Classroom Without Walls: Families: 5th grade: Coffee Region

Coffee Region

💡REGISTER HERE

COLOMBIA'S VERY OWN HERITAGE CROP is a project designed for fifth graders focused around coffee region settlement and economy, coffee and cocoa farming and the surrounding ecosystem and the use of science in sustainable coffee practices. Students will actually begin their journey in the classroom reading a story in their travel journal about the history of coffee. They will complete a timeline from what they learned throughout the story. Students will fly to the Coffee Region on their 4 day / 3 night journey and then explore the region by bus. They will begin their journey with a tour of a park dedicated to educating about coffee region culture (RECUCA - Recorrido Cultura Cafetera). They will visit Filandia where they will be able to do a little shopping and will work with lianas (bejuco) as they learn to make the all important baskets used to collect coffee and will learn about the different kinds and their cultural history throughout their workshop. They will visit a cocoa farming family who will tell them all about the process of chocolate production and during this workshop they will be able to participate in the process. They will visit the botanical gardens and enter the butterfly areas. And of course there will be a hike through one of the important ecosystems of the area.

Discover all the details about this program:

FLIER (English version): Coming soon

CIRCULAR (Spanish version): Coming soon

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

Introductory Video

Webpage

Scope and Sequence: 

• Fifth grade class has a focus on trade systems, specifically looking at the interactions and relationships between human societies and their physical environments. The coffee region is an excellent place to look at that progress in its settlement history. When they return from their coffee picking experience, they will use coffee beans for an applied mathematics exercise that will lead them to understand the amount of work required to pick enough beans to support a family. They will also investigate coffee farm data by interpreting data from graphs. There is a science focus throughout the journey particularly focused on relationships and the modelling of ecosystems. Throughout this educational experience, students will camp out and learn more about food webs as they learn about wax palms and the species that rely on this national emblem of Colombia. In terms of literacy, they will apply grammar in fun mad libs about their campfire stories. Students also study how individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment. Sustainable practices in coffee and cocoa that will be explored are great examples to support this area of their curriculum.
• We are going to focus on being deep thinkers for their learner profile with opportunities for reflection including discussion throughout the journey and multiple chances for journaling in their travel journal.  
• There will be a core value focus on responsibility and a success skill focus on self management throughout the four days. Focus is on packing independently; looking after their equipment; being aware of their own health and well-being and communicating their needs.
• Outdoor skills in fifth grade are focused on pitching a tent and sleeping in it; campfire time; hiking approximately 2.5 hours and following video instructions and a checklist (with the support of a packing workshop and parental supervision when completed) to pack a multi day overnight bag. We will also introduce students to the concept of hotspots (how to identify a possible upcoming blister) and how to identify signs of dehydration. 
• Colombia's very own heritage crop is based around SDG 12 (sustainable development goal) responsible consumption and production. There will be a short activity about sustainability and sustainable shopping before students head out to make their purchases in Filandia. They will also be exploring the use of natural materials connected to the basket weaving activity they will have in the Bejuco museum.