Country Fact File: Peru
What country is home to the Inca Empire, the Andes Mountains, and more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes? Meet Peru, a country where ancient civilizations and incredible natural landscapes come together.
From Machu Picchu and the ancient city of Cusco to alpacas and the towering Puya Raimondi plant, Peru is full of remarkable discoveries. Explore the civilizations that flourished here, learn how Spanish colonization changed the country, and discover Peru’s languages, traditions, foods, and government. You’ll also travel from the Pacific coast to the high Andes and deep into the Amazon to see how geography shapes life in Peru.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
Turn your classroom into a global exploration hub! This country report template invites students in Grades 3–8 to become curious investigators — uncovering what makes each country unique and sharing their discoveries in creative ways.
Designed with flexibility in mind, the resource includes two approachable formats:
- Snapshot Style: A lively, visual option that’s perfect for quick learning or younger students. Learners can sketch, label, and highlight key features — like flags, landmarks, foods, and traditions — while building confidence with short responses.
- Explorer Style: A more in-depth format for students ready to dig deeper. It guides learners through topics such as geography, wildlife, culture, and history, helping them organize ideas and develop clear, informative writing.
Best of all, this template pairs seamlessly with BBC videos — bringing countries to life through real-world sights, sounds, and stories. Students can watch, wonder, and then weave what they’ve learned into their own reports.
Quick Teacher Tips: Use country studies as a springboard into wider learning across subjects:
- Geography: Map skills, climate zones, landforms, and ecosystems
- Language Arts: Informational writing, summarizing, note-taking, and presenting
- History: Key events, timelines, and how the past shapes the present
- Math: Population comparisons, distances, currency conversions
- Arts & Culture: Traditional patterns, music, celebrations, and food
- Current Events: Tie in informational reading and media literacy by exploring what’s happening in that country today in an age-appropriate way.
In A Locust Invasion in the Deserts of Peru, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how sudden rains bring life to the otherwise arid deserts of Peru, creating a burst of vegetation. Swarms of locusts take advantage of this new growth, consuming the vegetation and causing a dramatic impact on the desert ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Spectacular Dance of Spatuletail Hummingbirds, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the marvelous spatuletail hummingbird, a tiny bird with big challenges! While the females fly with ease thanks to their lightweight bodies, the males have long colorful tail feathers they use to perform amazing dances to impress a mate. These fancy moves are exhausting, but the male pulls out all the stops, hoping his performance will win the female's attention. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
Discover the mysteries of Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city hidden high in the Andes Mountains. Students will explore who built this remarkable mountain settlement, why it may have been abandoned, and how it became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
This Kahoot examines the engineering, architecture, and beliefs of the Inca Empire, including the stone structures, terraces, and pathways that allowed people to live in harmony with the steep mountain environment. Students will also discover what Machu Picchu reveals about Inca culture, religion, and scientific understanding.
Ideal for lessons on history, geography, engineering, and world cultures, this Kahoot encourages students to explore the lasting achievements and ingenuity of one of the world’s most fascinating ancient civilizations.
More Like This
What country is home to the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the greatest biodiversity on Earth, and a culture famous for Carnival and soccer? Meet Brazil, the largest country in South America and a place where natural and cultural wonders stretch across an enormous landscape.
From capybaras and pink river dolphins to the mighty Amazon River and the wetlands of the Pantanal, Brazil is bursting with life. Explore the Indigenous, African, Portuguese, and immigrant influences that shaped Brazilian culture, learn about the country’s history and government, and discover the foods, music, and celebrations that bring people together. You’ll also explore Brazil’s incredible ecosystem.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What country is home to the Inca Empire, the Andes Mountains, and more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes? Meet Peru, a country where ancient civilizations and incredible natural landscapes come together.
From Machu Picchu and the ancient city of Cusco to alpacas and the towering Puya Raimondi plant, Peru is full of remarkable discoveries. Explore the civilizations that flourished here, learn how Spanish colonization changed the country, and discover Peru’s languages, traditions, foods, and government. You’ll also travel from the Pacific coast to the high Andes and deep into the Amazon to see how geography shapes life in Peru.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What country is home to ancient pyramids, colorful monarch butterflies, towering volcanoes, and one of the world’s most famous celebrations? Meet Mexico, a country where ancient civilizations, diverse landscapes, and vibrant traditions come together.
From the Aztec and Maya to pumas and whale sharks, Mexico has a remarkable story to tell. Explore the civilizations that shaped the country, discover how Mexico gained independence from Spain, and learn about its food, festivals, languages, government, and cities. You’ll also discover how deserts, mountains, jungles, and coastlines provide habitats for an amazing variety of plants and animals.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What small country is home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals, hundreds of volcanoes, and tropical forests stretching from coast to coast? Meet Costa Rica, a Central American country known for its incredible biodiversity and commitment to protecting nature.
From sloths and glass frogs to colorful toucans and thousands of orchids, Costa Rica is packed with wildlife. Discover how Indigenous peoples and Spanish colonization shaped the country, learn about its government and culture, and explore traditions such as the Fiestas de Zapote and "pura vida." You’ll also find out why Costa Rica has become a leader in protecting forests, wildlife, and other natural resources.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What country is home to the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the greatest biodiversity on Earth, and a culture famous for Carnival and soccer? Meet Brazil, the largest country in South America and a place where natural and cultural wonders stretch across an enormous landscape.
From capybaras and pink river dolphins to the mighty Amazon River and the wetlands of the Pantanal, Brazil is bursting with life. Explore the Indigenous, African, Portuguese, and immigrant influences that shaped Brazilian culture, learn about the country’s history and government, and discover the foods, music, and celebrations that bring people together. You’ll also explore Brazil’s incredible ecosystem.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What country is home to the Inca Empire, the Andes Mountains, and more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes? Meet Peru, a country where ancient civilizations and incredible natural landscapes come together.
From Machu Picchu and the ancient city of Cusco to alpacas and the towering Puya Raimondi plant, Peru is full of remarkable discoveries. Explore the civilizations that flourished here, learn how Spanish colonization changed the country, and discover Peru’s languages, traditions, foods, and government. You’ll also travel from the Pacific coast to the high Andes and deep into the Amazon to see how geography shapes life in Peru.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What country is home to ancient pyramids, colorful monarch butterflies, towering volcanoes, and one of the world’s most famous celebrations? Meet Mexico, a country where ancient civilizations, diverse landscapes, and vibrant traditions come together.
From the Aztec and Maya to pumas and whale sharks, Mexico has a remarkable story to tell. Explore the civilizations that shaped the country, discover how Mexico gained independence from Spain, and learn about its food, festivals, languages, government, and cities. You’ll also discover how deserts, mountains, jungles, and coastlines provide habitats for an amazing variety of plants and animals.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What small country is home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals, hundreds of volcanoes, and tropical forests stretching from coast to coast? Meet Costa Rica, a Central American country known for its incredible biodiversity and commitment to protecting nature.
From sloths and glass frogs to colorful toucans and thousands of orchids, Costa Rica is packed with wildlife. Discover how Indigenous peoples and Spanish colonization shaped the country, learn about its government and culture, and explore traditions such as the Fiestas de Zapote and "pura vida." You’ll also find out why Costa Rica has become a leader in protecting forests, wildlife, and other natural resources.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)