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

Explore the geography, culture, and traditions of Cuba 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.

Read Island Treasures: Growing Up in Cuba by Alma Flor Ada and Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar, learn about hurricanes and coral reefs, and discover the poetry and legacy of José Martí. You’ll also meet Celia Cruz, listen to salsa music, cook arroz y frijoles negros, and play traditional Cuban 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.

✅ What’s Included:

• Cuba 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: Discover the childhood memories of beloved Cuban author Alma Flor Ada in Island Treasures: Growing Up in Cuba, and explore resiliency, determination, and community in the middle-grade novel Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar.
• The Writing Revolution Resources: Build writing skills with sentence-based exercises that connect directly to what students are learning about Cuba.
• Hurricanes: Learn how hurricanes form and how they impact island ecosystems with science notebooking activities.
• Creative Arts: Meet José Martí, Cuba’s national poet, and explore his enduring legacy in Cuban culture.
• Musical Explorers: Celebrate Celia Cruz, the “Queen of Salsa”, and her contributions to music and cultural pride.
• Cooking Class: Learn how to make arroz y frijoles negros, Cuba’s national dish.

✅ Bonus Materials:

• Printable Global Explorers Cookbook Page for Cuba
• Discover Cuba: Bingo Challenge activity sheet
• Cuba 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.