School life
In a Panama 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
Panama
A child-friendly mission briefing for Thursday 19 November - capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.
- CapitalPanama City
- Population~4.1 million
- Time zoneAmerica/Panama (UTC -5)
- CurrencyPanamanian balboa (PAB)
Panama, with Panama City marked
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Climate in November: Dry season in many regions; warm.
The capital
Panama City
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Panama a bit special.
The Panama Canal
A 80-kilometre shortcut that lets ships skip a whole continent
Open lesson
A country with two oceans
Wake up to the Caribbean, watch the sunset on the Pacific
Open lesson
The Darién Rainforest
A wall of jungle so dense it breaks the world's longest road
Open lesson
Panama's seven Indigenous peoples
Seven different cultures, languages and traditions sharing one country
Open lesson
Guna Yala - 365 islands
An island for every day of the year on the Caribbean coast
Open lesson
A super-rich nature hotspot
More bird species than the US and Canada put together
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.
- 🦅
Harpy eagle - the rainforest's mightiest bird
Panama's national bird, with talons as long as a bear's claws
Open lesson
- 🐸
Panamanian golden frog - the lucky one
A tiny bright-yellow frog seen as a symbol of good luck
Open lesson
- 🦥
Three-toed sloth - the slowest mammal on Earth
Sleeps 15 hours a day and grows tiny plants in its fur
Open lesson
- 🐆
Jaguar - the silent jungle cat
The biggest cat in the Americas, with the strongest bite of any cat
Open lesson
- 🐦
Keel-billed toucan - the rainbow beak
A bird with a giant colourful beak almost as long as its body
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
- ℹPanama 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 Panama?
Choose Panamawhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.