I was given a free copy of A Child’s Life in the Andes and I was paid for my time. Compensated for my time does not mean paid off. ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. Your experience may vary. When I do accept a review it’s because I am excited to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here.
The Giveaway is now closed.
Learning about the Quechua language and culture has been one fascinating aspect about us living here in South America.
So when I was asked to use the ebook, A Child’s Life in the Andes by Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannous (yes she is Quechua), I was delighted to use a resource that could capture some of the things we have been experiencing while living here.
Music of the Andes for Kids
Quechua is the language of the Andes. Though I knew Spanish was a dominating language here, I had no idea that the ancient language of Quechua was alive and thriving.
The Quechua language had its start in the Andes Mountain in Cuzco, Peru, which was the ancient Inca empire.
The empire was huge and ruled over many parts of present day countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and here in Ecuador.
When we moved here, I didn’t realize that many of the parades that I saw and foods we have tried have Quechua origins.
Tickled to be able to find a resource that had some quick tips about South America along with some fun hands-on history and geography, I was eager to get started using it.
The ebook A Child’s Life in the Andes is a 35 page pdf that gives a glance at the people of the Andes.
Included with the ebook are 5 cancioncitas or (little songs) that we loved listening to.
Right away, with the first song Alturas (high mountains), we heard some of the traditional Andean musical instruments like zamponas (panpipes), flutes and rainsticks.
Listening to the music, from a traditional folksong to a carnival song is really the highlight of this sweet little gem.
We started off using it by listening to all the songs and read the ebook, which gives background information about each song.
The sections of the book are:
- Where are the Andes Mountain?
- About the songs
- A Child’s Life
- Animals
- Food
- Language
- Coloring pages, make your your own activities and a word search puzzle.
Depending our mood, we like to skip around when using new resources and this one was no different.
Tiny wanted to do the word search puzzle next because it had a Quechua word we have heard while living here which is YAW and it means Hey.
From there we moved on to including a fun and easy hands-on wind instrument called a Zamponas.
With just a few household items and a few minutes, Tiny made the easy wind instrument called the zamponas.
Hands-on History
He ended up really liking that easy musical instrument and I actually got my shy guy to try out the instrument while I recorded him for a few seconds.
There are 8 coloring pages in the ebook, which are animals indigenous to South America.
Of course being from Texas and thinking that armadillos are only critters that hail from Texas (aren’t they), we were surprised to know that many are here in South America.
The body of the armadillo is used for the body of the charango, which is a stringed musical instrument here in South America that looks like a guitar.
Then we had never heard of Chapchas, which is a very unique rattle because it is made from the toenails of goat or sheep.
We really have to look for one while we are here now that our curiosity was piqued.
I think you will really love A Child’s Life in the Andes if you :
- Want to use it like a supplement to a unit study on South America;
- Want your children to appreciate the music of South America;
- Have elementary age children;
- Have children who like to learn hands-on without activities that are complicated;
- Want a few sweeping details about life in the Andes; and
- Want your children to be exposed to another culture without being overwhelmed with too much detail.
Guess what? Would you like to win a copy? I have a copy to give away.
Yippeeeee! Giveaway Details – Easy Rules
Begins: Tuesday May 19, 2015. Ends: Friday May 22, 2015 @ 8:00 a.m. CST
Just comment here on my blog. The winner will be selected using random org and will be notified afterwards. Also, because you can’t be a once a month email reader, if my winner does not respond to my email within 24 hours, I will choose another winner.
1. Open to any resident because this is a digital download. You will not be shipped anything.
2. You have to be a blog follower. You can comment twice.
Comment 1 x time letting me know how long you have been following (best you can remember or if you are a new follower) and comment the 2cd time with anything about the product or how you will use it.
Let’s get this party started!!
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Company Name: World Music for Children
Website: dariamusic.com
Product Name: A Child’s Life in the Andes – Ebook
Grades: elementary
Type of Format: Download
Price: $9.99
Hugs and love ya,
I would include this in our geography curriculum when we cover south america.
I follow by email and I’ve been following for a year or two.
My daughter is very musical so we would use this ebook to help her learn about music in the Andes. She also studied the Inca Empire earlier this school year so it will also help her connect with the history of the region.