A Virtual Visit to Colombia: 10+ Ideas to Learn with Disney’s Encanto

Encanto will show the magical world of the Madrigal family in a magical version of Colombia. Disney movies are a perfect way to add some magical learning to your homeschool!

Colors, magic, music. Add some lovable characters, a quirky one or two, and beautiful artwork. And you’ve got a movie that is sure to be a legend.

Disney’s Encanto.

I don’t know about you, but Colombia isn’t a place I know much about. Set in the mountains of Colombia, I knew we would use Encanto in our homeschool. I love it when we have the chance to expand MY knowledge during our homeschool days!

When I put together a geography-based mini-unit for my kiddos, I let my sense guide me — the sights of the place, the tastes & the sounds. Add in a little history & some cooking and you’ve got a decent overview of any given place. (And definitely more than the average American!) In addition, I keep a balance of videos, audio, and books. The variety keeps us engaged. And the different approaches to learning hit all of our preferences.

Ready to learn about Colombia & Encanto in your homeschool? Keep scrolling.

Where can I watch Encanto?

After a November 24 theater release, Disney will bring Encanto to Disney + on December 24. (I know what we’ll be watching on Christmas night!) And a bonus for Disney + subscribers — unlike some other Disney + movie releases, this one won’t require special premiere access.

Did you know?

1. Colombia spans two continents — both South America and North America! And it’s bordered by five countries — Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.
2. The Magdalena River covers nearly 25% of the country.
3. Colombia gained independence in 1810.
4. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world!
5. It also has the highest coastal mountain range, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
6. For a time, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama were one country — Gran Colombia. Simon Bolivar thought this unification would deter Spain.
7. If you ever visit Colombia, you must visit Cano Cristales. This river’s name means River of Five Colors or Liquid Rainbow. Why? Go check out these images. Then you’ll know!
   
   More facts about Colombia for Kids

Cooking Colombian

One of the quickest ways to learn about a culture is through its food. And, so, we never miss an opportunity to try some new foods & recipes when we study geography. My ColombianRecipes is a fantastic resource for recipes & stories about her homeland.

A few Colombian recipes to water your mouth…

• Colombian-style Arroz con Pollo
• Colombian Empañadas w/ground meat
• Plantain fritters
• Arroz con Coca-Cola is a unique recipe!
• Carrots with lime
• Colombian Christmas Sweet Custard
• Hot Chocolate in coconut milk

Sounds of Colombia

https://www.colombia.co/en/colombia-culture/music/colombia-land-thousand-rhythms/

Music of Colombia
Carlos Vives’s music

Encanto Activities

As homeschoolers, sometimes we think we have to plan an elaborate unit in order to do it well. Nope. I give you permission to design a unit where you do just a few things. Activities can be as simple as a little drawing while you listen to music in Spanish or watching a geography video in the doctor’s waiting room.

1. Explore Colombia by “walking around” the country’s roads using Google Maps.
2. Learn to draw Mirabel
3. Watch the trailer in English, and then watch the same one in Spanish.
4. Listen to one of the movie’s songs w/English subtitles.

Things to Watch

Geography Now is a huge hit with my kiddos starting around 4th grade. The host is really engaging & high-energy; his videos are FULL of all sorts of tidbits about countries. His video about Colombia should be a definite watch. (Check out his South America Explained video, too.)

Books about Colombia

El Capitan Theatre

Like dozens of Disney movies before it, Encanto’s world premiere occurred at El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. Even a topic like this can be a fun addition. Will it come up on the SAT? Nope. But when they hear this theater mentioned, will they recall when you learned about it while studying Encanto? Hopefully! I want to prepare them for tough work, but sometimes, this is enough.

• Read a brief history of the theater
• El Capitan Theater: The Story of an an L.A. Icon (a longer read)

Installed in theaters to accompany silent movies, only a few hundred Wurlitzer organs are left. But what makes it special? And why does El Capitan still have one? You & your little Mousketeers will know a lot more about them after watching this short video.