Four hundred years ago, English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh went to Guyana in search of El Dorado.
He was one of the first Englishmen the Makushi tribespeople had ever seen.
Four centuries on, a team of children from the UK have come to follow in Raleigh's footsteps.
They are the Serious Explorers and, just like Raleigh, they are relying on local tribespeople for help.
Nowadays, the Makushi dress in modern clothes, but for many of them their way of life has changed very little since Raleigh's day.
They still live along Guyana's rivers and rely heavily on the local environment for both food and materials.
While a few have access to technology like mobile phones, most have no electricity or running water.
The Serious Explorers are invited to join in a traditional celebration led by the local shaman and to participate in a Makushi banquet.
This clip is from the series Seriously Raleigh.
Teacher Notes
Investigate the area of the Makushi tribe.
What vegetation is there?
How do they live sustainably?
What is the weather like?
How does their food compare with ours?
How do their lives compare with ours?
The children could then research how we could live more sustainably. They could do this by using renewable energy packs around school.
Where is the best place to put solar panels? A wind turbine?
Children can produce their own vegetables for school meals or to sell at the school fair.
Curriculum Notes
This clip is suitable for teaching Geography at KS2 and KS3 Level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and at 2nd and 3rd Level in Scotland.
More from Seriously Raleigh:
Expedition safety. video
The Serious Explorers must learn how to stay safe whilst retracing Raleigh's route to Guyana.
Expedition to Guyana - endangered animals in the rainforest. video
The explorers meet the region's most endangered animals, the caiman and the harpy eagle.
Expedition to Guyana - exploring Mount Roraima. video
The Serious Explorers have come to Mount Roraima to relive the legend of Raleigh.
Expedition to Guyana - life in the rainforest. video
The Serious Explorers take a look at the rainforest in Guyana, a place that has hardly changed since Raleigh’s day.
Expedition to Guyana - Mount Roraima (no narration) video
Extraordinary and stunning views of the imposing and magnificent Mount Roraima. Aerial views capture the magnificence of the mountain.
Expedition to Guyana - navigating an ocean journey. video
The Serious Explorers team are recreating Sir Walter Raleigh's ocean journey in search of El Dorado. They spend four days at sea learning about navigation tools.
Expedition to Guyana - planning an expedition. video
The Serious Explorers have taken almost a year to plan an expedition to recreate his journey. We see their planning process.
Expedition to Guyana - recreating Sir Walter Raleigh's search for El Dorado. video
The Serious Explorers team try out gold panning whilst following in Raleigh’s footsteps.
Expedition to Guyana - rivers and waterfalls (no narration) video
Views of the rivers running through the rainforest of Guyana and a glimpse into the ways in which the rivers support Guyana's rainforest communities.
Expedition to Guyana - spending a night in the rainforest. video
The Serious Explorers spend a night in the Guyana rainforest. The UK adventurers learn to make shelters and set animal traps.
Expedition to Guyana - transportation for local tribespeople. video
The Serious Explorers try using traditional canoes like the ones Raleigh’s team would have used over four hundred years ago.
