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Nauru Facts & Worksheets

Nauru is a tiny island country and microstate in Micronesia, located in the Pacific Ocean.

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Nauru is a tiny island country and microstate in Micronesia, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is just over 8 square miles in area and is the third-smallest country in the world (behind Vatican City and Monaco), with the world’s second smallest population of 10,670 (after Vatican City). The capital is Yaren.

See the fact file below for more information on the Nauru or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Nauru worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF NAURU

  • Nauru’s history of human activity began around 3,000 years ago with the settlement of Micronesian and Polynesian clans.
  • The clans ate coconut and panfanus fruit, as well as fish from the reef (which only men were allowed to fish for).
  • There were originally 12 clans (which are represented on Nauru’s flag) who trace their descent on the female side (known as matrilineal kinship) and were governed by a chief.
  • The English spotted the island in 1798, but European contact didn’t come until the 1830s.
  • When the island was spotted in 1798, Captain John Fearn’s initial impression was that the island and its people were pleasant, so he named it Pleasant Island.
  • By the 1830’s, the island came into contact with whaling ships and traders who provided fresh water, alcohol, and firearms.
  • Due to the introduction of weapons and alcohol, the peaceful coexistence of the tribes was disrupted with an internal war that began in 1878 and lasted for 10 years.
  • By the turn of the century, phosphate was discovered on the island, and was soon exploited by the Pacific Phosphate Company, exporting its first shipment of phosphate in 1907.
  • During World War I, Nauru was captured by Australian troops and held by British until 1920 when they signed an agreement to take over phosphate mining.
  • Nauru suffered a lot of damage from German and Japanese forces during WWII; in 1947 a trustee was established by the U.N that gave administration duties to Australia.
  • Nauru became self-governing in January 1966.

GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT OF NAURU

  • Located almost on the Equator, Nauru has a tropical climate with consistent temperatures year-round.
  • The island itself is made up of phosphate rock with raised coral reefs along the edges.
  • The rainy season is from November to February and the island rarely sees cyclones or extreme weather.
  • There are no harbors on the island, but there is a fairly fertile narrow belt that encircles the island.
  • There are no rivers or streams on the island, and nearly 80% of the island is uninhabitable and uncultivable due to extensive phosphate mining.
  • Bananas, pineapple, coconut, pandanus, and some vegetables are grown on the island, as well as a variety of plants and trees.
  • Migratory birds often stopover in Nauru.
  • Mammals were not found on the island, but rats, mice, cats, dogs, chickens, and pigs have been imported recently.
  • Nauru experiences periodic droughts, limited freshwater resources, and extreme soil conditions with high alkalinity, though it is a party to the international environmental agreements on biodiversity, climate changes, desertification, the law of the sea, and marine dumping.

DEMOGRAPHICS, CULTURE, AND ECONOMY OF NAURU

  • Nauru is comprised of mostly indigenous Nauruans, with small numbers of Gilbertese, Australians, New Zealanders, Chinese, and Tuvaluans, with Nauruan as the national language.
  • English is widely spoken, and it is one of the most Westernized countries in the South Pacific.
  • Most people live scattered along the coastal zone.
  • Agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, and tourism contribute small amounts to Nauru’s economy, which was dominated by phosphate mining until the 21st century; now the economy is supplemented with aid money from Australia in exchange for housing Australia-bound asylum seekers.
  • Virtually all food, water, and manufactured goods are imported from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Japan.
  • Nauru joined the Commonwealth of Nations as a full member in 1999 and is a member of many forums, programs, and commissions aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations, combating climate change, and boosting the economy.
  • The majority of people on the island are Christian.
  • There is no daily news in Nauru.
  • Australian rules football is the most popular sport in Nauru, but weightlifting, volleyball, netball, fishing, rugby, basketball, and tennis are also popular.

Nauru Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Nauru across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Nauru worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Nauru which is a tiny island country and microstate in Micronesia, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is just over 8 square miles in area and is the third-smallest country in the world (behind Vatican City and Monaco), with the world’s second smallest population of 10,670 (after Vatican City). The capital is Yaren.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Nauru Facts
  • The Nauruan Civil War
  • Map of the Island
  • Angam Day
  • Nauru’s Role in WWI and WWII
  • Sites Worth Visiting
  • Nauru Wordsearch
  • Convicts in Nauru
  • Coat of Arms
  • Phosphate Mining
  • Nauru Crossword

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Link will appear as Nauru Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 3, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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