South America: Waterways (50)
Fifty waterways maps of South America, marked with the rivers. South America is the continent that makes the point about rivers on its own: one river system drains an area larger than most continents, fed by hundreds of tributaries that a child can trace inward to a spine. Drawing it is how the word basin acquires a shape. Paper with laminate, for ages 3 to 12.
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
The South America Waterways map introduces children to the continent's river systems through visual exploration of blue lines tracing from source to sea.
- Recognition of major South American rivers including the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná
- Understanding of water flow direction from mountains to ocean
- Spatial awareness of how rivers connect different regions of the continent
- Visual discrimination between main rivers and their tributaries
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This laminated geography map meets the young child's need to understand their world through concrete, touchable representations rather than abstract concepts. Each waterway on the map, from the mighty Amazon to the winding Paraná, provides a pathway for the child's finger to follow, transforming geographical learning into a sensorial experience. The map's clear visual design allows children to discover how rivers create natural boundaries, connect distant regions, and flow toward the ocean. By presenting South America's waterways as a complete system, this geography material helps children grasp the interconnectedness of natural features. The laminated surface invites repeated exploration, as children return to trace familiar rivers and discover new tributaries, building their mental map of the continent through direct interaction.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the laminated waterways map on a table or mat at child height. Have a soft cloth nearby for cleaning. Optional: prepare a tray with blue yarn or ribbon for river tracing activities.
- 1
Invite the child to explore the map, starting by locating the ocean (Atlantic and Pacific)
Point out how all rivers eventually flow to the sea - 2
Choose one major river (suggest starting with the Amazon) and trace it with your finger from source to mouth
Move slowly, pausing to notice where tributaries join the main river - 3
Identify and trace 2-3 other major rivers, comparing their lengths and directions
Use consistent vocabulary: 'source,' 'mouth,' 'tributary,' 'flow' - 4
Explore how rivers create natural boundaries between regions
Notice how some rivers form borders between countries
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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