HISTORICALLY SPEAKING PANAMA PATCH PROGRAM
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1. Panama is officially the Republic of Panama, and is the southern most country of Central America. It is part of the isthmus (a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas) that connects North America and South America. The Capital is Panama City. Panama's flag's design is separated into 4 squares. The top two are white and red and the bottoms two are blue and white. In each of the white squares, there are stars.

2. The official language of Panama is Spanish, however most Panamanians are bilingual. In most cities, English is used as the native language and Spanish is used in governmental and educational affairs. There are also native groups that have their own dialects and native tongues. Learn a couple words in the Spanish Language.

3. Festivals in Panama are very colorful and exciting events in the lives of all Panamanians. Carnival is one of the most popular festivals and is celebrated all throughout Panama. Other festivals include religious processions, and national holidays such as Independence Day. Learn about festivals in Panama, go to a festival, participate in one, OR complete a craft that represents a festival.

4. Panama's main agricultural products and food that is prepared in homes are rice, corn, beans, and coffee. Corn is eaten in a multitude of ways, such as creating ortillas. Panama also enjoys a variety of seafood including shrimp and lobster. Try a recipe, food, or drink from Panama.

5. Song and dance are a large part of thePanama culture. Traditional folk music, and salsa music are popular styles of music. Common instruments such as drums, castanets, bells, and guitars are used. The national dance in Panama is called the tamborito, which has many different styles in each region. The dance is preformed to the rhythm of clapping hands and drum beats. Watch a dance OR listen to music OR sing a song OR learn more information about a dance from Panama and try your own moves.

6. Legends and stories of Panama reflect the many cultural backgrounds in Panama today. Folk Tales and nature poetry make up many of Panama's early literature. Read a story, legend, OR listen to a legend or play.

7. Three main indigenous groups inhabited Panama before the Spanish arrived. The Ngobe-Bugles, The Emberas, and The Kunas were groups that lived in circular, thatched houses and grew fruits and vegetables. In 1510, Spanish settlers first arrived and eventually took over the land. Today, Spanish influence is a big part of the culture of Panama. Learn more about Spanish explorers, such as Rodrigo de Bastidas and Vasco Nunez de Balboa OR a little more about the Spanish Culture.

8. Panama is a small country, however there is a multitude of mountains, volcanoes, jungles, forests, islands, wildlife and fauna. The sea surrounding Panama is very important for the lifestyles of many rural Panamanians because of their need for seafood. Choose [3] animals OR plants from Panama to learn more about. Also, Locate the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

9. A unique cultural aspect of the arts of Panama are the buses, or chivas, in Panama' city streets. Panama buys yellow school buses from the U.S. and turns them into beautifully painted and decorated buses. Clay pots, painting, sculpture and Mola, or cloth work are other popular traditional crafts in Panama. Create a craft or project using a traditional a skill OR jewelry OR observe someone creating a handicraft OR a traditional craft from Panama.

10. Panamanians are fairly conservative in their traditional dress. No matter how hot the weather is in Panama, locals frown on those who wear shorts in public, especially women. The national dress for women is the pollera, a long, full dress made from white cotton. The dress is normally colorfully embroidered. The pollera is worn for special celebrations and holidays. Men wear the traditional montuno, which is a white cotton shirt, with trousers and a straw hat called a pintado. Draw a picture of the clothing, dress up in a Panama themed costume, create an accessory, complete our paper dolls OR view traditional clothing through books or the Internet or our country manual.

11.There are a variety of games played by children in Panama. Learn a traditional game OR play a game that symbolizes Panama OR play a game in our manual.