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

Explore the geography, culture, and traditions of Costa Rica 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 integrates mapwork, science, writing, and hands-on cultural activities for kids.

Read The Umbrella and learn about tropical rainforests, study Costa Rica’s wildlife, create colorful carretas, listen to marimba music, and make a simple toasted cashew snack as you journey through Costa Rica together.

✅ What You're Purchasing:

Our unit studies are literature-based learning frameworks built around carefully curated books, mapwork, journaling, and hands-on cultural activities. While books and select media resources are referenced, they are not included. Each country study provides flexible lesson plans, ready-to-use printables, and engaging activities that make it easy to explore the world together as a family or classroom.

✅ What’s Included:

• Costa Rica 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 and discuss The Umbrella, a beautifully illustrated story that highlights Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystem.
• The Writing Revolution Activities: Build writing skills with sentence-based exercises that connect directly to what students are learning about Costa Rica.
• Science Notebooking: Learn about Costa Rica’s rainforests and the animals that inhabit them with guided science notebooking prompts.
• Creative Arts: Design and decorate your own miniature version of Costa Rica’s iconic carretas, a beloved national symbol.
• Musical Explorers: Discover the sounds of Costa Rican marimba music.
• Cooking Class: Learn about one of Costa Rica’s tropical crops while preparing a simple, delicious snack.

✅ Bonus Materials:

• Printable Global Explorers Cookbook Page for Costa Rica
• Discover Costa Rica: Bingo Challenge activity sheet
• Costa Rica 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 be an adventure and not just a list of places to memorize. Our secular, literature-based unit studies allow children to explore the world through living books, hands-on activities, mapwork, and meaningful cultural experiences. Designed for flexible, family-style learning, each study encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the people, places, and traditions that make our world unique.