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)
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.
With Mother’s Day coming up in the U.S., what better way to celebrate than by spotlighting some of nature’s most devoted moms?
This fun, feel‑good 8‑video BBC playlist dives into the incredible bond between animal moms and their babies — and the wild ways they raise them. Watch puma cubs practice their hunting skills, a baby orangutan learn the ropes high in the treetops, humpback whale calves set off on their first epic journeys, and prairie dog pups turn playtime into survival training.
From feeding and protection to movement and life lessons, these clips show just how much it takes to grow up in the wild — and how moms make it all possible.
Featuring favorites like prairie dogs, orangutans, polar bears, and humpback whales, this playlist pulls from iconic BBC series like Animal Babies and Planet Earth.
Because mom love? It’s everywhere in the animal kingdom!
In The Andes in a Day, narrator Sir David Attenborough marvels at the longest mountain chain on the planet! Enjoy soaring views of the jagged peaks, and meet the hardy guanaco that endures unpredictable weather. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Pumas: Learning From Mother, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes rare footage that shows pumas, “the lions of the Andes,” out in the open as a group. Four young pumas learn from their mother how to hunt for food as she stalks her prey by moonlight. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In A Journey to the Heart of Patagonia, host Simon Reeve and his team embark on a multi-day hike to the South Patagonian ice field, the largest ice field outside Antarctica. To reach this frozen wonder, they face brutal challenges like crossing jagged mountains, braving icy rivers, and zip-lining over crevasses. With temperatures plunging to -10°F at night and fierce winds during the day, Simon learns that both physical strength and mental toughness are essential for such an extreme adventure. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In A Rancher’s Perspective on Patagonia, host Simon Reeve meets Taibo, a gaucho in Patagonia who shares how climate change has affected the region, with late winters, less snow, and drier conditions that make life harder for animals and ranchers. Taibo explains how since 2000, rainfall has dropped and forest fires and droughts have increased, showing how the global climate crisis is impacting even the most remote places on Earth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Rising Temperatures and the World's Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the impact of rising temperatures on the world's most iconic mountain ranges — the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, and the Himalayas. As climate change accelerates, glaciers are melting, snowlines are rising, and ecosystems are shifting. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
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)
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.
With Mother’s Day coming up in the U.S., what better way to celebrate than by spotlighting some of nature’s most devoted moms?
This fun, feel‑good 8‑video BBC playlist dives into the incredible bond between animal moms and their babies — and the wild ways they raise them. Watch puma cubs practice their hunting skills, a baby orangutan learn the ropes high in the treetops, humpback whale calves set off on their first epic journeys, and prairie dog pups turn playtime into survival training.
From feeding and protection to movement and life lessons, these clips show just how much it takes to grow up in the wild — and how moms make it all possible.
Featuring favorites like prairie dogs, orangutans, polar bears, and humpback whales, this playlist pulls from iconic BBC series like Animal Babies and Planet Earth.
Because mom love? It’s everywhere in the animal kingdom!
In The Andes in a Day, narrator Sir David Attenborough marvels at the longest mountain chain on the planet! Enjoy soaring views of the jagged peaks, and meet the hardy guanaco that endures unpredictable weather. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Pumas: Learning From Mother, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes rare footage that shows pumas, “the lions of the Andes,” out in the open as a group. Four young pumas learn from their mother how to hunt for food as she stalks her prey by moonlight. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In A Journey to the Heart of Patagonia, host Simon Reeve and his team embark on a multi-day hike to the South Patagonian ice field, the largest ice field outside Antarctica. To reach this frozen wonder, they face brutal challenges like crossing jagged mountains, braving icy rivers, and zip-lining over crevasses. With temperatures plunging to -10°F at night and fierce winds during the day, Simon learns that both physical strength and mental toughness are essential for such an extreme adventure. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In A Rancher’s Perspective on Patagonia, host Simon Reeve meets Taibo, a gaucho in Patagonia who shares how climate change has affected the region, with late winters, less snow, and drier conditions that make life harder for animals and ranchers. Taibo explains how since 2000, rainfall has dropped and forest fires and droughts have increased, showing how the global climate crisis is impacting even the most remote places on Earth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Rising Temperatures and the World's Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the impact of rising temperatures on the world's most iconic mountain ranges — the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, and the Himalayas. As climate change accelerates, glaciers are melting, snowlines are rising, and ecosystems are shifting. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.