4/5/6: April 30, 2014

In class today, we had our final day of "No inglés."  While we didn't have time to finish everything, I was impressed at how well the students did speaking only in Spanish.


Ask your student:

• What was your favorite station of the "no inglés" day?  (We had 5 stations, but only had time for each group to visit 4.  The stations were:  Reading/Books, Music, Poetry, Theater, and Toma Todo.) 

Today's vocabulary

• Review

Homework: 

• Nothing this week!
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-6 are due by April 23.  (May still recite all or part for partial credit-stickers!)
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: April 23, 2014

In class today, we worked on wrapping up a few loose ends.  Students also filled in a map with the Spanish-speaking countries and capitals of South America.

Next week, we'll spend the entire class period ONLY speaking in Spanish!  We'll have plenty of songs, games, and activities set up with some Spanish-English vocabulary signs posted to help everyone be successful!

Ask your student:

• How well do you think you knew the countries and capitals of South America?  (Students filled out a map in class today to earn some extra stickers!) 

Today's vocabulary

• Review

Homework: 

• Quia Assignment!  One last chance to earn a few stickers!
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-6 are due by April 23.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6 Grade: April 16, 2014

In class today, we learned the how 5 de mayo celebrations are similar and different in the US and Mexico.

Ask your student:

• What is the history of the 5 de mayo holiday?  (In Mexico, it's a national holiday.  Government officials organize speeches and in some places, they reenact the battle.  In the US, it's more of a cultural celebration.  Different community groups organize parties to celebrate Mexican-American culture.  People don't really mention the battle.) 

Today's vocabulary

• celebran - they celebrate
• organiza - he/she organizes
• el gobierno - the government
• la comunidad - the community
• Fiesta Nacional - National Festival 
• desfiles - parades 
• comida - food
• música - music
• bailes - dances
• El jarabe tapatío - The Mexican Hat Dance

Today in class, we watched a few videos of the Mexican Hat Dance.  You can re-watch them HERE.

Homework: 

• 5 de mayo final assignment was handed out in class.  If you misplaced yours, you can print a new copy HERE.
• Link for Mexican Tissue Paper Flowers:  HERE
• Link to slide show from class.
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!  NEW!!  HERE's a link to "reverse" version of the song!  
• NEXT WEEK~APRIL 23 you will be able to fill out a map of South America to show just how many of these countries and capitals you know!  Do you want some extra practice?  Here are a few Quia games!
• Flashcards and Memory
• Matching
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-6 are due by April 23.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: El Jarabe Tapatío~The Mexican Hat Dance

This is one of the most well known traditional Mexican dances.  It is often performed at fiestas not only in Mexico, but also in the US!

4/5/6 Grade: March 26, 2014

In class today, we learned the history of the 5 de mayo holiday.

Ask your student:

• What is the history of the 5 de mayo holiday?  (The ruler of France, Napoleon III, wasn't too concerned about getting his money back, he really wanted to rule over Mexico.  The French army thought it would be easy to attack and take over Mexico.  On May 5, 1862, the French army attacked the Mexicans in Puebla, Mexico.  Even though Franc had 8,000 soldiers and Mexico only had 4,000, the Mexicans still won the battle.  It was the first time that France lost a battle in 50 years!  However, even though France lost the battle, they did end up winning the war and ruling Mexico for 5 years.) 

Today's vocabulary (many words are review words)

• luego - later
• ganó - he/she won
• perdió - he/she lost
• reinaba - he/she reigned
• el dinero - the money 
• pagar - to pay
• la batalla - the battle
• tengo - I have
• tenía - he/she/I had
• necesitaba - he/she/I needed
• participaron - they participated
• celebran - they celebrate
• quería - he/she wanted
• cincuenta años - fifty years
• ganaban - they always won
• sorprendieron - they surprised 

Homework: 

• Quia Practice and Assignment (links working by late Thursday afternoon)
• Vocabulary practice 
• Weekly Assignment (worth 2 pegatinas)
• Link to slide show from class.
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!  NEW!!  HERE's a link to "reverse" version of the song!  
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.  Keep working on verses 1-3 if you haven't learned them yet, but also start working on verse 4, too!  Verse 4 is due by March 12, and verses 1-6 are due by April 23.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: March 19, 2014

In class today, we learned what the 5 de mayo ISN'T.  We also talked about the problem that started the history of this holiday.

