Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understanding of MERCOSUR: The teacher must ensure that the students understand what MERCOSUR is, its purpose, and its principles. This includes a clear understanding that MERCOSUR is an economic and political bloc formed by countries in South America, with the aim of promoting the free movement of goods, services, and people among the member countries.

2. Identification of member countries: Students should be able to identify the countries that are part of MERCOSUR: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and more recently, Venezuela.

3. Knowledge about the structure of MERCOSUR: The teacher must ensure that the students understand the structure of MERCOSUR, including the bodies that compose it (Common Market Council, Common Market Group, MERCOSUR Trade Commission, among others) and their functions.

   Secondary objectives:

   • Understanding the advantages and challenges of MERCOSUR: Students should be able to discuss the advantages and challenges of participating in MERCOSUR, both for the member countries and for the citizens of these countries.

   • Relationship between MERCOSUR and other economic blocs: Students should be able to establish connections between MERCOSUR and other economic blocs, such as the European Union, NAFTA, and APEC.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Recalling previous contents: The teacher should start the class by briefly reviewing concepts of economic blocs and their importance in the global scenario. A quick review can be made about the European Union, NAFTA, and APEC, highlighting the differences and similarities between these blocs and MERCOSUR. (3 - 5 minutes)

2. Problem situations: The teacher can propose two problem situations to arouse students' interest:

   • Scenario 1: 'Imagine you are a wine producer in Argentina. How can participation in MERCOSUR benefit or harm your business?'

   • Scenario 2: 'Suppose you are a Brazilian tourist planning a trip to Uruguay. What are the benefits that MERCOSUR can bring to your trip?'

   These situations should be used throughout the class to contextualize the theory and stimulate student participation. (5 - 7 minutes)

3. Contextualization of the subject: The teacher must explain the importance of MERCOSUR for the economy and politics of the member countries. Examples of commercial agreements and joint initiatives made possible by MERCOSUR can be mentioned. In addition, it should be emphasized how participation in MERCOSUR affects the lives of ordinary citizens, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services. (3 - 5 minutes)

4. Introducing the topic: To introduce the topic and draw students' attention, the teacher can:

   • Curiosity 1: 'Did you know that MERCOSUR was created through the Asuncion Treaty, signed in 1991, but its origin dates back to 1985, with the signing of the Integration, Cooperation, and Development Treaty between Argentina and Brazil?'

   • Curiosity 2: 'And that, although Venezuela became a full member of MERCOSUR in 2012, in 2016 it was suspended due to political issues, and is currently in the process of leaving the bloc?'

   • Practical application: 'By the end of this class, you will be able to understand how MERCOSUR affects your lives and your country, whether through travel, trade, or politics.' (1 minute)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Mapping Activity (10 - 12 minutes): The teacher should divide the class into groups of four or five students. Each group will receive a map of South America and a set of cards with the names of the MERCOSUR member countries and other South American countries that are not part of the bloc. The objective of the activity is for students to identify, on the map, the MERCOSUR member countries and place them in a specific area of the map. The other countries should be placed in another area. This activity aims to improve students' ability to identify the MERCOSUR member countries, as well as their geographical location. In addition, it allows for a discussion on the importance of geography in the formation of economic blocs.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Distribute the materials to each group.
     2. Explain the rules of the activity.
     3. Monitor the groups' work, clarifying doubts and guiding, if necessary.
     4. After the activity is finished, each group must present their map to the class, justifying their choice of country locations.

2. Debate on advantages and challenges (8 - 10 minutes): After the mapping activity, the teacher should organize a debate among the groups. Each group will be assigned to defend a point of view: one group will defend the advantages of participating in MERCOSUR, another group will defend the challenges. Each group must prepare arguments based on research conducted before class and on in-class discussions. The teacher should moderate the debate, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate and that the discussion is respectful and focused on the topic. The objective of this activity is to deepen students' understanding of the implications of participating in MERCOSUR and to improve their argumentation and debate skills.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Explain the rules of the debate.
     2. Assign the groups and viewpoints.
     3. Give time for the groups to prepare.
     4. Start the debate, monitoring the time and students' participation.
     5. After the debate, the teacher should summarize the main ideas presented, emphasizing the importance of respecting differences of opinion and active listening.

