In 1974, scientists in Ethiopia made an amazing discovery. They found the fossilized bones of Lucy, one of the oldest human ancestors. This discovery showed that humans have been around much longer than people once thought.
Did you know that 5,000 years ago in China, chopsticks were used for cooking, not eating? And in India, there is the largest postal network in the world, with over 155,000 post offices, including one that floats on water!
Indonesia is home to the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, which can take down animals larger than humans. In Brazil, bottlenose dolphins help fishermen catch fish by signaling when they spot them in murky waters.
Vietnam has the world’s largest natural cave, Hang Son Doong, discovered by a farmer hiding from the rain. Meanwhile, Madagascar is home to unique animals and plants that can’t be found anywhere else on Earth.
Nigeria has a film industry called Nollywood, which is the second largest in the world. In South Korea, babies are considered one year old at birth. In Saudi Arabia, there are camel beauty pageants with prizes over $370,000!
In Kenya, on the island of Lamu, cars are banned, and people travel by foot, bicycle, or donkey. In Senegal, there’s a village made entirely of discarded clam shells, including the streets and buildings.
The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the only one still standing. In Sudan, there are more pyramids than in Egypt, with 200 to 250 pyramids compared to Egypt’s 138.
Morocco is home to the oldest existing university, founded in 859. In Chile, the world’s oldest mummies date back 5,000 to 7,000 years. And in the Maldives, the flattest country in the world, the highest point is just 8 feet above sea level.
Japan has over 5 million vending machines, selling everything from hot coffee to umbrellas. In Thailand, the elephant is a national symbol, but only a few thousand remain wild. In Cambodia, the national flag features a building, the only one in the world to do so.
In Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle, the land was once covered in glaciers, leaving behind rocky terrain. In Armenia, children learn chess as part of their school curriculum. And in Greece, the world’s oldest olive tree still produces olives after 2,000 to 4,000 years.
These fascinating facts show just how diverse and interesting our world is, with each country offering its own unique history, culture, and natural wonders!
Choose one of the fascinating facts from the article and create a colorful poster about it. Include drawings or pictures, and write a short paragraph explaining why this fact is interesting to you. Share your poster with the class and explain your chosen fact.
Work in pairs to create a scavenger hunt based on the facts from the article. Write clues that lead to different facts, and then swap with another pair to solve their scavenger hunt. This will help you learn more about the world in a fun way!
Pick a unique culture or tradition mentioned in the article and prepare a short role play or skit to present to the class. Include costumes or props if possible, and teach your classmates about the culture or tradition you chose.
Research one of the amazing animals mentioned in the article, like the Komodo dragon or bottlenose dolphins. Create a presentation or model showing how this animal has adapted to its environment. Present your findings to the class.
Create a timeline that includes the historical wonders and records from the article. Use dates and images to illustrate each event or discovery. Display your timeline in the classroom to help everyone visualize the history of these wonders.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – In history class, we learned about the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Geography – The study of Earth’s landscapes, environments, and the relationships between people and their environments. – Our geography lesson focused on the different types of landforms, such as mountains and valleys.
Culture – The beliefs, customs, arts, and way of life of a particular society or group. – The festival gave us a glimpse into the rich culture of the indigenous people of the region.
Animals – Living organisms that feed on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous systems. – In our geography project, we studied the animals that inhabit the Amazon rainforest.
Traditions – Customs or beliefs passed down from generation to generation. – One of the traditions of the local community is to celebrate the harvest festival every autumn.
Fossils – The remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock. – We visited a museum where we saw fossils of dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago.
Pyramids – Massive structures built in ancient Egypt as tombs for pharaohs, with a square base and four triangular sides. – The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most famous pyramids in the world.
University – An institution of higher learning that provides facilities for teaching and research and is authorized to grant academic degrees. – The university has a department dedicated to the study of ancient history and archaeology.
Inventions – New devices, methods, or processes developed from study and experimentation. – The invention of the compass was crucial for navigation and exploration in history.
Cave – A large underground chamber, typically of natural origin, in a hillside or cliff. – Early humans often used caves as shelters and left behind paintings on the walls.
