K-2 Spanish

Las Ranas

We have learned to hear and tell parts of a story about a frog sitting on a log in the water, eating bugs, then jumping into the water.  We will also meet El Coquí, a frog native to Puerto Rico with a distinctive song, and tell a story about a frog and a duck.  Our vocabulary includes:

• la rana = the frog
• el pato = the duck
• un tronco = a log
• en el agua = in the water
• come = eats
• los bichitos = the bugs
• salta = jumps
• un sándwich = a sandwich

Números

We have learned and practiced the numbers 1-10 in Spanish, and have also begun to hear and use numbers through 20. We played several numbers games, chanted the numbers chorally to improve our pronunciation, and are working at recognizing and saying numbers out of sequence.  Here are the numbers Kindergarteners can practice at home:
1 uno          6 seis
2 dos           7 siete
3 tres           8 ocho
4 cuatro      9 nueve
5 cinco        10 diez
and here are some links to fun songs!   La Guitarra, Las Hormigas, Los Dinosaurios

Frutas

We talked about fruit, in honor of March nutrition month!  We are learning the names of some familiar fruits, and some grown in tropical climates where Spanish is spoken as well.  We will watch some videos of children in other countries drinking agua de coco (coconut water enjoyed straight from the fruit) and having a flor de mango (mango fruit sliced in the shape of a flower, sprinkled with chili pepper and lime juice).  We will talk about which fruits we prefer, read a book about fruits, watch several music videos (see links below), play guessing games, and create a class graph of our favorite fruits.

Our vocabulary for this unit includes:

• el coco = the coconut
• la manzana = the apple
• la banana = the banana
• la naranja = the orange
• la piña = the pineapple
• la fresa = the strawberry

Here are links to a few music videos your child might enjoy:
Happy Sunshine Friends
La Canción de las Frutas

At home you can try naming the fruits you have in Spanish, asking your child to line up the fruits in order of favorite to least favorite, and using me gusta (I like), no me gusta (I don’t like) or me encanta (I love) to talk about their preferences!

Muñecos de Nieve

We are learning to talk about snow figures, and to describe what clothes they, and we, bundle up in for winter.  Our vocabulary includes:

• un muñeco de nieve (a snowman)
• un gato de nieve (a cat of snow), plus other animals we have learned!
• un gorro (a hat)
• una bufanda (a scarf)
• las botas (boots)
• los mitones (mittens)

We sing a snowman song to the tune of “Wheels on the Bus” in which we pretend to dress up like a snowman.  The song goes:
Gorro, bufanda, botas, mitones
Botas, mitones
Botas, mitones
Gorro, bufanda, botas, mitones
Soy un muñeco de nieve (I am a snowman.)
We are talking about and watching a clip of an episode of Peppa Pig in Spanish about building a snowman (click here to view)

Please keep an eye out for a home share booklet which your children will be illustrating!

Animales en un Tronco

We learned about the animal Coatí and told and acted out a story about a Coatí on a log looking for insects to eat, eating them up, and then running off.  We found Costa Rica on Google Earth, then watched a video of Coatis and other local animals using a log in Costa Rica.

Familias

We are learning to talk about our families.  Our vocabulary includes:

• mi mamá (my mom)
• mi papá (my dad)
• mi hermano (my brother)
• mi hermana (my sister)
• mi gato (my cat)
• mi perro (my dog)
• es grande (is big)
• es pequeño (is small)

Colores

We are learning to name colors.  We focused on:

• amarillo (yellow)
• blanco (white)
• verde (green)

And have started to hear and recognize:

• rojo (red)
• negro (black)
• café (brown)
• azul (blue)
• rosado (pink)
• anaranjado (orange)
• morado (purple)

Link to a colors song

AT HOME:  

• Try a colors scavenger hunt
• Play I Spy

Las Mariposas

We learned the life cycle of butterflies, along with a hand sign to show each stage:

• el huevo (the egg)
• la oruga (the caterpillar)
• la crisálida (the chrysalis)
• la mariposa (the butterfly)

We traced the path that Monarch butterflies take from Maine to Mexico, and watched some butterflies at a sanctuary in Michoacán, Mx.

Monos

We talked about monkeys (monos), told some simple stories using the framework:

• Hay un mono.  (There is a monkey)  Se llama… (Its name is…)  Come una banana. (It’s eating a banana.) 

We found the country Colombia on Google Earth, where we watched some 
monkeys playing at a sanctuary.