3. Question and Answer Game (2 - 3 minutes): To conclude the Development stage, the teacher can organize a quick question and answer game, using Quizlet or a similar resource. The goal is to review the concepts learned during the class in a playful and interactive way. The questions can be about the MERCOSUR member countries, the bodies that make up the bloc, the advantages and challenges of participation, among others.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Explain the rules of the game.
     2. Divide the class into teams.
     3. Start the game, asking the questions and checking the answers.
     4. At the end of the game, the teacher should reinforce the most important points and clarify any remaining doubts.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes): The teacher should promote a group discussion where each team will have up to 3 minutes to share the solutions or conclusions they reached during the activities. This is an opportunity for students to hear different perspectives and broaden their understanding of the topic. The teacher should monitor the discussion and intervene as necessary to clarify concepts or guide the conversation.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Invite the groups to share their conclusions or solutions.
     2. Give each group up to 3 minutes to present.
     3. Monitor the discussion, ensuring that all students are involved and that the conversation remains focused on the topic.

2. Connection with Theory (2 - 3 minutes): After the discussion, the teacher should recap the main theoretical points covered in the class and connect them with the practical activities carried out. For example, the teacher can highlight how the mapping activity helped understand the geography of MERCOSUR and the importance of geographical location in the formation of economic blocs. In addition, the debate can be used to illustrate the advantages and challenges of participating in MERCOSUR.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Recap the main theoretical points.
     2. Connect the theory with the practical activities, highlighting how the activities helped deepen the understanding of the topic.

3. Final Reflection (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should propose that students reflect individually on what they learned in the class. Questions like:

   1. 'What was the most important concept you learned today?'
   2. 'What questions have not been answered yet?'
   3. 'How can you apply what you learned today in your daily life?'

   Students should have a minute to think about these questions. Then, the teacher can ask some students to share their answers with the class. This final reflection activity helps students consolidate what they learned and identify possible gaps in their understanding.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Propose the reflection questions.
     2. Give students a minute to think about the answers.
     3. Invite some students to share their answers.
     4. End the class by reinforcing the main concepts learned and reminding students of the topic of the next class, if applicable.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary of Contents (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should give a brief summary of the contents covered during the class. This includes the definition of MERCOSUR, its member countries, its structure, and its Objectives. The teacher can mention again the problem situations discussed at the beginning of the class and how they were solved or clarified during the class. In addition, the teacher should highlight the main conclusions of the debate and practical activities.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Recap the main theoretical points.
     2. Review the problem situations and how they were addressed.
     3. Highlight the main conclusions of the debate and practical activities.

2. Connection of Theory with Practice (1 minute): The teacher should explain how the class connected the theory about MERCOSUR with practice, through the mapping activities, debate, and question and answer game. The teacher can emphasize how these activities helped deepen students' understanding of MERCOSUR and apply theoretical concepts in a practical and meaningful way.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Explain the connection between theory and practice.
     2. Highlight how the practical activities contributed to the understanding of the topic.

3. Extra Materials (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge about MERCOSUR. This may include readings, documentaries, websites, educational games, among others. For example, the teacher can suggest that students research the history of MERCOSUR, the benefits and challenges of participating in the bloc, the most important commercial agreements, among others.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Suggest a list of extra materials.
     2. Briefly explain the content of each material and how they can contribute to students' learning.

4. Importance of the Topic (1 minute): Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of MERCOSUR in students' daily lives. The teacher can explain how participation in MERCOSUR affects the economy and politics of the member countries, and how this, in turn, affects the lives of citizens. In addition, the teacher can mention how knowledge about MERCOSUR can be useful in various situations, such as in travel, understanding news and political events, and even in career choices.

   • Activity steps:

     1. Explain the importance of MERCOSUR in students' daily lives.
     2. Highlight how knowledge about MERCOSUR can be useful in various situations.