Ask your student:

• Is 5 de mayo like the 4th of July?  (No, 5 de mayo isn't a celebration of independence.  Mexican independence day is September 16.) 
• What was the problem that started the 5 de mayo problem?  (Mexico owed money to Spain, France, and England.  Mexico didn't have money to pay them back.  Mexico asked for more time to pay the money back.  Spain and England said it was okay, but France said it was a problem...)

Today's vocabulary (many words are review words)

• luego - later
• ganó - he/she won
• perdió - he/she lost
• reinaba - he/she reigned
• el dinero - the money 
• pagar - to pay
• la batalla - the battle
• tengo - I have
• tenía - he/she/I had
• necesitaba - he/she/I needed
• participaron - they participated
• celebran - they celebrate

Homework: 

• Quia Practice and Assignment
• Vocabulary practice 
• Weekly Assignment (worth 2 pegatinas)
• Link to slide show from class.
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!  NEW!!  HERE's a link to "reverse" version of the song!  
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.  Keep working on verses 1-3 if you haven't learned them yet, but also start working on verse 4, too!  Verse 4 is due by March 12, and verses 1-6 are due by April 23.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: March 12, 2014

In class today, we started a new unit.  Over the next few weeks, we'll be learning about the history of the 5 de mayo holiday.  We'll also talk about how 5 de mayo is celebrated both in Mexico and the US.

Ask your student:

• Have you heard about 5 de mayo before?  What do you think it is about?  (We talked about this for a little while in class today.  Almost everyone had heard about 5 de mayo, and some students had some good ideas,  but no one knew the whole story of the holiday.  We'll be discovering that over the next few weeks!) 

Today's vocabulary (many words are review words)

• luego - later
• ganó - he/she won
• perdió - he/she lost
• reinaba - he/she reigned
• el dinero - the money 
• pagar - to pay
• la batalla - the battle
• tengo - I have
• tenía - he/she/I had
• necesitaba - he/she/I needed
• participaron - they participated
• celebran - they celebrate

Homework: 

• Quia Practice and Assignment
• Vocabulary practice 
• Weekly Assignment (worth 2 pegatinas)
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!  NEW!!  HERE's a link to "reverse" version of the song!  
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.  Keep working on verses 1-3 if you haven't learned them yet, but also start working on verse 4, too!  Verse 4 is due by March 12, and verses 1-6 are due by April 23.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: March 5, 2014

In class today, we finished our unit about Las Meninas.  As a class, we posed to take a Las Meninas picture.  We also looked at another artist's interpretation of the painting.  Click HERE for more information about this unit.

Ask your student:

• What is this painting all about?  What is going on?  (Because Las Meninas is such a well known painting in Spanish art, many other artists have copied the painting and given it their own interpretation.  This is one of Pablo Picasso's many takes on the painting.  Can you find/identify everyone?) 

  

  Picasso, Pablo.  Las Meninas (Group).  1957.  Museu Picasso, Barcelona.

• When your class posed for a class picture of Las Meninas, who were you?  (We posed twice, so some students had double roles!  Be sure to check out the photos that were attached to the (HC)2 Weekly!)

Today's vocabulary:

• Review from previous weeks

Homework: 

• Our final assignment for the Las Meninas unit was handed out in class.  If you misplaced the assignment, you can print a new copy HERE.  Also, for the assignment, you will need to look at THESE three Diego Velázquez paintings.  
• You can look over the slide show from class if you want to review the words on your own. 
• If you still want to review location words, you can re-watch the videos we saw in class.  Roberto y Señor Pato (LINK) or Lulo and Fufi (LINK).
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.  Keep working on verses 1-3 if you haven't learned them yet, but also start working on verse 4, too!  Verse 4 is due by March 12, and verses 1-6 are due by April 23.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: Galería de Arte

4/5/6 grade students, here are the 3 paintings to use for your homework assignment.  If you misplaced the assignment that was handed out in class, you can print a new copy HERE.

