Didactic cases are small exhibitions which the teacher can set up in the classroom. They contain replicas of goldwork objects and pre-Columbian pottery, and original archaeological fragments of pottery, bone, stone or shell ranging from 500 to 2,000 years old.

Each case comes with a teacher's handbook explaining the objectives and subjects, along with suggestions for a range of activities, and reading matter for going deeper into the subject. Several of them also contain a didactic poster or a board game for the pupils.

The eight titles can be borrowed free of charge from Banco de la República branches in Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Buenaventura, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Florencia, Girardot, Honda, Ibagué, Ipiales, Leticia, Manizales, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pasto, Pereira, Popayán, Quibdó, Riohacha, San Andrés, Santa Marta, Sincelejo, Tunja, Valledupar and Villavicencio.

Llegan a clase objetos —réplicas y originales— de dos períodos de la historia prehispánica del Cauca Medio: narigueras, pectorales y orejeras que nos permiten explorar e interactuar con las representaciones del cuerpo entre las sociedades quimbayas. Surge el tema del cuerpo, del adorno, de cómo los seres humanos —y de hecho nosotros mismos— nos identificamos y expresamos a través del lenguaje corporal. Luego podremos pintar nuestros autoretratos, aplicar sellos con motivos prehispánicos o representar situaciones que nos hacen pensar en la ética y los valores, reconociéndonos como partícipes de un mismo cuerpo social.

This case relates the myths of currently existing indigenous people of Colombia with animals modelled 500, 1.000 and 3.000 years ago by the inhabitants of the Calima region in the Valle del Cauca Department. Art and literature, animals are metaphors and symbols helping us think about people’s behaviour and about society. In appreciating the myths as an immaterial heritage of our culture, we value them –together with archaeological and ecological heritage- as a wealth we need to know, respect and transmit to future generations. Reading and literature are promoted as enjoyment and a source of experiences giving quality to our life.

The history of our country didn’t begin with the European conquest 500 years ago. Sixteen thousand years ago, the first inhabitants were arriving to this land to begin the wonderful adventure of seeing and living in an environment with great diversity. The best way to discover the forms of life, changes, adaptations and inventions (ceramic, agriculture, craftsmanship) is to hear the news on the main events of those centuries, even the ones related to the conquest, the independence and the present to create a complete and reasoned chronological sequence. Then the students will imagine the news of the future; their legacy to their descendents.

The "indigenous period" does not refer just to the past, because indigenous cultures survive today in different parts of Colombia. The Amazon Didactic Case contains miniature versions of objects that are used by the present-day Yukuna, Ticuna and Huitoto ethnic groups. The shaman's bench, the canoe, the bow and arrow, the feathered crown, the necklace and other objects made by the indians themselves, all stimulate the curiosity and lead to a discovery of the great cultural diversity that is to be found in our country.

The "Amazonas" board game is a journey of adventure that can be enjoyed by anyone able to read, right up to university level. Players compete to know how people live in a jungle environment that is so different from that of cities; there, it is the indians who are their teachers.