AMERICAS

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”  – Rachel Carson 

South America

Adventure to the land of extremes. This natural paradise has only 12 countries.

The rainforests (located in 9 of the countries) are some of the wettest places on earth, while the Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the driest places on earth. The Amazon River carries more water than the world’s other 10 biggest rivers combined. The Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil is one of the largest waterfalls in the world with 275 separate cascades. Angel Falls in Venezuela is the highest waterfall in the world, dropping 3,212’. Ushuaia, Argentina is the southernmost city in the world. The Andes are the world’s longest mountain range. With so many natural wonders to explore, wear comfortable trekking shoes!

Before the Spanish and Portuguese (Dutch, British, and French too) colonized South America in the 15th century, the continent was home to many ancient civilizations. The indigenous people had their mythologies, religions, dance, and music that eventually blended with the superstitions brought by the Spanish Conquistadors. Be prepared for some wonderful storytelling!  

North America

Discover United States’ neighboring countries, Mexico, and Canada. Since 4th grade students learn about state history and 5th graders study United States history, the emphasis is on these adjoining nations.

In Mexico, the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations are investigated. The focus is on earth science such as minerals, rocks, volcanoes, and caves rather than life science (animals and habitats).

In Canada, the 13 provinces and territories are visited to understand their differences.  The science is focused on the water cycle, dinosaurs, and bird migration.