Cognatos

We learned to recognize some cognates, including:

• la banana 
• la pizza
• el chocolate 
• el león (the lion)
• el elefante
• el dinosaurio
• los espaguetis (spaghetti)

Calendario

We look at the date, sing the weather song, and a student posts today’s weather picture:
¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? (What's the weather today?) 
Our weather vocabulary includes:

• Hace sol (It’s sunny)
• Está nublado (It’s cloudy)
• Llueve (It’s raining)
• Hace viento (It’s windy)
• Un arco iris (a rainbow)
• Nieva (it’s snowing)

Links to some cute songs for children about the weather in Spanish:
Toobys Español, Pinkfong, Día Hermoso, Señor Jordan

We say and sign the sentence:

Hablo español.  (I speak Spanish.)

We have been singing and sign this opening song:

Hola, Hola ¿Cómo estás?  (Hello, Hello, How are you?)  Estoy muy bien, gracias.  (I am very well, thank you.)
Video link to the song: Hola Hola

La Acampada

We are talking about camping, and will be hearing and telling an episode of Peppa Pig about a school camping trip!  Our vocabulary includes:

Números

We have been practicing the numbers 1-20 in Spanish.  We played several numbers games, chanted the numbers chorally to improve our pronunciation, and are working at recognizing and saying numbers out of sequence.  Here are the numbers Second Graders can practice at home:
1 uno        6 seis       11 once       16 dieciséis
2 dos        7 siete      12 doce       17 diecisiete
3 tres        8 ocho     13 trece       18 dieciocho
4 cuatro   9 nueve    4 catorce     19 diecinueve
5 cinco      10 diez     15 quince    20 veinte
and here are some links to fun songs!   La Guitarra, Las Hormigas, Los Dinosaurios, el Mono y los Cocos

El Conejo y el Pingüino

We have started a new story about a penguin that does not want its picture taken!  To tell the story, we will be using a new high frequency verb (Quiero = I want) and will practice using quiero through games and conversations.  Our vocabulary for our new story includes:

• el pingüino (the penguin)
• el pollito (the chick)
• el hielo (the ice)
• no quiere (he / she / it does not want)
• quiere (he / she / it wants)
• el pez (the fish)
• toma una foto (takes a picture)
• debajo (under)

At this moment we are building the vocabulary for the new story, so your children do not yet know it, fyi!  Keep an eye out for an illustrated storyboard in the coming weeks, as we begin to hear and tell parts of the story.

Patinar Sobre Hielo

We are learning to talk about ice skating in Spanish.  We are telling a story about a rabbit that goes skating, falls down, and has fun anyway!  Our vocabulary includes:

• un conejo (a rabbit)
• la escuela (school) 
• la pista de hielo (the ice rink)
• va (goes)
• autobús (bus)
• patina (he or she skates)
• rápido / lento (quickly / slowly)
• se cae (falls down)
• ningún problema / no hay problema (not a problem!)

We are discussing if we enjoy skating (Me gusta patinar. / Me gusta más o menos. / ¡Me encanta! (I like skating, I sort of like it, I love it!)

We are talking about and watching a clip of an episode of Peppa Pig in Spanish about ice skating (click here to view)

Las Familias

We are learning to talk about our families.  Our vocabulary includes:

• mi mamá (my mom)
• mi papá (my dad)
• mi hermano (my brother)
• mi hermana (my sister)
• mi gato (my cat)
• mi perro (my dog)
• mi abuela (my grandmother)
• mi abuelo (my grandfather)
• es grande (is big)
• es pequeño (is small)
• es mediano (is medium sized)
• tengo un / una…. (I have a…)

Here is a LINK to a fun song about family members.

We will be hearing, acting, telling and ultimately viewing a story from Peppa Pig about grandparents next!

El Toro Ferdinand

We learned the Spanish word for a bull, el toro!  We heard and viewed several stories with un toro as the main character, including an episode of La Oveja Shaun (Shaun the Sheep) and Ferdinand.  Our vocabulary for hearing and understanding our toro stories included:

• es grande (is big)
• es fuerte (is strong)
• es agresivo (is aggressive)
• es tranquilo (is peaceful / calm)
• tiene un amigo (has a friend)
• ataca / no ataca (attacks / does not attack)
• las flores (flowers)
• el cerdo (the pig)
• la oveja (the sheep)

El Pollito en la Granja

We told a story about a baby chick on a farm, then acted the story and played with the vocabulary.  Here is the plot:

• Hay un pollito.  (There is a chick)
• Está en una granja.  (It’s on a farm.)
• Tiene hambre.  (It’s hungry) 
• Come maíz.  (It eats corn.)
• ¡Está feliz!  (It feels happy!)