Remember our challenge:  Paintings #1 and #2 each depict a different Bible story.  Which ones are they?

Pintura #1

Velázquez, Diego.  (Name withheld due to our "challenge").  1618.  National Gallery, London.

Pintura #2

Veláquez, Diego.  (Name withheld due to our "challenge").  1619.  Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Pintura #3

Velázquez, Diego.  El Almuerzo.  1619.  Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

4/5/6: February 26, 2014

In class today, we continued learning location words in Spanish.  Click HERE for more information about this unit.

Ask your student:

• Who are some of the people in this painting?  (The girl in the center is a princess, the painter, Diego de Velázquez, put himself in the painting...and the King and Queen are "hidden"!)

Velázquez, Diego.  Las Meninas.  1656.  Oil on canvas.  Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Today's vocabulary:

• Review from previous weeks
• el pintor - the painter
• pinta - he/she paints
• el chico/la chica - the boy/the girl
• un señor - a gentleman
• una señora - a lady 
• un perro - a dog
• un espejo - a mirror

Homework: 

• You can look over the slide show from class if you want to review the words on your own. 
• Quia Practice and Assignment! (Links working by late Thursday afternoon)
• Practice our vocabulary words with THIS Quia activity.  
• Complete THIS Quia assignment.  (Worth 2 pegatinas)
• If you still want to review location words, you can re-watch the videos we saw in class.  Roberto y Señor Pato (LINK) or Lulo and Fufi (LINK).
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.  Keep working on verses 1-3 if you haven't learned them yet, but also start working on verse 4, too!
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: February 19, 2014

In class today, we continued learning location words in Spanish.  Click HERE for more information about this unit.

Ask your student:

• Do you remember how to say "left" and "right" in Spanish?  (Derecha-right, and izquierda-left)

Today's vocabulary:

• Review from last week
• dentro de - inside of
• fuera de - outside of
• a la derecha de - to the right of
• a la izquierda de - to the left of
• aquí - right here
• ahí - right there***
• allí -  there***
• allá - over there

***ahí and allí not only sound alike, but their meanings are very similar.  Native speakers often use them interchangeably or simply use one more than the other.  It often varies from country to country.  I promised students I wouldn't trick them with these words on their homework :)

Homework: 

• You can look over the slide show from class if you want to review the words on your own.  (Link fixed!!  If you tried to click on it earlier and it didn't work, it should work now!)
• Watch the Roberto y Señor Pato video from class last week if you want some extra review.  LINK
• You can also watch the Lulo and Fufi video that we saw in class this week!  (LINK)
• Quia Practice and Assignment! 
• Practice our vocabulary words with THIS Quia activity.  
• Complete THIS Quia assignment.  (Worth 2 pegatinas)
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.  Keep working on verses 1-3 if you haven't learned them yet, but also start working on verse 4, too!
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: February 12, 2014

In class today, we began a new unit.  This week and next week we'll be learning some location words in Spanish.  Then, we'll use those words to talk about a famous Spanish painting!  Click HERE for more information about this unit.

Ask your student:

• What did you talk about with the stuffed animals?  (We played with stuffed animals in class!  With their partners, students would listen to me say a sentence in Spanish and they would act it out with their animals.)

Today's vocabulary:

• delante de - in front of
• enfrente de - in front of (face-to-face)
• detrás de - behind/in back of
• encima de - on top of 
• debajo de - under
• cerca de - close to/near
• lejos de - far from 
• al lado de - next to/beside

Homework: 

• You can look over the slide show from class if you want to review the words on your own.
• Watch the Roberto y Señor Pato video from class if you want some extra review.  LINK
• Practice our vocabulary words with THIS Quia activity. 
• Complete THIS Quia assignment.  (Worth 2 pegatinas)
• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: February 5, 2014

In class today, we finished talking about the history of chocolate.  We focused on how the Spaniards brought cacao back to Spain and were the first to add sugar to it.

