I’m sharing everyday life in Cuenca Ecuador today.Also, look at my page Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
We have been on the house hunt this past week, but with no car to get around, location is going to be everything for us. Each day has already proven to be an adventure though.
We get ready to scout out the area and then have to stop to admire some of the everyday life in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Calderon Park is one of the beautiful parks here in the center of town. We have some research to do find out about the local statues and markers, but it has been nice to spend some of the day just people watching.
Even charging our phone is an adventure here.
There are two companies for cell phone usage here, which are Claro and Moviestar.
Finding a place to recharge cell minutes is an everyday thing.
Have you tried prompting along and following instructions on your phone when it’s all in Spanish? We are fast becoming immersed in the language.
Also, look at some of these books about South America.
Books for Kids About South America
13 Resources for a Study of South America
Add some of these fun books and resources to your study of South America.
An incredible variety of climates and biomes span the territory of South America. As a result, the continent contains some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth.
Rookie Read-About: Continents series gives the youngest reader (Ages 3-6) an introduction to the components that make each continent distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each continents' geography, history, and wildlife. In this book readers learn about the continent of South America, including the geography, native animals, people and more.
A full-color, compelling book for ages 7 to 10 offers a deep dive into the three sophisticated ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica―the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas― through hands-on STEAM projects, essential questions, and loads of fascinating facts!
Why were there more than 3,000 steps built at Machu Picchu? Why did the Aztecs roam Mexico for nearly 200 years before finding a place to settle? How did the Maya study the movements of the stars and the planets? Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids takes kids ages 7 to 10 on a guided tour to experience the history, culture, economics, and daily life of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas.
A man, his burros, and his books bring joy to children in remote Colombian villages in this inspiring book based on a true story by celebrated picture book creator Jeanette Winter.Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.
An Incan boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his ancestors.
In the sequel to On the Pampas, the author recalls her first year on the small Argentinian ranch purchased and managed by her mother, in an account that includes a visual dictionary of the Spanish words and geographical terms used in the text.
Atmospheric woodcuts illustrate this Newbery Award–winning collection of 19 South American folktales. Charles J. Finger heard the tales firsthand from native storytellers, whose fables of talking animals, witches, giants, and ordinary people in supernatural settings provide remarkable insights into regional values and culture. The first of the stories, "A Tale of Three Tails," tells of an age when the rat had a tail like a horse, the rabbit had a tail like a cat, and the deer's tail was plumed like the tail of a dog. "The Magic Dog" recounts an act of kindness to a stray animal that helps overcome a witch's curse. In "The Calabash Man," the creatures of the jungle assist a suitor in winning his bride, and in "El Enano," a greedy troll's insatiable appetite leads to his downfall. Packed with adventure and full of surprises, these and other stories emphasize the importance of hard work, courage, and loyalty.
In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent.
With the memorable characters and plot twists she brings to her best-selling fantasies, acclaimed author Eva Ibbotson has written a hair-raising novel, set in turn-of-the-last-century Brazil.Accompanied by Miss Minton, a fierce-looking, no-nonsense governess, Maia, a young orphan, sets off for the wilderness of the Amazon, expecting curtains of orchids, brightly colored macaws, and a loving family. But what she finds is an evil-tempered aunt and uncle and their spoiled daughters. It is only when she is swept up in a mystery involving a young Indian boy, a homesick child actor, and a missing inheritance that Maia lands in the middle of the Amazon adventure she's dreamed of. Readers of every generation will treasure Ibbotson's lush historical adventure that harkens back to the beloved classics of Frances Hodgson Burnett and Louisa May Alco
Can you imagine living in a place where there is so much water some houses need to be built on stilts to protect them when the river rises? Or where it is so wet that some plants can grow on the sides of trees with their roots gathering water from the air? In This Place Is Wet, you'll find out all sorts of things about what it's like to live in the rain forest of Brazil. Try to imagine living there!
It is astonishing that Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States. He freed six countries from Spanish rule, traveled more than 75,000 miles on horseback to do so, and became the greatest figure in Latin American history. His life is epic, heroic, straight out of Hollywood: he fought battle after battle in punishing terrain, forged uncertain coalitions of competing forces and races, lost his beautiful wife soon after they married and never remarried (although he did have a succession of mistresses, including one who held up the revolution and another who saved his life), and he died relatively young, uncertain whether his
achievements would endure.
Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash
Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book – Fun And Education For Adults and TeensMake the perfect gift for anyone who loves coloring! Enjoy this Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book for Adults and Teens. Click the cover to reveal what’s inside!About this book:
- 40 original pages drawings of Symbols, Warriors, Masks and Mandalas.
Explore the Inca empire, including how the Incas survived in the mountains, how the empire was built, and why it disappeared.
A True Book: Ancient Civilizations series allows readers to experience what makes each ancient civilization distinctive and exceptional as well look at its influence on the some of the practices of the modern world. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.
We have located one of our favorite places to eat at. Don Colon is owned by a local who spends part of his time in the states and in Cuenca.
He uses bottle water to make the local fruit juice so this place has been great on our stomachs.
Too, you can beat the price of almuerzo (lunch) for $4.00. You get an entrée, soup, drink and dessert. The lunch choices yesterday were steak, fish, chicken and pork loin, so we are not talking sandwiches.
More Activities About South America
- Ikat Weaving and Makana Shawl in Gualaceo Ecuador
- Finding a Home in Cuenca, Ecuador
- Everyday Life in Cuenca, Ecuador
- 5 Things I Love About Cuenca Ecuador
- Effigies, Celebrations and Customs of Cuenca, Ecuador
Then of course, I have been drooling over all the beautiful flowers offered here for just a few bucks.
I can’t wait to get our own place so I can have fresh flowers each day.
Just a walk down the streets and you are in awe of the dated architect.
Then when we were out house hunting, we had to pause for this guy who was dressed in his Native American dress of Incan heritage as he played the flutes.
The music filling the air on that block was beautiful. It’s hard to house hunt with so many things to look at in every corner.
We took a tour too and I will share some of those pictures soon. It has rained the last 3 days, but today is sunshine so we will be getting out again to learn some about the local customs.
Tina says
Hi Tina are you still in cuenca??? If so can i please email you. Please see my email listed below. Thanks
Tina W
Katie says
How awesome that you’re in Cuenca with your fam & homeschooling from there! That’s my dream! I’ve lived in Ecuador & have friends there still- what an amazing country! Have fun & good luck!
Tina Robertson says
Wow Katie!! But I’m not surprised you’ve lived here, it’s so nice here. Thanks for scooting by!!
Ticia says
Oh there has to be so many interesting things down there. I hope you keep putting up posts like this. I remember enjoying them when Jimmie would put posts up of living in China.
Ticia recently posted…A day in the life of a homeschool family kitchen table
Tina Robertson says
Oh for sure Ticia!! I have so many things to share as I am snapping pictures. I feel the same way. I love looking at pictures of other places. I loved Jimmie’s pictures too.