I love teaching about what I have seen in the world.
When I first arrived in Guatemala, I stayed in a homestay that had the most talkative parrot I’d ever met. On my first night, I was unpacking when I heard a voice say, “Hola, baby!” I froze, my heart racing. I was convinced someone had somehow gotten into my room. After a few seconds of terrified silence, I realized the “intruder” was actually a parrot perched by the front door. I am pretty sure that bird was laughing at me.
That parrot broke the ice for the rest of my stay. My host family laughed with me (and probably at me), and by the end of the week, I was laughing too eating homemade tamales, helping pick coffee beans, and practicing my Spanish over some of the most delicious food I have ever had.
That trip changed me in more ways than one. It reminded me that the world feels smaller and more connected when you experience it up close. And ever since, I’ve made it a goal to bring that same feeling into my classroom.
Why I Teach About Guatemala
Every year, I carve out a few days in my social studies curriculum to dive deep into Guatemala not because it’s in the textbook (it barely is), but because it deserves to be. I believe when it comes to the classroom learning about Guatemala has a lot of significance in the geography classroom.
Guatemala represents resilience, beauty, and living history. Its volcanic highlands, colorful markets, and Mayan traditions offer endless opportunities to talk about culture, geography, and identity. But more than that, it gives my students a glimpse of the real world beyond what they see in the media. It also teaches a different life perspective and helps students learn that there is life outside of our small town.
When I talk about Guatemala, I’m not just teaching facts. I’m teaching empathy, curiosity, and respect.
How I Bring Guatemala to Life in My Classroom
I always start with a personal story. The students love hearing that a parrot once scared their teacher half to death, and suddenly, the country feels more real.
From there, we explore:
- Geography and Environment: Students label Guatemala’s mountain ranges, volcanoes, and major cities on a map. I show photos I took while traveling misty volcanoes near Antigua, colorful chicken buses, and endless coffee fields.
- Culture and Daily Life: We discuss what daily life looks like for Guatemalan families. Students compare it to their own experiences, especially around food, music, and traditions. I love showing the documentary Living on a Dollar to my students. My students always give fantastic feedback after watching this documentary. They are always engaged and asking questions.
- Coffee and Economy: Since I worked on a coffee farm during my trip, I bring in the concept of global trade. We also almost always discuss plantains. Students love learning about plantains for some reason. They are never available in the grocery store for them to try (at least in my area) . Students trace the journey of a coffee bean from the highlands to their morning cup suddenly, globalization makes sense. I love having my students trace coffee beans to our local coffee shop.
- Language and Expression: We listen to Spanish phrases common in Guatemala and talk about how language carries culture. Even my students who struggle in class light up when they can say “Buenos días” or “Gracias” with confidence. They also love learning about the Mayan languages still spoken in Guatemala. This introduces Mayan culture and helps students activate prior knowledge when they move into World History next year.
Sometimes, we’ll do a mini art activity designing worry dolls, weaving paper “textiles,” or creating travel brochures. Other times, we’ll read short stories or watch a clip of Guatemalan music and discuss what stands out. It really comes down to time because I love teaching about countries. It is absolutely my favorite thing to do in my World Geography classroom. I love teaching about every country, but I always make time for Guatemala because it has such a special place in my heart.
The Reactions That Remind Me Why I Teach
One of my favorite moments each year is when a student says, “I didn’t know it was like that.”
My students are always shocked to learn that people in the highlands cannot afford to send their kids to school so the kids start working in the fields. It teaches perspective on education. Even if it only lasts a day, my students are always grateful they have education opportunities.
They’re always surprised that Guatemala has modern cities and ancient ruins, that kids their age walk miles to school, that people can be both poor and joyful, proud and generous. The discussions that follow are some of the most thoughtful I’ve ever had as a teacher.
It’s in those moments that I see travel’s real impact not just on me, but on my students.
Why Experience Matters
When you’ve walked through the places you’re teaching about, your lessons carry a different kind of energy. Students pick up on it. They lean in when they know their teacher has been there, has eaten the food, met the people, and seen the landscape with their own eyes. I am not saying that you MUST be a traveler to teach Geography well, but I am saying it does help. I truly love teaching Geography and if I am going to be honest I am a huge traveler because of my World Geography teacher, who also traveled all over the world. I still remember her telling us about traveling through Cairo in the 80s. I remember being amazed. Now I am teaching Geography. Life is wild.
Teaching about Guatemala isn’t just about culture or geography, it’s about connection. It’s about showing students that the world is vast, yes, but also accessible. It’s about sparking curiosity, planting the seed that they too can explore it someday if that is what they would like to do.
A Classroom Lesson Inspired by My Travels
After sharing this unit for years, I’ve finally decided to put it together for other teachers who want to bring Guatemala to life in their classrooms too.
I’ve created a “Discovering Guatemala” lesson plan complete with slides, guided notes, challenge questions and suggestions that you can use right away. It is 100% adjustable to meet your classroom needs. It’s designed for middle and high school students, and it’s all based on my experiences in the classroom when it is time to teach Central America to my students.
It is available on Teacher pay Teachers here.
Remember: teaching the world starts with showing your students that it’s worth exploring.