Ask Mapman[R].Did you ever wonder how students in other countries study geography? Do they learn about the world on maps, charts, and graphs? How much of their education resembles your own? As you may know by now, my last Mapman adventure took me to Santa Catarina Santa Catarina (sän`tə kətərē`nə), state (1996 pop. 4,865,090), 37,060 sq mi (95,985 sq km), S Brazil. The capital is Florianópolis. Island, Brazil. Located along the South Atlantic Ocean South Atlantic Ocean The southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, extending southward from the equator to Antarctica. , it is an island covered with thick vegetation vegetation /veg·e·ta·tion/ (vej?e-ta´shun) any plantlike fungoid neoplasm or growth; a luxuriant fungus-like growth of pathologic tissue. , wide-open beaches, and friendly people. It was there that I interviewed 11-year-old Inaia (in-eye-YAH) Rossi. What she had to say sheds light on how some Brazilian students learn geografia (geography). Inaia Rossi talks to Mapman. Mapman: What is the name of your school? Inaia Rossi: I go to Colegio da Lagoa. I'm in the fifth grade. Mapman: Does your school teach geography? IR: Yes. In second grade, we start to study geography--and English, too. Geography counts as its own subject. This year, we're going to study about our rain forests. Mapman: How does your teacher conduct your geography lessons? IR: We first learn about our island and how poorly Portuguese colonists treated the Indians INDIANS. The aborigines of this country are so called. 2. In general, Indians have no political rights in the United States; they cannot vote at the general elections for officers, nor hold office. . Next, we study the history of our 26 states. Then, we learn about the rest of the world. Mapman: Do your world maps have Brazil located in the center? IR: Of course Brazil is in the middle. (She chuckles
Mapman: Do you learn about the U.S.? IR: Yes. It's on the world map, isn't it? (She chuckles again.) Mapman: You got me. (laughter) Is geography your favorite subject? IR: I like physical education. This year we are learning circus arts "Circus arts" refers to a body of performing arts featured in, derived from, or inspired by circus productions. Three similar terms are often confused here: circus arts, circus acts, and circus skills. The difference lies in the level of specificity. . Mapman: Circus arts? IR: Don't you know about the trapeze? Mapman: Of course I do. I'm from a country that calls the circus the Greatest Show on Earth. I want to thank you, Inaia. IR: Obrigado, Mapman. MAIL: Mapman, Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012 * E-MAIL e-mail: see electronic mail. in full electronic mail Messages and other data exchanged between individuals using computers in a network. : mapman@scholastic.com * PLAY Mapman's Game: www.juniorscholastic.com |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion