My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}

Free Mini Layered Book – South America Galapagos Islands

November 7, 2013 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

After we did our hands on experiment about the Humboldt Current, then we went ahead and finalized our layered book for our South America Unit.

Book 6 that I have today is a layered book about the Galapagos Islands. The download has two ways to use it. One way, you have your child fill in the information because it is blank and the other way, I have a book where information is already added.

Too, you can use part of the book that is blank and use part of the book that has some information if you want to mix and match. As always you have options because I love options.

Our lapbook is shaping up on this unit and you can see above where I placed books 5 and now Book 6. I have just enough room on our lapbook to get in one more topic and that is about Machu Picchu before we finish this unit.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
Simon Bolivar Copywork
Map of South America to label and one labeled
Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Humboldt Who? Hands On to Understand Ocean Currents & Their Effect On The Galapagos Islands

November 5, 2013 | 7 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Unless you’re an over the top marine biologist or oceanographer, it may not be very exciting to study about ocean currents, wind direction and their affect on the Galapagos Islands.

I knew I had to think of something a bit more engaging to introduce Alexander von Humboldt, the German naturalist and explorer after whom the Humboldt Current off the west coast of South America was named.

So I found this easy hands on activity to do to better understand how wind moving over water drags surface water along the path. It also simulates the flow of the Humboldt Current in the Pacific Ocean helping Tiny to grasp some of the concepts.

Easy Ocean Currents Activity

There is a lot of complicated factors that can determine currents in the ocean, but I like simple always. Hopefully, he walks away with understanding some of this. From our past readings like Carry on Mr. Bowditch he did understand some about prevailing winds or trade winds.

In this activity I wanted him to understand that the movement of surface water away from the coast, bringing cold water from the subsurface which is nutrient rich supports an abundance of life on the Galapagos Islands.

Hands On Activity to Understand Humboldt Ocean Current

Look at these things I used for this first experiment

a rectangle cake pan. I had a disposable one, you could easily use a glass one you already have.
a map of the eastern Pacific. Our Junior Atlas was nice and big and easy to see the coast of North and South America.
a permanent marker if you are using a disposable pan or a non-permanent marker if you use your kitchen glass pan.
modeling clay
food coloring though its easier to see the current (food coloring) if you keep the water clear. I have no little bitty ones anymore so I allowed Tiny to color his water blue because he understood what to look for when we added the second color of food coloring
bendable flexible straw/s for how many however kids you have

Draw with your marker on the right side of your pan the outline of the west coast of North and South America. I just did this freehand.

Ocean Currents Activity

Then have them follow the pattern with the modeling clay to make a wall or ridge of land.

Make sure your ridge of land is water tight so that no water comes over it and Tiny even built a wall.

Then add some “land” to the west of South America which is the Galapagos. We kind of eyeballed where it was by looking at the “coast” and put it close to what would be the “equator” too. Eyeballing is good enough.

Then fill your pan with the “ocean”. Like I said, if you have real young kids, just keep the water clear because the food coloring to show the current makes a much more wow statement. But, having the ocean blue makes it cool too.

Be sure the water gets still before the “wind” comes……

Bend your straw and point the short end, before the bend of the straw, toward the water. Mr. Awesome had the second food coloring drop ready in place.

Then gently blow the “wind” across the surface to see how the current is affected by the wind. There it is! The response I wanted. Such an easy hands on activity to understand something a little more complicated.

The darker color shows the pattern of ocean currents that the wind produces. You can also do this activity another way but this time blow along the coast of Central America toward South America or (from North to South) because it represents the Panama Current that brings warmer water to the northern Galapagos Islands.

Easy, fun and I had all the makings for this hands on activity in my house already.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
Simon Bolivar Copywork
Map of South America to label and one labeled
Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

Free 8 Page Fan Book–Animals of the Galapagos Islands

November 1, 2013 | 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We have been reading about the fascinating and unusual creatures of the Galapagos Islands, a lot which are not found any other place. Though there are many more animals that live there, I have listed a few of the more well known ones or ones we found fascinating and created a fan book for our unit study.

