School life
In a Costa Rica classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
All country briefings
North America · Country briefing
Costa Rica
A child-friendly mission briefing for 20 November - capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.
- CapitalSan José
- Population~5.3 million
- Time zoneAmerica/Costa Rica (UTC -6)
- CurrencyCosta Rican colón (CRC)
Costa Rica, with San José marked
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Climate in November: Dry season in many regions; warm.
The capital
San José
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Costa Rica a bit special.
A tiny country with 6% of the world's wildlife
Costa Rica is the size of West Virginia, but holds an outsized slice of life on Earth
Open lesson
Schools and hospitals instead of soldiers
In 1948 Costa Rica decided to spend its money on people, not the army
Open lesson
Living near volcanoes
Costa Rica has more than 200 volcanic shapes, including six that still grumble
Open lesson
Monteverde - a forest inside a cloud
Where the trees are wrapped in mist and the canopy is full of hanging bridges
Open lesson
Pura Vida - one phrase for everything good
The friendly Spanish words you'll hear all day long in Costa Rica
Open lesson
Zip-lining - invented to study the treetops
Costa Rican biologists came up with this thrill ride in 1979 - to do their day job
Open lesson
Tap any card to open a class-ready mini-lesson - for the teacher to walk through, or an older child to read aloud.
Native animals
Wildlife your partner class might know best.
- 🦥
Sloths - the slowest mammals on Earth
They hang upside down, sleep a lot, and have algae growing in their fur
Open lesson
- 🐸
The red-eyed tree frog
The poster-frog of Costa Rica - bright eyes, blue legs, sticky toes
Open lesson
- 🦜
The scarlet macaw
A flying rainbow with a voice that carries for miles
Open lesson
- 🪶
The resplendent quetzal
The cloud-forest bird with tail feathers longer than its body
Open lesson
- 🐒
Capuchin monkeys
Cheeky, clever monkeys that use tools and live in big family troops
Open lesson
Tap any animal to open a class-ready lesson about it.
Greetings to learn
Say hello like a local
- Hello!Spanish
Five questions to ask
Conversation starters
- 01What does your school day look like?
- 02What do you eat at lunch?
- 03What games do you play at break?
- 04What's the weather like today?
- 05What do you wish more children around the world knew about your country?
What not to assume
Friendly cautions
- ℹCosta Rica has many regions and communities - there is no single experience.
- ℹClimate, food, and traditions can vary widely from one part of the country to another.
Culture
Food, music, sport, festivals.
Food
Music
Sport
Festivals
Tap any chip to open a class-ready lesson - what it is, why it matters, fun facts.
Reflection prompts
- “What's something you'd love to share about your school day?”
- “What's the most surprising thing you'd love to ask the other class?”
Could your class meet Costa Rica?
Choose Costa Ricawhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.