The Quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, and known for its bright green and red plumage. Traditionally, the quetzal is incredibly important to the indigenous Maya of the country. Representing freedom, the quetzal is known to die in captivity. Sadly the quetzal has become endangered due to the destruction of it's habitats. I thought … Continue reading Guatemala Unit Study: Quetzal Bird Toilet Paper Tube Craft
I like to include a variety of subjects into my learning activities and as my oldest is now in Pre-K, I want to put a small emphasis on basic mathematics. As part of our Guatemala Unit Study, I thought it would be fun to create a measuring activity in regards to the Mayan temples that … Continue reading Mayan Temple Measuring Activity: Units of Measurement
Guatemala culture has been shaped significantly by their Mayan ancestors. There are multiple Maya ruins that can be explored in Guatemala, with the Mayan temples being the most iconic. I thought it would be fun to challenge my kiddo in a STEM-Inspired activity. For the past couple weeks both my girls have been enjoying the … Continue reading Guatemala Unit Study: Mayan Lego STEM Activity
Guatemala is full of some of the most unique and interesting animals! It was fun (and challenging) to narrow it down to only six to feature this month! You can download these three-part printable matching cards FREE HERE! Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis), The spider monkey inhabits several South American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and … Continue reading GUATEMALA Unit Study: Fauna – Montessori 3-Part Matching Cards
For our study of Guatemala during the month of September, we focused on the Cacao plant/seed, where Chocolate is made from. I made a simple learning pack to accompany this, which can be downloaded HERE. I first focused on the life cycle of the plant itself, which I displayed as a spinner. I laminated all … Continue reading Life Cycle of the Cacao Plant/Seed
One of the most interesting parts of learning about a new country is the myths/legends associated. Each culture has unique stories that are passed along through the generations, which are fascinating to study. Guatemala has "Worry Dolls" - an adorable belief that tiny dolls can be made, confessed worries to, and their owners can sleep … Continue reading Guatemala Unit Study: DIY Worry Dolls
I absolutely love to upcycle, creating something from the discarded. I try to base my unit study activities on things that can be found around the house, minimizing cost and waste. I was inspired by these masks on a similar version found on Instagram. I thought they would be perfect for my Guatemalan Unit Study! … Continue reading Egg Carton Mayan Masks
As part of our Guatemala Unit Study, I wanted to do an activity that focused on weaving which is a major part of the traditional Mayan culture. When I visited the countryside of Guatemala in 1999, I saw many woman outside their simple homes weaving beautiful fabric. Guatemalan woman weave beautiful textiles characterized by bright, … Continue reading Paper Plate Weaving: Fine Motor Activity
Guatemala is a Central American country south of Mexico, and features rainforests, volcanoes, and ancient Mayan sites. The capital, Guatemala City, features the stately National Palace of Culture and the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Antigua, west of the capital, contains preserved Spanish colonial buildings. Lake Atitlán, formed in a massive volcanic crater, is … Continue reading #TravelingThroughLearning – GUATEMALA Unit!