Link to a farm song: El Viejo McDonald

Los Cognatos

We learned to recognize some cognates, including:

• la banana 
• la pizza
• el chocolate 
• el león (the lion)
• el elefante
• el dinosaurio
• los espaguetis (spaghetti)
• el cocodrilo
• el teléfono
• la hamburguesa

¿Cómo estás?

We talk about how we feel:

• Estoy feliz (I’m happy.)
• Tengo sueño. (I’m tired.)
• Tengo hambre. (I’m hungry.)
• Tengo calor / frío. (I’m hot / cold.)
• Estoy (muy) bien. (I feel (very) well.)
• Estoy mal. (I feel bad / sick.)

Link to a dance-along song about feelings: Sí Estás Feliz

El Calendario

We look at the date, sing a weather song, and a student posts today’s weather picture:
¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? (What's the weather today?) 
Our weather vocabulary includes:

• Hace sol (It’s sunny)
• Está (parcialmente) nublado (It’s (partly) cloudy)
• Llueve (It’s raining)
• Hace viento (It’s windy)
• Nieva (it’s snowing)
• Un arco iris (a rainbow)
• Hace calor (It’s hot)
• Hace frío (It’s cold)

Links to some cute songs for children about the weather in Spanish:
Toobys Español, Pinkfong, Día Hermoso, Señor Jordan

We sing and sign this opening song:

Hola, Hola, para tí y para mí.  (Hello, Hello, to you, and me.)
Hola, Hola, este canto empieza así. (Hello, Hello, the song begins like this).
Despacito, más ligero, me pongo un sombrero. (Slowly, lightly, I put on my hat.)
Se me cae.  Lo levanto.  ¡Y así termina el canto!  (It falls off.  I pick it up.  And that’s how this song ends!)

Un Perro en un Bote

We are learning to understand and tell a story about a person fishing with a dog on a boat.  Our vocabulary for this story includes:

• en un bote = on a boat
• hay = there is / there are
• una persona = a person
• un perro = a dog
• un gusano = a worm
• pesca = fishing
• quiere pescado = wants a fish
• un pájaro = a bird
• está furioso = is angry

Números

We have been practicing the numbers 1-20 in Spanish.  We played several numbers games, chanted the numbers chorally to improve our pronunciation, and are working at recognizing and saying numbers out of sequence.  Here are the numbers Second Graders can practice at home:
1 uno        6 seis        11 once         16 dieciséis
2 dos        7 siete       12 doce         17 diecisiete
3 tres        8 ocho      13 trece         18 dieciocho
4 cuatro    9 nueve    14 catorce    19 diecinueve
5 cinco     10 diez       15 quince      20 veinte
and here are some links to fun songs!  La Guitarra, Las Hormigas, Los Dinosaurios, el Mono y los Cocos

El Desayuno

To celebrate March nutrition month, we are learning to talk about what we eat for breakfast, and what typical breakfasts are like in some Spanish speaking places around the world.  We will play guessing games, tell and watch an episode of Peppa Pig in Spanish, build a class graph of our favorite breakfasts, and create a large Venn diagram comparing our typical breakfasts with those of some children in Spanish speaking countries. Our vocabulary for this unit will include:

• la leche (milk)
• el jugo (juice)
• un huevo (an egg)
• el pan (bread) & pan tostado (toast)
• los cereales (cereal)
• el tocino (bacon)
• la salchicha (the sausage)
• los panqueques (pancakes)
• la rosca (doughnut / sweet bread)

 At home you can try to describe your breakfasts in Spanish, or create illustrated flashcards to practice our vocabulary!

Mi Cumpleaños

We are talking about our birthdays, parties and customs!  Our vocabulary includes:

• fiesta (party)
• cumpleaños (birthday)
• tengo ___ años (I’m ___ years old)
• los regalos (the gifts)
• el pastel (the cake)
• las velas (the candles)
• los amigos (the friends)
• las decoraciones (the decorations)
• la música (the music)
• la piñata
• los caramelos (the candy)
• la mordida (the bite of cake ~ a Mexican tradition)

Watch for a home share booklet which your children will be illustrating and labeling!

