Central and South America here we come! We have enjoyed learning about the world with country studies for the past 8 years. We started in Europe long ago and have slowly made our way around the world, learning about different countries and cultures along the way. This year we are doing Globe Trekker-based studies.
At the end of last school year we did something new. Instead of doing a little of a country study every week or two, we did the whole country study in one day. It worked quite well so we will do that again this year. Mexico is the only country that might take a little longer. Overall, these studies will only take up 5-6 days of our school year.
Each country study follows the same basic format that includes a Globe Trekker video followed by making a cookie cake map and reading about the country and culture. After this is a coloring flag activity and meal preparation. My kids will then work on an independent project before we sit down to enjoy the meal together.
Mexico
Video – Globe Trekker Ultimate Mexico
Map – Make cookie cake map of country, charting the route taken on the Globe Trekker video.
Books – Mexico the Culture, Mexico the People, Mexico the Land
Flag – http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/mexico-flag-coloring-sheets.jpg
Recipes – Choose entree (8th grader), side (6th grader), and dessert (2nd grader) and prepare them. Enjoy the meal with Mexican music on in the background.
Project
Guatemala, Belize, Yucatan, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua
Video – Globe Trekker Central America
Map – Make cookie cake map of the countries, charting the route taken on the Globe Trekker video.
Books – National Geographic Countries of the World: Guatemala, Belize Cultures of the World, Costa Rica Cultures of the World, and Nicaragua Cultures of the World
Flag – http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/Guatemala-flag-coloring-pages.jpg and http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/Belize-flag-coloring-pages.jpg and http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/CostaRica-flag-coloring-pages.jpg and http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/nicaragua-flag-coloring-sheets.jpg
Recipes – Choose entree (2nd grader), side (8th grader), and dessert (6th grader) and prepare them. Enjoy the meal with music on in the background.
Project
Brazil
Globe Trekker Destination Brazil 
Map – Make cookie cake map of country, charting the route taken on the Globe Trekker video.
Books – Brazil the Land, Brazil the Culture, and Brazil the People
Flag – http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/brazil-flag-coloring-pages.jpg
Recipes – Choose entree (6th grader), side (2nd grader), and dessert (8th grader) and prepare them. Enjoy the meal with music on in the background.
Project
Chile and Easter Island
Globe Trekker Chile and Easter Island
Map – Make cookie cake map of country, charting the route taken on the Globe Trekker video.
Books – Chile Cultures of the World and The Wonders of the World Easter Island Statues
Flag – http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/Chile-flag-coloring-pages.jpg
Recipes – Choose entree (8th grader), side (6th grader), and dessert (2nd grader) and prepare them. Enjoy the meal with music on in the background.
Project
Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands
Globe Trekker Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands
Map – Make cookie cake map of country, charting the route taken on the Globe Trekker video.
Books – Ecuador: The Enchantment of the World and Galapagos Islands: The Wonders of the World
Flag – http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/images/ecuador-flag-coloring-pages.jpg
Recipes – Choose entree (2nd grader), side (8th grader), and dessert (6th grader) and prepare them. Enjoy the meal with music on in the background.
Project
For the project each child will choose 1 of the following.
- Create an advertisement for a trip to that place and include prices for hotel and airfare
- Create a radio or video ad highlighting the country (1 minute)
- Make a Powerpoint presentation (10 slides)
- Give a 5 minute speech about the country
- Write a 300-500 word report on the country
- Write a 300-500 word story about your imagined adventures in the country.
- Make a craft that is representative of the country or culture.
- Draw the outline of the country from memory.
Each child must do at least 3 different things before repeating the same project for a different country.
