Contextualization

The Asian Tigers were named after the four fiercest and fastest felines in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan), which developed economically aggressively, even in the face of socio-environmental and political adversities. This economic phenomenon that occurred from the 1960s and 1970s of the 20th century, and extends to the present day, is a clear demonstration of how geopolitics, economy, and internal policies can positively or negatively affect the growth and development of a country.

The Asian Tigers are an important reference in the study of economic geography, as they are clear examples of how economic policies, investment in education and technology, as well as export incentive policies, can transform a country characterized by agricultural and rudimentary economy into an industrial and technological power.

Introduction

In this project, we will analyze and understand this phenomenon, through research, debate, and the creation of an explanatory model that demonstrates the relationships and causes of the rapid economic growth of these countries. We will address concepts such as globalization, the global market, export economy, among others.

In addition to economic geography, we will also explore the human geography of these countries, as we believe that understanding this dynamic contributes to a more complete and contextualized view of the reality of these Asian Tigers. This includes the study of social relations, urban transformations, demographic issues, and cultural influence in the West.

We will also use concepts from the history discipline, as we understand that a country's past directly influences its present and future. We suggest studying the colonial period and the wars in which these countries were involved, for example.

We suggest the following sources for studies:

1. Book: 'General and Brazilian Geography' (Eustáquio de Sene and João Carlos Moreira)
2. Website: Opinionated Geography - Asian Tigers: https://geografiaopinativa.com.br/tigres-asiaticos/
3. Website: World Education - Asian Tigers: https://mundoeducacao.uol.com.br/geografia/tigres-asiaticos.htm

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Modeling the Growth of the Tigers

Activity Objective:

This project aims to provide a practical and interdisciplinary experience, through which students will investigate the economic, social, and historical factors that contributed to the accelerated growth of the Asian Tigers.

Detailed Project Description:

Groups should deeply research the history of the Asian Tigers, focusing on their economic, social, political, and cultural aspects, as well as the interactions between these factors. Based on this research, students should create an illustrated and interactive timeline, highlighting the main events and policies that led to the rapid growth of these tigers.

Each group will be tasked with studying one of the Asian Tigers, and should, in the end, present a detailed report, as well as an oral presentation, explaining the factors that led to the accelerated development of the country under study. The report should be accompanied by a three-dimensional or digital model that visually represents the country's evolution.

Required Materials:

• Computer with internet access for research
• Office supplies (paper, pens, post-its)
• Software for creating a timeline and three-dimensional model (can be chosen by the group)
• Materials for creating the three-dimensional model (if they choose to do it physically)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:

1. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students, assign each group one of the Asian Tigers for study.

2. Students conduct detailed research on the assigned country, focusing on its economic, social, political, and cultural aspects.

3. Groups should create an interactive timeline, highlighting the main events and policies that contributed to the rapid economic development of the assigned country.

4. In addition to the timeline, groups should develop a model that visually represents the transformation of the country under study.

5. Finally, groups should prepare an oral presentation and a report, where they explain in detail the factors that led to the rapid growth of the country.

Project Deliverables and Final Report:

The project will culminate in two main deliverables: an oral presentation in front of the class and a written report.

The oral presentation should be based on the timeline and the three-dimensional/digital model created. During the presentation, students should explain the main events, policies, and changes that occurred in the country and how they influenced economic growth. This part of the project will assess students' ability to present information clearly and engagingly, as well as their understanding of the concepts studied.

The written report should follow the format of introduction, development, conclusions, and bibliography. The introduction should provide a summary of what will be discussed in the report and the purpose of the project. In the development, students should detail their findings, exploring the historical events, policies, and social, economic, and cultural conditions that led to the rapid growth of the Asian Tigers. They should also describe the methods used to carry out the project, as well as the challenges encountered and how they were overcome. In the conclusion, they should summarize what they learned from the project and how it contributed to the understanding of the topic. The bibliography should include all sources used in the research.

Remember, the quality of the report will also count points in the evaluation, so it is important for students to work together to produce a well-written, organized, and informative document that reflects the hard work and learning gained during the project.