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Tuvalu Facts & Worksheets

Tuvalu is a small island country made up of nine small island groups in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

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Tuvalu is a small island country made up of nine small island groups in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The country is formerly known as the Ellice Islands. The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti.

See the fact file below for more information on the Tuvalu or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Tuvalu worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BRIEF HISTORY

  • The first settlers in Tuvalu came from the islands of Samoa many thousands of years ago.
  • There was very little contact with Europeans until the 19th century.
  • Great Britain took over Tuvalu in 1892, which was then called the Ellice Islands.
  • Britain joined the Ellice Islands with the Gilbert Islands (now called the country of Kiribati) in 1916.
  • In 1974, there was a referendum that established that most Ellice islanders wanted separate status from the Gilbert Islands.
  • The country changed its name to Tuvalu, an old name meaning ‘eight standing together’ (Tuvalu has nine islands or island groups, however, one has very little land above sea level).
  • The Ellice Islands became a separate British dependency in October of 1975.
  • The country gained its independence as Tuvalu on October 1, 1978.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Tuvalu is a volcanic archipelago that consists of three reef islands (Nanumanga, Niutao, and Niulakita) and six true atolls (Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Vaitupu).
  • The small and scattered group of atolls in Tuvalu have poor soil.
  • The total land area is only about 26 square kilometers, making it the 4th smallest country in the world.
  • Nearest neighboring countries are Fiji to the south, Kiribati to the north, and the Solomon Islands to the west.
  • Funafuti is the largest atoll and the main island. It is also the capital that comprises numerous islets around a central lagoon that is approximately 25.1 kilometers.
  • Tuvalu has two distinct seasons. From November to April Tuvalu experiences a wet season and from May to October a dry season.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • As of August 23, 2020, the current population of Tuvalu is 11,813 based on the latest United Nations estimates.
  • Almost all the people of Tuvalu are Polynesians, a group found in the eastern Pacific.
  • Nearly 50% of the population lives on Funafuti.
  • Most people speak the Tuvaluan and English languages. Both are the national languages of Tuvalu.
  • The Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu, which comprises about 97% of the population and is part of the Christian Reformed tradition, is the state church of Tuvalu.
  • The threat of global warming in Tuvalu is not yet a principal impulse for migration as Tuvaluans appear to prefer to continue living on the islands for reasons of lifestyle, culture, and identity. In recent years New Zealand and Australia have been the primary destination for migration or seasonal work.

EDUCATION

  • Tuvalu’s education is free and compulsory between the ages of 6 to 15 years.
  • Every island has a primary school.
  • There are two secondary schools in Tuvalu. The Motufoua Secondary School that is found on Vaitupu and the Fetuvalu Secondary School, a day school operated by the Church of Tuvalu, located on Funafuti.
  • Students need to board at school during the school term and go back to their home islands each school vacation.

ECONOMY

  • Most people of Tuvalu work in agriculture and fishing. Tuvalu’s crop products are coconuts, tropical fruit, and sweet potatoes.
  • Many locals leave the country to find employment.
  • The government sells stamps to collectors around the world. They also sell the use of the Internet domain ending, “.tv.”

CULTURE

  • The culture of Tuvalu is unique but still typical of the culture of the South Pacific Islands.
  • Tuvalu is mostly Polynesian (96%), with importance on traditional ways, friendliness, as well as a relaxed lifestyle.
  • The people are well-known for their dancing, music, and handcrafts, which are highly regarded in the Pacific.
  • Women wear a distinctive traditional dress created from hand-dyed pandanus leaf strips with traditional patterns and colors.
  • Feasts, emphasizing traditional dancing and music, are usually held at the Maneapas (meeting houses), which are the focal point of the community. Every Maneapa is unique, and some are very ornate.
  • Christianity has exerted a substantial influence on the islands wherein Sundays are a day of rest and church attendance. Visitors are asked to be careful in their choice of activities. Female visitors are also required to dress modestly in towns and in villages.
  • The important national celebration is Independence Day on October 1, 1978.

Tuvalu Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Tuvalu across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Tuvalu worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Tuvalu which is a small island country made up of nine small island groups in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The country is formerly known as the Ellice Islands. The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Tuvalu Facts
  • Promote Tuvalu
  • Quick Facts
  • Tuvalu Important Events
  • Tuvalu Geography
  • Additional Information
  • Top Three Smallest Countries
  • The Nine Islands
  • Breaking News
  • My Travel Plan
  • Tuvalu Postage Stamp

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Link will appear as Tuvalu Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 30, 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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