Objectives:

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. examine the role of education in Nicaraguan society.
   
2. explore the relationship between education and economic opportunity in Nicaragua.
   
3. contrast theory with practice with regard to education in Nicaragua.
   

back to top

Activities:

1. Divide students into small groups. (Ideally, each group will have a different case study, though this may not be possible in larger classes.)
   
   a. Distribute a copy of the student handout entitled Educational Overview to each student.
   b. Direct students to read the handout and to compare educational opportunities in Nicaragua to those in the United States. How do they account for the differences?
   
   
2. Distribute one of the Photos to each group.
   
   a. Direct students to create a written profile of the person(s) in the picture in the context of his or her educational experience.
   b. Explain that they should base their ideas on the picture and what they have read.
   c. Ask each group to present their pictures and profiles to the class.
   
   
3. Distribute the Case Studies.
   
   a. Instruct the groups to read their case study and to compare it to the profile they created.
   b. Ask each group to present their pictures and case studies to the class, emphasizing the reality of the situations faced in the case study and how it compares to their initial profiles. What are the similarities and differences? How do you account for them?
   
   
4. Discuss the profiles and students' reactions, impressions, etc. as a whole class.

back to top

Teacher's Notes:

• The case studies included in this lesson are the product of personal interviews conducted by the research team in Nicaragua.
  
• This lesson may be modified for Spanish classes by providing translations of the case studies in the target language and conducting discussions partially or completely in the target language.
  
• The following web site provides a detailed look at education during the Sandinista period:
  lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+ni0036)

back to top