Too, I have another mini book coming about facts on the Galapagos Islands, but because there are so many animals to learn about I wanted you to have this one first.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
Simon Bolivar Copywork
Map of South America to label and one labeled
Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

South America Unit Study–Vocabulary & Copy work

October 15, 2013 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have the next part of our unit study on South America ready. I have vocabulary words and copy work.

Because I had to get so many last minute details done for the party and because I have been working with Tiny on composition this year, I wanted to keep the vocabulary words fun too instead of listening to the whining and moaning doing lots of writing.

So I made the words to be used in one of two ways. You can cut them out, fold in half, glue and use like flash cards. The word is on the front and the definition is on the back. Or, you can cut the strip in half and do a mix/match where you have them match the word to the definition. Either way is a lot more fun than writing, which right now Tiny has an aversion to.

Today, he will be doing some easy copy work. We read a short passage or a letter, a primary source, written by Simon Bolivar about how he wanted to unite South America. So it was perfect to use for our copy work.

You know I told you that I have all my boys do copy work for a long time, even into high school and that I sneak some in too for myself at night. I am a true believer and fan of copy work because you can just concentrate on the beauty of words or ideas at the moment and can either be inspired or not. There is no analysis or etymology, it is just you and the delight of words. It’s a way too of igniting a love of writing and vocabulary for a victim of burnout.

Enjoy the newest printables for our unit study. I will be working on getting my photos together of our graduation party so I can share with you and getting my house whipped back into some kind of shape today.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
Simon Bolivar Copywork
Map of South America to label and one labeled
Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

How to Memorize the Countries of South America & Mountain Climate Zones Minibooks

October 3, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I went ahead and started planning and arranging the minibooks, that we have so far, on a file folder for our South America Unit Study. Remember these can be glued notebook style too. Nothing babyish about lapbooking or notebooking.

We still don’t glue them in our file folder at this point, this is just a visual so I know where else to place the upcoming minibooks too. We are up to 4 now.

Today, I have minibooks 3 and 4 for you.

Minibook 3 is Comparing Mountain Climate Zones. It is a book I prepared because I wanted us to focus on the climate of the Andes Mountain and compare them for our geography niche on this.

Near the equator the climate at the lowest elevation is tropical. If you were to climb midway up the mountains, you would find a more mild climate and then again at 15,000 feet you would find extremely low temperatures and icy winds.

Facts to Learn About South America

Notice on the book, the cover has 4 different colors so this is a visual to match the accordion fold minibook so that your child understands about each zone. The top part or light purple is the Tierra Helada and the light green is Tierra Fria and etc.

So here are the facts for using in the minibook. I probably should do an answer key to go with the book, but this information really finds it way to my website. So I just add it here for you in case you and the kids want to go ahead and do it.

Frozen Land or Tierra Helada .

Above 10,000 feet
Place for livestock like llamas and sheep

Cold Land or Tierra Fria

6,000 – 10,000 feet
Place for crops: Wheat, apples, potatoes and barley

Temperate Land or Tierra Templada

3,000 – 6,000 feet
Place for crops: corn, cotton, coffee and citrus fruits

Hot Land or Tierra Caliente

Sea Level – 3,000 feet
Place for crops: bananas, cacao, sugar cane and rice.

How to Remember the Countries of South America

Minibook 4 is a book that uses a mnemonic saying to remember the 12 countries and the one 1 French territory. Give me something that doesn’t make sense anytime to remember and that is what I will remember.

Too, help your child to understand that French Guiana is a territory like a state is here to us in the United States. If you don’t live here, then use one of your local provinces to describe a dependent area so they understand that it is not a country.

This came from a neat website called Memorize the World. Here is how it goes: The Biggest Country (Brazil). Arnie Takes his mom Tina to eat Chile. (Argentina and Chile). Cool Vegetable Guy Studies French (Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana). Every Person Boils Purple Unicorns. (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivar, Paraguay and Uruguay.) That’s it.

