South America fact file
Research South America: where it is, what it is known for, three interesting facts, and a drawing.
Browse all fact file continent
South America reading map
Explore readings connected to Brazil and Peru, including fiction and biography. Compare text types, choose a passage, and plan a discussion or writing task.
26 readings
Explore countries in South America
Continue one level deeper. Each card includes readings and places from everything nested below it.
Compare South America stories and biography
Choose fiction or biography connected to Brazil and Peru, then plan a text-based discussion or response.
Leo's Carnival DanceLower Elementary · Short Story • FictionBrazil
My Cusco Diary: The Sun FestivalLower Elementary · Diary Entry • FictionPeru
The Rainbow Birds of PeruLower Elementary · InformationalPeru
The Story and Recipe of Brazilian Cheese BreadLower Elementary · How-To / Procedural • Functional TextsBrazil
Pachacuti: The Earth-Shaker of the AndesUpper Elementary · BiographyPeru
Pelé: The King of the Beautiful GameUpper Elementary · BiographyBrazil
The Golden Potato: Making Peru's Papa a la HuancaínaUpper Elementary · How-To / Procedural • Functional TextsPeru
The Mystery in the Dust: Peru's Nazca LinesUpper Elementary · InformationalPeru
The Pink Dolphin of the Flooded ForestUpper Elementary · Explanatory Article • InformationalBrazil
The Treaty That Shaped Brazil's LanguageUpper Elementary · Letter / Email • Functional TextsBrazil
Virtual Voyage to Iguazu FallsUpper Elementary · Reader's TheaterBrazil
Wings Over the CanyonUpper Elementary · Reader's TheaterPeru
Favela Beats: Bia's Brazilian Rap DreamMiddle School · FictionBrazil
Protecting the King of the Wetlands: Why Pantanal Ecotourism Must Be LimitedMiddle School · Opinion Piece • Opinion / ArgumentativeBrazil
Saving the Sanctuary: Why Machu Picchu Needs Stricter Visitor LimitsMiddle School · Opinion Piece • Opinion / ArgumentativePeru
Simón Bolívar: The LiberatorMiddle School · BiographyPeru
South American Spring: A Burst of LifeMiddle School · InformationalSouth America
The Dancing Stones: Inca Engineering at Machu PicchuMiddle School · Report • InformationalPeru
The Floating Worlds of Lake TiticacaMiddle School · Explanatory Article • InformationalPeru
The Flooded Desert: A Geographical Report on Lençóis MaranhensesMiddle School · Report • InformationalBrazil
The Golden Pen of Princess IsabelMiddle School · BiographyBrazil
The Guardian of Rio: The Story of Christ the RedeemerMiddle School · InformationalBrazil
The Lady of the Desert: Maria Reiche and the Nazca LinesMiddle School · BiographyPeru
The Mighty Amazon River: A Lifeline of BiodiversityMiddle School · Report • InformationalPeruShow more readings
Showing 24 of 26
South America printables & worksheets
Use a story map for a narrative or a fact file for biography details, then write a short comparison.
Build a South America workbook Pro
One PDF with the reading passages, puzzles and worksheets you pick — start from a grade level and adjust from there, with the answer keys at the back.
South America KWL chart
Write what you already know about South America, what you want to find out, and what you learned.
Browse all kwl chartSouth America story map
Plan a story set in South America: characters, setting, problem, what happens first, next, and last, and how it ends.
Browse all story mapSouth America word web
Put South America in the middle and collect words and ideas connected to it.
Browse all word webCompare two things from South America
Use a Venn diagram to compare two places, landmarks, animals, traditions, or other features from South America.
Browse all compare two things from south americaSouth America acrostic poem
Write an acrostic poem using the letters in the name South America.
Browse all acrostic poemSouth America word game worksheets
Printable word puzzles built from South America words — download as PDF, answer key included.
Easy word search
8×8 grid · 6 words across and down · answer key included
Medium word search
10×10 grid · 8 words with diagonals · answer key included
Tricky word search
12×12 grid · 10 words with backwards words · answer key included
No printer at hand? Play the South America word search right here on screen — free.
About South America
South America is home to the Amazon Rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest in the world.
The Andes, stretching along the continent's western edge, is the longest continental mountain range on Earth.
The continent is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Choose a South America reading and a question
This continent collection includes readings connected to Brazil and Peru. The passages range from fiction to biography, so choose a text type that fits the lesson question. A continent-level collection connects readers to places; each text has its own setting and topic.
Compare a fictional story with biography
Leo's Carnival Dance is a Lower Elementary short story connected to Brazil. Pachacuti: The Earth-Shaker of the Andes is an Upper Elementary biography connected to Peru. Ask students to explain how the forms differ and support their response with specific passage details, after reviewing the texts themselves.
Use a second story to deepen the comparison
My Cusco Diary: The Sun Festival is a Lower Elementary fictional diary entry connected to Peru. Readers can compare its format with the biography, considering what each text makes available to the reader. Avoid assuming details beyond what the passages say; have students cite the text when describing a place or event.
A story map can help organize narrative events, while a fact file can collect biography details. Finish with a brief written comparison based on evidence. For a topic-first route, browse geography reading passages; printable formats appear under worksheets. For a wider geographic view, open the world reading map.
South America reading map FAQ
Which countries appear in the South America collection?
Readings connect to Brazil and Peru. Open a passage to check its named location and topic.
How do the story and biography differ as reading choices?
The story is fiction and the biography is informational about a named person. Ask readers to support their comparison with details from both texts.
Can the Peru readings be compared with each other?
Yes. The collection includes a biography and a fictional diary entry connected to Peru. Review both passages and compare how their text types present their subjects.
Which follow-up can help readers organize their ideas?
A story map can organize narrative events, and a fact file can record details from a biography. A short written comparison can then cite evidence from both.