Ask your student:

• What did the Spaniards do when they met the Aztecs?  (They conquered them and told them to hand over their "treasures."  The Aztecs gave the Spaniards cacao beans because they were something that they treasured.)

Today's vocabulary:

• Mesoamérica:  Present day Mexico and Central America
• explorador:  explorer
• llegan:  they arrive
• ellos: they
• conquistan:  they conquer
• los tesoros:  the treasures
• llevan:  they take
• ponen:  they put
• empiezan:  they begin
• azúcar:  sugar
• canela:  cinnamon
• dulce:  sweet
• solamente:  only

Homework: 

• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• History of Chocolate Final Assignment:  A hard copy was handed out in class.  If you misplaced it, you can print a new copy HERE.
• If you need it, here's the slide show we use in class.  (You may want it to double check answers on the homework assignment
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: January 22, 2014

In class today, we continued talking about the history of chocolate.  We focused on how the Aztecs had to trade with the Mayas to get cacao beans for themselves.

Ask your student:

• Why were cacao beans worth so much to the Aztecs?  (Where the Aztecs lived, it was too dry to grow cacao trees.  They had to travel to the south and trade with the Mayas to get cacao beans.  The beans were so valuable to the Aztecs, that they used them as money.)

Today's vocabulary (some words are review from last week's activity):

• pueden - they are able 
• quieren - they want
• necesitan - they need
• crece - he/she/it grows
• llueve - it rains
• valen - they are worth
• la tierra - the land
• las cosas - the things
• el dinero - the money
• cambiar - to trade
• encontrar - to find
• rico - rich/wealthy

Homework: 

• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• Practice our new vocabulary words with THIS game. 
• Complete THIS assignment on Quia.  (This assignment is worth 2 stickers.) 
• If you need it, here's the slide show we use in class.  (You may want it to double check answers on the homework assignment
• (Also posted last week) Some students were interested in learning more about how cacao seeds are processed into chocolate.  We won't be focusing on that in this unit, but if you are interested in learning more, check out these resources from Chicago's Field Museum. 
• Making Chocolate
• Making Chocolate Interactive Game
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: January 15, 2014

In class today, we began talking about the history of chocolate.  We focused on how the Mayas made a beverage from the seeds of the cacao tree.

Ask your student:

• How did the Mayas use cacao beans?  (They ground them up and made them into a drink with corn meal, water, and chilis.)

Today's vocabulary (some words are review from last week's activity):

• las mayas ~ the Mayas
• el árbol ~ the tree
• las vainas ~ the pods
• la semilla ~ the seed
• usa ~ he/she uses
• hacer ~ to make
• la bebida ~ the drink/beverage
• amargo/amarga ~ bitter
• picante ~ spicy
• cacao ~ ground cacao seeds/cocoa
• harina de maíz ~ cornmeal/corn flour
• el chile ~ the chile
• canela ~ cinnamon
• comen ~ they eat
• beben ~ they drink

Homework: 

• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• Practice our new vocabulary words with THIS game. 
• Complete THIS assignment on Quia.  (This assignment is worth 2 stickers) 
• Mayan Chocolate Beverage recipe coming soon!  (I have to tweak it a bit yet!)
• Some students were interested in learning more about how cacao seeds are processed into chocolate.  We won't be focusing on that in this unit, but if you are interested in learning more, check out these resources from Chicago's Field Museum. 
• Making Chocolate
• Making Chocolate Interactive Game
• Second semester Bible verse.  Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.
• Psalm 23 in Spanish (Text only)
• Audio Version 

4/5/6: Second Semester Bible Memory

Here's our Bible Memory for the entire second semester.  We'll be learning all of Psalm 23 in Spanish!




Verses 1-3 are due on Feb 19.
Verses 1-4 are due on Mar 12.
Verses 1-6 are due on April 23.