Project and Study Ideas for South America

To flesh out this unit some more, here are more ideas for each subject. There is NO shortage of content or ideas to spur your sparks of creativity. Unit studies have this affect on us.

How to Memorize the Countries of South America & Mountain Climate Zones Minibooks

Nazca Lines – The Monkey

Nazca Lines – The Dog (Pic Attribution)

History

Nazca is the name of the culture that flourished in Peru and also the name of the mysterious lines they created in the Peruvian deserts. These lines, carved into the desert rocks depict huge animals and geometric shapes. No one is really certain about what they mean.

Also, compare and contrast Inca society to Spanish colonial society.

Science

Research the Galapagos Islands and the animals unique to that region.

Math

Why did Ecuador change its currency from sucres to dollars? Also understand some about the metric system since its used there.

Geography

1. Create a travel brochure and map to show what journey you would take if you visited South America. Compare and contrast animals and plants living in the different mountain zones.

2. Also list some of the famous places like Machu Picchu in Peru. Indians build that walled city and for hundreds of years it was hidden from the rest of the world.

3. Famous places. People go to see the Gold Museum in Bogota, Colombia and there are emerald mines nearby too.

4. Quito is one of the highest cities in the world and it in Ecuador. It sits on the side of a volcano and is the oldest capital city in South America.

5. Make a map of South America and focus on the major regions: Andes, Amazon Basin, Guiana Highlands, Orinoco Basin, Rio de la Plata Complex, Brazilian Plateau, Pampas, Patagonia, Llanos, Pantanal, Wet Coast Flatlands, Southern Chile coast and color each a different color or make it different colors using salt dough.

Art

Find examples of the art of Manuel Rendon, Eduardo Kingman and Juan Agustin Guerrero.

Music

Research flutes played by native people from Ecuador. Listen to or watch an Argentinean tango, a Brazilian samba and a Colombia cumbia.

Did I tell you that I grew up dancing the cumbia? BELIEVE me, coordination and grace are not at the top of my skill set, but this dance is so easy and fun.

Look at a few of these videos. I love the first one because you can actually hear the music and watch the partner steps and the second one shows basic steps with no music.

Food

Make Fried Plantain

Colombians often eat plantains in place of potatoes.

(Cesar Vellejo)

Language/Language Arts

1. Cesar Vallego (1892-1938) one of the greatest twentieth century poets focused on poverty and injustice. Study his poems and his life.

2. Learn some Spanish

si = yes

por favor = please

gracias – thank you

de nada – you’re welcome

buenos dias = good morning

adios = good – bye

ayer = yesterday

hoy = today

manana = tomorrow

Como esta usted? = How are you?

muy bien = very well

Donde esta…..? = Where is…?

(quipu. Pic. Attribution)

3. Do some Inca Writing. Find a picture of a quipu, the knotted cotton cords of different lengths and colors with which Incas kept records. Using thick yarn, try to imitate the pattern.

I think we need some vocabulary words and we are going to focus next on some of the animals of the Galapagos.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
Simon Bolivar Copywork
Map of South America to label and one labeled
Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}

Free Mini Layered Book – South America Galapagos Islands

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Humboldt Who? Hands On to Understand Ocean Currents & Their Effect On The Galapagos Islands

Easy Ocean Currents Activity

Hands On Activity to Understand Humboldt Ocean Current

Ocean Currents Activity

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Free 8 Page Fan Book–Animals of the Galapagos Islands

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

South America Unit Study–Vocabulary & Copy work

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

How to Memorize the Countries of South America & Mountain Climate Zones Minibooks

Facts to Learn About South America

How to Remember the Countries of South America

Project and Study Ideas for South America

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Categories

Archives

My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Easy Ocean Currents Activity

Hands On Activity to Understand Humboldt Ocean Current

Ocean Currents Activity

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Facts to Learn About South America

How to Remember the Countries of South America

Project and Study Ideas for South America

South America Printable Minibooks

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Footer

Categories

Archives