Colombia Unit Study | Geography Curriculum & Hands-On Activities for Kids

Explore the geography, culture, and traditions of Colombia with this hands-on, literature-based unit study designed for Grades 1 to 6. Perfect for homeschool families, co-ops, classrooms, or Montessori continent studies, this resource combines mapwork, science, writing, and hands-on cultural activities for kids.

Meet Juana & Lucas in a humorous and heartfelt story about life in Bogotá, and follow Luis Soriano, the traveling librarian, as he brings books to remote villages on the back of a burro. Students will listen to cumbia music, learn how to cook beef empanadas, explore the Andes ecosystem, and play some traditional Colombian games.

✅ What You're Purchasing:

Global Explorers unit studies are literature-based frameworks built around curated books, mapwork, journaling, and cultural activities. Books and some media resources are referenced but not included. Each study provides structured lesson plans and ready-to-use printables, guiding families as they gather materials and explore together.

✅ Learning Highlights:

• Read and discuss Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina and Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown
• Explore the Andes Mountains and learn about high-altitude ecosystems
• Build geography and research skills with mapwork and notebooking activities
• Practice writing skills with sentence-based activities using The Writing Revolution
• Discover cumbia music and play traditional Colombian games like Trique and Oba
• Cook beef empanadas and discuss the important of perseverance as a character virtue

✅ What’s Included:

• Colombia Mapwork & Notebooking: Students label major cities, landforms, and cultural landmarks while customizing their own maps. Notebooking pages invite students to document facts, sketch discoveries, and color the national flag.
• Literature Study: Read Juana & Lucas, a humorous story of friendship and learning, and explore Waiting for the Biblioburro, based on the true story of Luis Soriano’s traveling library.
• Writing Revolution Activities: Build writing skills with sentence-based exercises connected to Colombian literature and geography.
• Science Notebooking: Explore the ecology of the Andes and how plants and animals adapt to high elevations.
• Musical Explorers: Explore the rhythms of cumbia, a traditional Colombian music style.
• Cooking Class: Learn how to make Colombian beef empanadas together.
• Global Games: Play Trique and Oba, two traditional Colombian games.

✅ Bonus Materials:

• Printable Global Explorers Cookbook Page for Colombia
• Discover Colombia: Bingo Challenge activity sheet
• Colombia Unit Overview Sheet
• Access to our optional digital planning tool in Notion
• Plus, more than a dozen extra printable resources, such as book passports, food chain pyramid templates, and more!

Format: Printable PDF + Optional Digital Access

Best For: Homeschoolers, co-ops, enrichment, Montessori continent studies, and classroom geography units

Why Choose Global Explorers?

At the Global Explorers Club, we believe geography should feel like an adventure. Our flexible, secular unit studies are designed to spark curiosity, celebrate cultural diversity, and connect children to the world around them. Whether you use every activity or choose a few, our unit studies can be easily adapted for different learners and teaching styles.