Let’s learn about Honduras Teacher Notes Honduras is located in Central America. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. Guatemala lies to the west, Nicaragua south east and El Salvador to the south west. Let’s learn about Honduras

Tegucigalpa Teacher Notes Tegucigalpa (pronounced te goo se galpa) is the largest city and capital of Honduras. It is commonly referred to as Tegus. The Choluteca River crosses the city. The seat of the Government is in this city. Situated in a valley and surrounded by mountain ranges, Tegucigalpa is hilly. Cars and buses are the most used forms of transport., but some neighbourhoods in the city have unpaved, narrow or hilly streets, making them difficult to access. The roads are often very congested. Photographs: Modern shopping centres like the one pictured can be found in the city.

Tropical Climate Teacher Notes Honduras has a tropical climate. The weather is cooler and more temperate in the mountains with temperatures ranging from 16°C to 20°C. The north coast is very hot with rain throughout the year, and although there is a sea breeze, the sun is very strong. The dry season is from November to April and the wet season runs from May to October. Photographs Sierra del Merendón is a mountain range on the Guatemala and Honduras border. The cooler, wetter climate in this mountain range has created an environment suitable for cloud forests. Cloud forests are like rain forests in that they catch lots of precipitation. The only difference is that the precipitation comes directly from the clouds that filter through the trees. The Cayos Cochinos or Cochinos Cays are a group of two small islands in Northern Honduras. The islands are a marine protected area. The white sandy beaches and warm climate make this a very popular tourist destination. Climate Change Honduras is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change. It was the worst affected country in the world by the impacts of extreme weather events from 1993 – 2012. Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras on the 29th of October 1998. The hurricane brought torrential rainfall which caused flooding and landslides. The storm wrecked about 35,000 houses and damaged another 50,000, leaving up to 1.5 million people homeless and thousands dead.

tortilla plantain Teacher Notes A typical breakfast in Honduras consists of refried beans, egg, white cheese, tortillas and plantain. It is accompanied with a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee. Plantains are a member of the banana family. They cannot be eaten raw. They are usually fried or baked. The sausage like food on the plate in the picture is also plantain. Coffee is a popular drink, and The country’s second largest export (after knit sweaters). It is common for the main meal of the day to be eaten between noon and 2pm. Some form of meat, chicken, pork or beef is usually eaten with potatoes and tortillas. The lightest meal is served between 6pm and 8pm. tortilla plantain

Teacher Notes Punta is a type of folk music and dance. They are performed at festivals. Punta music is played with traditional instruments. These include drums, maracas, a conch shell and sometimes claves - two hardwood sticks that are beat together.

hello hola one two three Spanish English uno adiós dos tres goodbye Teacher Notes Languages Spanish is the official language. Hola! English is spoken on the Bay Islands. Hello! Maya groups still speak Mayan languages. C’oten! goodbye

Teacher Notes The currency is the Honduran Lempira. The man on the 20 Lempira bank note is Dionisio de Herrera. He was Head of State of Honduras 1824–1827. The man on the 10 Lempira bank note is José Trinidad Cabañas. He was Head of State of Honduras 1852–1855.

Flag National Bird Scarlet Macaw Coat of Arms Teacher Notes National Emblem/ Coat of Arms The volcano between the two golden towers represents the independence of the country. The triangle symbolises equality and freedom. Flag The blue stripes represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The five stars represent the five nations of the United States of Central America, with Honduras in the middle. National Bird Scarlet macaw. Despite being the national bird, it is very rare in Honduras. And it is vulnerable to poaching. Many organisations and individuals are making efforts to conserve the bird. National Bird Scarlet Macaw Coat of Arms

National anthem and words Teacher Notes Click the button to watch the school children sing the national anthem. Listen out for the chorus and sing along.

What things do Ireland and Honduras have in common? What is different? Teacher Notes Challenge the students to make connections between Ireland and Honduras