Lesson Plan - What’s Up, World? Brazil

Activate Prior Knowledge
Discuss what students already know about Brazil, and find the country on a globe or world map. 

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know. 

• competition
• floats

Set a Purpose for Reading
Invite students to notice how Brazil is similar to and different from your community. 

1. Why does the author write that preparing for the Children’s Parade is a lot of work?
The author explains that “kids create and practice their dance moves all year.” Young dancers also help make their floats and outfits for the parade.
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2. What are three facts you can learn about Brazil from the map?
Sample response: The map shows that Brazil is the biggest country in South America, that it is partly covered in rainforest, and that it borders the Atlantic Ocean.
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3. Based on the article, photos, and captions, what might people do on a visit to Brazil?
Visitors might learn samba, watch or participate in Carnival in the early spring, play soccer, visit the Amazon rainforest, eat brigadeiro, and see an Amazon River dolphin.
^{RI.3.5 Text Features}

FEATURED SKILL: Compare and Contrast
Use the skill builder “Comparing Communities” to have students compare and contrast their own communities with Brazil. 
^{RI.3.8 Comparison}