Classroom Without Walls: Families: 3rd grade: Guatavita/Suesca

Guatavita/Suesca

Our third grader SURVIVORS are going for their very first overnight experience. A lot will be focused on this aspect, however there will also be many activities that link back to their curriculum. On their visit to Guatavita, students will explore two main areas. They will have time in the township where they will learn about its history and inhabitants as they interview the locals and make ceramics. They will also visit the sacred lake which takes them on a beautiful hike through a variety of ecosystems and where they will visit a Muisca Kusmuy and learn more about the indigenous culture of the area. In Suesca, they will be challenged with a ropes course and tree climbing (all safety and security under control of course!!!); will innovate thinking about animal needs and construct shelters for them; will work in teams in an “archaeological dig” and put together the dinosaur pieces they will find.

Discover all the details about this program:

FLIER (English version)

CIRCULAR (Spanish version)

Learn more about Zambo, the company we collaborate with for this CWW program.

Introductory Video

Webpage

Scope and Sequence

• The academic focus of this program is on plant and animal survival with a focus on adaptations as this is what they will be looking at in class. The paramo is a perfect place to observe and study plant adaptations. They will work on design solution skills building a shelter for local species they will learn about in the field. The design process will follow the steps of claim, design and reflection steps about the final structure. Students will also look at interactions and relationships between human societies and their physical environment in their time in Guatavita. In their travel journal, they explore geography focused on the department of Cundinamarca and determining where they are compared to where they have travelled from. 
• We are going to focus on being innovators for their learner profile as this connects perfectly their shelter building and work back in the classroom. 
• The core value focus will be on responsibility (eg: being responsible for my own things) and a success skill focus will be self management. There will also be focus on time away from technology with reflections on feelings and possibilities. There will be team work where students will be guided to work together to get through what for many is their first overnight experience away from home.
• Outdoor skills in third grade are focused on sleeping overnight in a tent; hiking approximately 1.5 hours and following video instructions and a checklist (with the support of a packing workshop and parental supervision when completed) to pack an overnight bag.
• A community focus is encouraging students to look beyond themselves to support their peers who may be in need whether on the hike, camping in a tent or just being away from home. This focus matches the SDG 3 (sustainable development goal) they will be introduced to which is good health and well being.