Iverna Gardens

This week children will learn about South America, a continent of extremes. It contains many diverse climates and regions: mountains and highlands, river basins, and coastal plains. It is home to the world’s largest river (the Amazon) as well as the world’s driest place (the Atacama Desert). Children will go on a journey across South America and they will get to know the different geographical features in countries such as Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. We will explore the Andes and Aconcagua, Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon rainforest, as well as Machu Picchu and the Patagonian region of glaciers. We will also talk about the people that live in South America, their traditions and languages. We will taste food from various places; for instance, arepas and mate tea, and children will have the opportunity to wear ponchos, traditional costumes from Argentina. In our drama session, children will act out the story of We Are Going On A Toucan Hunt, a modified version of We Are Going On A Bear Hunt. As part of our weekly art project, children will decorate their South American continents with numerous items associated with the continent.

Home ideas:

• Make rain sticks using a cardboard tube (roller towel or wrapping paper tube). Paint the tube, fill it with rice or lentils and block each end with a piece of thick paper or card sellotaped on.
• Make a smoothie with tropical fruits that grow in South America: mango, pineapple, coconut, passion fruit…