Resources For Educators: ¡Cuba!

Part of the ¡Cuba! exhibition.

This exhibition explores the island nation's extraordinary biodiversity, as well as its culture, people, and history. Use the educator's guide and related activities to explore major themes in the hall.

Educator's Guide

Cover of Educator's Guide titled "Cuba!" with map of Cuba and images of Cuban tody (bird), hawksbill turtle, tobacco shed, and street with buildings.

¡Cuba! Educator's Guide

Get an advance look at the exhibition's major themes and what your class will encounter. This six-page guide for K-12 educators includes a Map of the Exhibition, Essential Questions (important background content), Teaching in the Exhibition (self-guided explorations), Come Prepared Checklist, Correlation to Standards, and Glossary.

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¡Cuba! Guía para Educadores

Science & Literacy Activities

These activities, which are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts, introduce students to scientific knowledge and language related to life science. Students will read content-rich texts, visit the ¡Cuba! exhibition, and use what they have learned to complete a CCSS-aligned writing task. (Note: The activities below are aligned for science and literacy standards in the grade levels indicated. For other grades, choose the level closest to your students’ needs and make the appropriate adjustments.)

¡Cuba! Elementary School Science & Literacy Activity (Grade K)
¡Cuba! Elementary School Science & Literacy Activity (Grade 1)
¡Cuba! Elementary School Science & Literacy Activity (Grade 2)
¡Cuba! Elementary School Science & Literacy Activity (Grade 3)
¡Cuba! Elementary School Science & Literacy Activity (Grade 4)
¡Cuba! Elementary School Science & Literacy Activity (Grade 5)
¡Cuba! Middle School Science & Literacy Activity (Grades 6-8)
¡Cuba! High School Science & Literacy Activity (Grade 9-12)

The student articles in the activities are also available in Spanish:

Vida silvestre de las islas del Caribe: animales de Cuba (Grades K-2)
Vida silvestre de las islas del Caribe: animales de Cuba (Grades 3-5)
Cuba: un ejemplo de evolución, biodiversidad y conservación insular (Grades 6-8)
Cuba: un estudio de caso de la evolución, la biodiversidad y la conservación insular (Grades 9-12)

 

More Resources


Video Ask a Scientist about Cuba's Biodiversity Conservation biologist Ana Luz Porzecanski answers kids' questions in this video interview. Game Cuban Wildlife Matching Game What unique plants and animals live in this island nation's diverse habitats? Video Ask a Scientist about Cuba's Reptiles and Amphibians Herpetologist Chris Raxworthy answers kids' questions in this video interview.

Read more about

Cuba's Caves Cuba's Coral Reefs Humboldt National Park Zapata Wetlands Cuban Avenue Cuban Art Afro-Cuban Religion Tobacco in Cuba


¡Cuba! is co-curated by Ana Luz Porzecanski, director of the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, and Chris Raxworthy, curator-in-charge in the Museum’s Department of Herpetology.

¡Cuba! was developed in collaboration with the Cuban National Museum of Natural History.

Major funding for ¡Cuba! has been provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund. 

Significant support for ¡Cuba! has been provided by the Ford Foundation.

Generous support for ¡Cuba! has been provided by the Dalio Ocean Initiative.

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