4/5/6: January 8, 2014

In class today, we started a new unit:  La Historia del Chocolate (The History of Chocolate).  We'll be looking at how chocolate was first enjoyed and how it changed to become what we know today.

Ask your student:

• What will your next unit be about?  Were there any words on the worksheet from class that surprised you?  (Our next unit will be about the history of chocolate.  We filled out a worksheet in class that had some "key words" about chocolate.  Some of the "surprising" words were "beverage" and "bitter".)

Today's vocabulary:

• las mayas ~ the Mayas
• las aztecas ~ the Aztecs
• el árbol ~ the tree
• el chile ~ the chile
• la semilla ~ the seed
• la bebida ~ the drink/beverage
• el dinero ~ the money
• amargo ~ bitter
• el chocolate ~ the chocolate

Homework: 

• Sing along the South America Countries and Capitals Rap!  (Click HERE, if that link doesn't work, here's the LINK to the song on YouTube)  Make it your goal to know all of the countries and capitals by April 16!
• Practice our new vocabulary words with THIS game. 
• Complete THIS assignment on Quia.  (This assignment is worth 2 stickers) 
• New Second Semester Bible verse (Psalm 23) coming next week!

Christmas Break Activity Ideas!

If you're looking for some fun, Spanish-related activities to do over break, check out some of these ideas:

1. Try a new recipe!
1. Mexican Hot Chocolate
2. Mexican Christmas Eve Salad
3. Spanish turrón
2. Try a craft!
1. Poinsettia ornament
2. Farolitos (Luminaries)
3. Piñata ornament
3. Read a book (All are available through the Herrick Library or library loan)
1. The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola
2. The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
3. Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada! by Virginia Kroll
4. The Gift of the Poinsettia by Pat Mora and Charles Ramírez Berg
5. Feliz Navidad:  learning songs and traditions in Spanish by Anna Maria Mahoney

4/5/6: December 18, 2013

Today, we read the Legend of the Poinsettia in class.  For more information about this unit, click HERE.

Ask your student:

• What was the moral of the story?  (A gift isn't important because it's expensive.  It's important because it comes from your heart.)

Today's vocabulary (words with a * are review from previous units this year):

• *le da - he/she gives to him/her
• *le dice - he/she says to him/her
• *mira - he/she looks at
• *tengo - I have
• el regalo - the gift/present
• pobre - poor
• el dinero - the money 
• está triste - he/she is sad
• llora - he/she cries
• el pesebre - the manger
• la planta - the plant
• la flor de nochebuena - the poinsettia
• la iglesia - the church
• el corazón - the heart 
• recoge - he/she picks up
• ¡Qué vergüenza! - How embarrassing!
• habla en voz baja - he/she whispers
• *el ángel - the angel
• el milagro - the miracle
• ¿por qué? - why?

Homework:

• Sing along with Christmas songs in Spanish!  
• Ay, del Chiquirritín (Oh, the Little Baby Boy)
• Ángeles Cantando Están (Angels We Have Heard on High) 
• Al Mundo Paz (Joy to the World)
• MORE Christmas Songs in Spanish!
• Check out these ideas for some fun activities over break!
• Christmas Bible Verse:  Isaiah 9:6.  Each year, in 4/5/6 grade, this will be our Christmas Bible verse, so we'll memorize more and more each year!  This year, everyone should memorize Part A.  If they want to,  5th graders may memorize Part B as well, and 6th graders may memorize the entire verse.  
• AUDIO VERSION
• Part A:  Porque nos ha nacido un niño, Dios nos ha dado un hijo;
• Part B:  el gobierno descansará sobre sus hombros, 
• Part C:  y su nombre será:  Consejero admirable, Dios fuerte, Padre eterno, Príncipe de Paz. 

Bible Memory: 4/5/6 grade, Isaiah 9:6

I'm having some technical difficulties with VoiceThread.  This isn't quite the same, but you can pause and replay as much as you need to!