Resources for Learning About the Caribbean

Published:
March 10, 2021

Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa

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Your students will enjoy these resources for learning about the Caribbean Islands, a vast archipelago located in the Caribbean Sea.

Resources for Learning About the Caribbean text with background image of a tropical beach with sand, palm trees, and a blue sky

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Your kids will be surprised to know (OK, maybe because “I” was really surprised to know) just how many famous islands are part of the Caribbean. 

I have to admit that I thought there were a lot fewer islands of the Caribbean than there really are. Even being Puerto Rican myself, and Puerto Rico being an island in the Caribbean, I didn’t know much about the area as a whole.

There are a few different regions that make up the Caribbean – the Lucayan Archipelago, the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the ABC Islands. 

Although I thought there were only about 5 islands, there are, in fact, 13 sovereign states and 17 dependent territories in the Caribbean. Yet, only 2%of the islands are actually inhabited.

When we talk about the Caribbean region, we are really talking about 32 different countries, not just Jamaica, the Bahamas, Dominica, or Turks & Caicos. It is not just those famous countries at all. 

Facts and a brief history of the Caribbean Islands.

The Caribbean spreads across more than 1.06 million square miles and is mostly located between North America and South America.

An interesting fact that may be confusing is that the islands are called the Caribbean, but are also called the Caribbean Islands, the Islands of the Caribbean, and the West Indies.

The West Indies name has a long history, but basically, Christopher Columbus “founded” the islands on his second voyage by mistake thinking he reached India. 

From this voyage, I can share a reality that may not be so full of happiness yet it is the history of the islands that we see today. 

Early inhabitants of the region were the Maya, Taino, and Kalinago tribes which were mostly destroyed by disease and war after the colonization that started in 1492. 

Upon settlement, the Europeans created profitable tobacco, sugar, and cotton plantations. Therefore brought over 5 million West African slaves as unpaid laborers to the Caribbean. 

The total number of slaves brought over from Africa was about 10,5 million and HALF of the slaves went to the Caribbean (about 388,000 went to North America) – PBS.org. Today, about 42.5 million of the people in the Caribbean are descendants of those 5 million West African slaves.

There are so many other facts about the Caribbean to make your geography unit intriguing, and the resources below can help. 

Explore these resources for learning about the Caribbean in your homeschool:

FREE Lesson Plans, Games, Presentations about Central America & the Caribbean | Mr.Donn

The Caribbean Islands

Caribbean Reading Comprehension Lesson | Instructor WEB

The Caribbean History and Geography Webquest | History Wizard

Caribbean Islands Interactive Notebook | Having A Fields Day

Lesson About the Caribbean for Kids | All Around the World

Caribbean Islands Map and Satellite Image | Geology.com

The Caribbean FREE Sampler | The Gifted Writer

FREE Lesson Plan for Kids Discover Caribbean | Kids Discover

The Caribbean Countries: Printables – FREE Map Quiz Game | Seterra

ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN Lesson Plan | Absolute English

FREE Worksheets and Quizzes on the Caribbean Countries & Capitals | I Stand with Ihlan

FREE (LIVE) Caribbean Worksheet | LiveWorksheets.com

Caribbean – West Indies FREE Geography Games, Maps, Pictures, Worksheets, and More | Student Handouts

Caribbean Islands Map FREE Download | Education.com

Central America and the Caribbean FREE Resources | Enchanted Learning

Caribbean Culture and Information | Kathi Mitchell

Caribbean Country Maps | Fact Monster

Have your kids learn interesting facts about the Caribbean:

Central America and the Caribbean Geography | Ducksters

Information on the Caribbean Sea | Easy Science for Kids

10 Surprising Facts About the Caribbean Sea | Loop

Caribbean Area | Wiki.Kidzsearch

10 Interesting Facts About The Caribbean Islands and FREE Quiz Questions | Wonderful Wanderings

Interesting Caribbean Facts | Soft Schools

10 Facts About the Caribbean Region | Caribbean & Co.

Facts About the Caribbean | Kids.Kiddle

Caribbean Sea Facts & FREE Worksheets | KidsKonnect

List of books to check out at the library about the Caribbean:

11 Picture Books That Celebrate the Diversity of Caribbean Heritage | We Are Teachers

The Caribbean Islands Book Collection | epic!

Crafts to add to your Caribbean Islands unit:

Caribbean Crafts for Children |  eHow

Jamaican Bracelets | Crafts for Kids

Videos all about the Caribbean:

History of The Caribbean For Kids (Video) | Bedtime History

The Caribbean Explained | KhAnubis

Resources for learning about the Caribbean Islands in your homeschool:

Lucayan ArchipelagoThe Bahamas and Turks & Caicos.

Bahamas FREE Notebooking Page | Homeschool Helper Online

Greater Antilles

Cayman Islands

Cuba

Around the World in 12 Dishes: Exploring Cuba | Crafty Moms Share

Cuban History for Kids: Bilingual Book and Activities | Spanish Playground

Read Color and Learn about CUBA | Kindergarten Worksheets and Games

Jamaica

Jamaica Information | National Geographic

Puerto Rico

Resources to Teach Kids About Puerto Rico

Resources to Teach Kids About Puerto Rico text with background image of a painted Puerto Rican flag

Puerto Rico Coloring Pages | Kindergarten Worksheets and Games

Lesser Antilles

Leeward Islands – Anguilla, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, and the US Virgin Islands.

Windward Islands – Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.

ABC Islands – Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao

Share these free printables and resources about the beach to share with your kids alongside your Caribbean Island unit.

The Caribbean Islands are, no doubt, some of the most beautiful sites of God’s creation. Your kids will enjoy learning about these exotic islands and the history of the Caribbean Islands. Hopefully, someday they will even get to visit a few.

Get the most out of your Caribbean Island unit with our Daily Skill Building Geography Activity Pack and the awesome resources below.

Recommended Resource: Geography Activity Pack

Students will explore every independent country in the world plus discover the most significant mountains, deserts, rivers, and lakes with this huge Geography Activity Pack.

 

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Resources for Learning About the Caribbean text with background image of a tropical beach with sand, palm trees, and a blue sky