“Explore Brazil” Adventure: Hands-On Travel Experience for Kids
Activity Overview:
This interactive activity lets kids “travel” through Brazil, just like the characters in the book, through food, art, landmarks, and culture!
Super hands-on – Kids touch, build, taste, and act out Italy’s culture!
Encourages creativity & storytelling
Teaches geography, history, and Italian traditions
Activity Overview
Kids will design their own Brazilian Adventure, imagining where they would travel if they were on a trip through Brazil like the characters in the book. They will draw a map and explore the country “hands on.”
- 🗺️ Step 1: Create a Travel Passport & Map
- Give each child a blank “passport” (folded paper or booklet).
- Set up stations representing different Brazilian landmarks (Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, The Iguacu Falls, Amazon Rainforest)
- As kids visit each “destination,” they get a stamp or sticker in their passport!
- Optional: Use a large map of Brazil and let kids draw their travel route!
- 🎨 Step 2: Hands-On Italian Culture Stations
- Create some stations where kids can create like historians and experience some cultural moments
🌳 Amazon Rainforest
- Activity: Build a Rainforest in a Box
- Create a shoebox diorama with rainforest layers (emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor).
- Add clay animals, paper trees, and plant life.
- Learning:
- Talk about biodiversity, the importance of the rainforest for the planet, and indigenous tribes.
- Watch a short rainforest video, then draw or journal what kids saw or learned.
🏛️ The Iguacu Falls
- Bonus Game:
- Create a pretend “jungle guide kit” with:
- Binoculars (toilet paper rolls)
- A map
- A water bottle
- A field notebook to draw what you “discover” on your adventure!
🎨 Carnival – Cultural Festival
- Activity: Carnival Mask Making
- Play samba music while crafting for full effect!
- Use feathers, sequins, glitter, and markers to create bold, colorful Carnival masks.
🗿 Rio de Janeiro
- Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)
- Giant statue of Jesus with arms open wide on top of Corcovado Mountain.
- One of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
- Symbol of peace and welcome — and a must-see landmark!
- ⛰️ Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)
- Tall, rounded mountain right by the ocean.
- You can ride a cable car to the top for epic views of the city and beaches.
- 🐒 Tijuca National Park
- A rainforest inside the city — yes, really!
- Waterfalls, monkeys, hiking trails, and jungle views just minutes from downtown.
- ⚽ Maracanã Stadium
- One of the biggest football (soccer) stadiums in the world.
- Brazil’s football history lives here — it’s legendary.
⚽ Sports & Play
Activity: Mini World Cup
- Set up a mini soccer (futebol) game in the yard or gym. Let kids choose teams named after Brazilian clubs (Flamengo, Palmeiras, Santos).
- Track goals and celebrate Brazilian-style.
Activity: Olympic Games – Rio Edition
- Create small contests or obstacle courses inspired by Brazil’s 2016 Olympics.
🌈 Language & Culture
Activity: Speak Some Portuguese!
- Learn basic words: Olá (hello), Obrigado/a (thank you), Tudo bem? (How are you?), Cores (colors), Números (numbers).
- Match pictures to Portuguese vocabulary
🍫 Food Culture
Activity: Brigadeiro Bonanza
- Make no-bake Brazilian chocolate fudge balls (Brigadeiros) with condensed milk, cocoa, and sprinkles.
- Explore other Brazilian snacks through pictures and tasting if possible: pão de queijo, açaí, or tropical fruits.
Learning:
Talk about how ingredients come from different regions (Amazon = cacao, fruits, etc).
Dabble Books 