Elementary Spanish 2016 - Post #1

¡Hola!

Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School students are working on age-specific exercises that focus on personalization – describing who they are.

Lower Elementary students are practicing introducing themselves using the phrase “Yo Soy” (I am). They tell each other their names, ages, genders, and physical descriptions.

Other Spanish lessons focus on the difference between living and non-living things, the Solar System, and parts of the plant. We’ve been conducting an experiment where students can see first-hand the change of matter from a solid to a liquid to a gas with just a piece of ice!

We take walks to identify different leaves and trees. Our lessons take place both indoors and outdoors.

Students are working on putting stories in chronological order. They are also using three to six letter words and writing sentences. Some students are also reading Spanish books.

Upper Elementary students are also practicing describing themselves and their families. They have been working with the verb “vivir” (to live), and ask each other, ¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?).

Students drew their families and houses, and then we compared our drawings to see that each family is different.

We introduced the verb “comer” (to eat). We participated in activities to reinforce the phrases “Me gusta/no me gusta” (I like/I don’t like).

One group conducted their own election and practiced the slogan “Vota por mi” (Vote for me).  They described themselves and told us why we should vote for them and what they would do as president. They had very interesting ideas, like promising to give everyone chocolate!

Students are reading a series of novels. Two of their favorites are Isabela quiere un Congo and Las aventuras de Isabela. We translate each paragraph after reading it and answer questions to confirm their understanding of the content.

Students who are in their last year of Upper Elementary are using a workbook to practice vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural activities. They will use this same book in Middle School.

Middle school students have been learning grammar concepts including definite and indefinite articles, adjective-noun agreements, indirect object pronouns, and the verbs ser and estar (to be). They have also been working on cultural activities. The students are enjoying the process of practicing all that we learn in each lesson.

The students viewed Bajo la misma Luna (Under the same Moon), a Spanish movie about immigrants in the US.  We discussed the movie and talked about what we saw and how the movie made us feel. We did a follow-up activity in which each student wrote why they would want to be president, what they would do in office, and how they would do it. 

Gracias,

Maria Asunción Myers