Along with a free printable map of Argentina, you are going to enjoy this other map activity, a wood-burning project that can be used to make learning any map fun. Also, look at my page South America Unit Study Resources for more ideas about South America.
This is a fun activity for older kids when they have outgrown simple coloring pages, and the older they are, the more detail you can ask them to show.
This idea can be applied to learning about any country and would make a lovely display hanging to commemorate what your child has learned if you use it for each country that you study, but today our focus is on South America, in the country of Argentina.
Argentina is one of the largest countries in the world, stretching across much of southern South America. It’s the eighth-largest country globally and the second-largest in South America after Brazil.
Because it’s so long from north to south, Argentina has a wide variety of climates, from tropical heat in the north to icy glaciers in the south.
The capital city, Buenos Aires, is often called the “Paris of South America” because of its beautiful architecture, wide boulevards, and rich culture.
It’s also the birthplace of the famous tango dance.
BOOKS ABOUT ARGENTINA FOR KIDS
Next, look at these books about Argentina.
We love living books and prefer them when we can find them.
5 Books Set in Argentina or About Argentina
Grab one or two of these books about Argentina to add to your reading day.
An account of a little girl's idyllic summer at her grandparents' ranch on the pampas of Argentina.
The evil bird who lives on top of the magic tree that grows in the Argentine pampas has the powr to stop the rain, so one summer, a little boy risks everything to save his village from dying of thirst by taking a stand against the powerful bird.
Discover the vibrant sights and sounds of Argentina, from morning light to city night! Snack on medialunas, explore the bustling stalls at la feria, and ride the caballito on the carousel. Even learn words in Spanish with pronunciation guides throughout the story.
- Part of the Barefoot Books Our World series with over 200k copies sold
- Written by Argentinian author, Aixa Pérez-Prado and Argentinian illustrator, Mariana Ruiz Johnson
- Extended endnotes provide more insights into life in Argentina
Arthur Dorros's skillful blend of Spanish and English and Raúl Colón's poignant paintings illuminate how the special bond between an abuelo and a nieto reaches across miles.
Together, a young boy and his abuelo go camping, ride horses, and even confront a mountain lion. Soon, the boy's family moves to the city from the country, away from Abuelo, and it is the boy's memories that help him adjust to his new life.
Fans of Dorros's Papá and Me and Abuela will delight in this bilingual and multigenerational picture book about a special family relationship.
This beautiful picture book blends Spanish and English seamlessly, all at once telling a wonderful story and introducing young readers to both languages. Perfect for bilingual families as well as teachers and families who want to expose their children to multiple languages.
The world of the Argentine pampa comes to life in this humorous tale of a South American boy determined to tame and ride a wild pony.
Argentina is known for its strong cowboy culture. The “gauchos” (Argentine cowboys) lived on the grassy plains called the pampas and became symbols of freedom and hard work.
It is also known as the home of some of the best beef in the world, traditional meals often include grilled meat called “asado,” which is a big part of family and social life.
Before we begin our project, let’s learn a little more about the places and people of this beautiful country.
FAMOUS FACES OF ARGENTINA
- José de San Martín- A national hero who helped lead Argentina, Chile, and Peru to independence from Spain.
- Eva Perón- Known as “Evita,” she was beloved for helping the poor and working-class citizens.
- Lionel Messi- One of the greatest soccer players of all time and a global sports icon.
- Pope Francis- The first pope from South America, born in Buenos Aires.
AMAZING PLACES TO FIND ON YOUR MAP
As your student works on their printable map or wood-burning project, these are must-see places to locate and learn about:
Iguazu Falls- One of the largest and most powerful waterfall systems in the world, located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. It’s made up of over 250 individual waterfalls!
Patagonia- A vast, wild region in southern Argentina filled with mountains, glaciers, and unique wildlife. It’s a dream destination for adventurers.
Andes Mountains- The longest mountain range in the world runs along Argentina’s western edge. It includes the highest mountain in the Americas.
Aconcagua- Standing at nearly 23,000 feet, Aconcagua is the tallest mountain outside of Asia.
Perito Moreno Glacier- A massive glacier that is still growing! Visitors can sometimes see huge chunks of ice break off into the water.
Pampas- Fertile plains where cattle ranching thrives, and gauchos made their mark.
As you create your wood-burned map of Argentina, don’t just focus on the outline; use it as a learning tool. You can:
- Connect people to places (for example, Buenos Aires for Pope Francis)
- Mark major landmarks like Iguazu Falls or Aconcagua with colored pins
- Use different string colors to show regions (mountains, plains, glaciers)
- Add small labels or flags for important cities like Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA CRAFT AND ACTIVITY IDEAS
- An Argentina Craft Tutorial: How To Make A Gaucho Sombrero
- Colorful Buildings Paper Collages: Exploring Argentina Through Art – Creative Family Fun
- Free Lapbook Argentina for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
- DIY Gaucho Belt
- Argentina Coloring Pages
FUN WOOD BURNING ACTIVITY
You will need:
- Wood
- Wood-burning tool
- Carbon paper
- Pencil
- Map outline
I printed my map in black and white at 200%, and it worked perfectly for my sizing. You may need to experiment with yours a bit.
Place your carbon paper with the darker transfer side face down onto your wood piece. To help keep it straight, I lined it up with the edge of my desk and taped each layer in place using the straight edge as my guide.
Then place your map over it and tape it in place.
Trace the outline with a pencil. You can also mark the capital, trace water, mountains, etc. For our first wood-burning project, we decided to keep it simple, with just the outline, the country name, and the capital marked.
Peel the paper back, leaving the tape on one side so that you can make sure your transfer went through all over. If it’s missing spaces, just simply tape that side back down and go over it again; otherwise, you can remove the paper.
You should have a nice, solid outline.
Heat your wood-burning tool, then, holding it like a pencil, go over all the pencil lines you created. The slower you go, the deeper and darker your wood burn will be. You can use a piece of scrap wood to practice on and find out what the best method for you is. Make sure you do not touch any of the metal parts.
Continue until everything has been filled in and is as dark and as thick as you wish
Finish it up by burning Argentina onto the wood plaque to complete your map.
Now, how to grab the free country reports. This is a subscriber freebie.
HOW TO GET THE FREE 9 COUNTRY MAP REPORTS FOR SOUTH AMERICA (INCLUDING ARGENTINA)
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The 9 country reports you get in this one download are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
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