Las Familias

We are learning to talk about our families.  Our vocabulary includes:

• mi mamá (my mom)
• mi papá (my dad)
• mi hermano (my brother)
• mi hermana (my sister)
• mi gato (my cat)
• mi perro (my dog)
• mi abuela (my grandmother)
• mi abuelo (my grandfather)
• es… + adjectives below (she / he is…)

¿Cómo es?

We are learning some adjectives to describe ourselves, and people and characters we know.  

• Yo = Me / I
• Yo soy = I am
• Es = He is / She is
• amable (kind)
• tranquilo / tranquila*  (peaceful, calm)
• creativo / creativa (creative)
• cómico / cómica (funny)
• rápido / rápida (fast)
• tímido / tímida (shy)
• agresivo / agresiva (aggressive)

*adjectives that end in o/a describe boys/girls respectively.  I use the correct Spanish grammar when I communicate with the children, but we are not focusing on the adjective endings at this moment.

AT HOME: Ask your children about characters or people they know.  The framework for questions is:
¿Es (adjective) (person)?
Example:  ¿Es cómico Elmo? (Is Elmo funny?)  ¿Es tímido el gato? (Is the cat shy?)

La Caperucita Roja

We heard and worked with some versions of the story Little Red Riding Hood (La Caperucita Roja).  Our vocabulary included:

• hay (there is / there are)
• un lobo (a wolf)
• es (is)
• la abuela (the grandma)
• (no) está en la casa (Is / Is not at home)
• toca la puerta (knocks at the door)
• tiene = has
• tiene un tomate (has a tomato)
• tiene flores (has flowers)
• es grande (is big)
• es rápido (is fast)

Los Misterios

We solve a misterio at the end of each class.  I give the children clues about a classmate, using information from surveys they have filled out, and the class tries to guess who I’m describing.  The current vocabulary for the misterios is:

• Tengo ____ hermanos. (I have ____ brothers.)
• Tengo ____ hermanas. (I have ____ sisters.)
• Tengo ____ mascotas. (I have ____ pets.)
• Me gusta el color ____.  (I like the color ____.)
• Me gusta comer ____. (I like to eat ____.)

AT HOME: You could try this same guessing game using family members or friends!

¿Cómo estás?

• We talk about how we feel:
• Estoy feliz (I’m happy.)
• Estoy bien (I’m feeling good.)
• Estoy de malas (I’m feeling grumpy.)
• Tengo sueño. (I’m tired.)
• Tengo hambre. (I’m hungry.)
• Tengo calor / frío. (I’m hot / cold.)
• Estoy (muy) bien. (I feel (very) well.)
• Estoy mal. (I feel bad / sick.)

Link to a dance-along song about feelings: Sí Estás Feliz

El Calendario

We look at the date, sing a weather song, and a student posts today’s weather picture:

¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? (What's the weather today?) 

• Our weather vocabulary includes:
• Hace sol (It’s sunny)
• Está (parcialmente) nublado (It’s (partly) cloudy)
• Llueve (It’s raining)
• Hace viento (It’s windy)
• Nieva (it’s snowing)
• Un arco iris (a rainbow)
• Hace calor (It’s hot)
• Hace frío (It’s cold)

Links to some cute songs for children about the weather in Spanish: Toobys Español, Pinkfong, Día Hermoso, Señor Jordan

We guess the temperature in degrees Celsius.  We are working at saying the numbers 1-20 in Spanish.  To practice at home, you could play card games, Monster Squeeze, or Would you Rather (ex. Would you rather have 2 kittens or 2 cows?  Would you rather be 3 years old or 13 years old?)  
1 uno                    11 once
2 dos                     12 doce
3 tres                    13 trece
4 cuatro                14 catorce
5 cinco                  15 quince
6 seis                    16 dieciséis
7 siete                   17 diecisiete
8 ocho                   18 dieciocho
9 nueve                 19 diecinueve
10 diez                   20 veinte
When the temperature falls below zero, we will say for example: menos cuatro (-4)

Links to some songs to practice numbers in Spanish: Basho & Friends 1-10, Toobys 1-20

We sing and sign this opening song:

Hola, Hola, para tí y para mí.  (Hello, Hello, to you, and me.)
Hola, Hola, este canto empieza así. (Hello, Hello, the song begins like this).
Despacito, más ligero, me pongo un sombrero. (Slowly, lightly, I put on my hat.)
Se me cae.  Lo levanto.  ¡Y así termina el canto!  (It falls off.  I pick it up.  And that’s how this song ends!)