Sobresaliente in September!

We are off to a buen comienzo in the Spanish classroom this school year. Term 1 offers a host of jumping off points for cultural themes such as Hispanic Heritage Month, which began September 15th, and Día de los Muertos, which we will celebrate all October long, culminating on November 1st & 2nd. Grades 5 & 6 have been learning about important Hispanic figures including Celia Cruz, Roberto Clemente, Lionel Messi, and Pablo Picasso. Celia, the queen of salsa, offered us the opportunity to learn some basic salsa steps and practice tapping out beats on ‘la clave.’ ¡Azúcar! Grades 4, 5, and 6 have also been studying the animated short film ‘Mind Games’ and students are now able to retell/summarize the film from start to finish. 

Grade 3s held a mock presidential election for fictional characters of their creation such as ‘Pop Tart Cat’ and ‘Infinity Fluff.’ This was a fun way to practice simple introductions and basic information including age, grade, and favorite color in a presentational speaking context, and later, in an interpersonal format in which they answer each question interview-style.

Grade 2s have been learning all about fruits and how to express their fruit preferences in Spanish. We had fun taste-testing apples, strawberries, and grapes. 

Grade 1s have been learning all about pets in Spanish and how to answer and ask the question ‘do you have any pets?’ 

Kindergarten and Casa 2nd years are learning body parts and the five senses in Spanish through the songs ‘A Mi Burro’ and ‘Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, y Pies.’ We are having lots of fun making and reading our mini books about ‘Los Cinco Sentidos’ as well as doing smell and taste tests. 

Casa 1st years have been learning the traditional nursery rhyme of ‘Los Pollitos Dicen.’ We are getting to know different farm animals in Spanish, the sounds they make, and learning about their adventures on the farm through stories and reenactment. 

Toddlers will have their first Spanish lesson tomorrow and I absolutely cannot wait!