Here’s a glimpse of our 5th Grade Exchange Program: Spanish and Cultural Immersion Experience in Antigua, Guatemala.
Our 5th graders spent a week attending classes at Antigua Green School, located on a beautiful coffee farm (Finca La Azotea). Students toured the farm and learned how coffee is grown, harvested, and roasted — even tasting both the fruit and the roasted beans! They also helped care for the chicken coop and veggie garden, and spent time in class learning about Mayan culture while reinforcing their math, music, and social studies skills.
There was plenty of time outdoors too, with sports, games, and a fun team-building experience. Students also visited Casa Popenoe, where they explored historical maps created by the Indigenous Quauhquechollan people. G.I.S parents also gave lectures on AI, regulating emotions and the importance of hand washing. Throughout the week, 5th graders built friendships with local students, shared about their home communities (Seattle and Antigua), and wrapped up their time together by cooking and enjoying a delicious breakfast. With many smiles and hearts full of memories, they exchanged gifts and thanked each other for a wonderful week.
Beyond the classroom, students and families explored beautiful regions in Guatemala. Before the school week began, families traveled through the Tikal region, visiting Tikal National Park and Yaxhá, going canopying, learning to make tortillas, and enjoying time together. In Antigua, they hiked Pacaya Volcano for incredible views and roasted marshmallows with the volcanoes steam! They took part in a chocolate-making class using local cacao beans and finished the week in San Juan La Laguna, where they saw traditional weaving with natural dyes and enjoyed the beauty of Lake Atitlán.
What a rich and memorable experience! Thank you, Antigua Green School, and thank you to our G.I.S families for your support and enthusiasm.
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