side by side. Ixta became a calm volcano and Popo became a volcano that awoke from time to time to cry for her.
Nombre: ______Fecha: ______
Prueba: Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Argentina, México
1. What is another way to say Costa Rican in Spanish? ______
2. What is the most well known craft from Costa Rica called in Spanish? After you name it, please give one fact about it. ______
______
3. What is the phrase in Spanish that describes Costa Ricans happiness, optimism and tranquility? ______
4. What are Puerto Ricans known as? ______
5. What is the capital of Puerto Rico? ______
6. What is the Plaza Las Ámericas? ______
7. Who are two famous artists from México? ______
8. What is the ball game that is played in México called in Spanish? After you name it, please give one fact about it. ______
______
9. Name one Spanish word that comes from náhuatl. ______
10. What are the names of the two volcanoes from the Mexican legend? ______
11. What is the capital of Argentina? ______
12. What is the popular dance in Argentina called? ______
13. Who lives in the pampas? ______