Last week, we learned how to ask the question: ¿Que hay en la clase? ("Kay eye ehn la KLA-say?") Now it's time to start answering it with our first classroom item: libro book
Hay libros en la clase. There are books in the classroom.
A fun way to remember that libro means book? Watch this clip from El Libro de Vida, or The Book of LIfe. (The song isn't about books, but sometimes it's fun to learn how to translate the name of a popular kids' movie into Spanish!)
Even though we haven't seen our classes much yet this week (nieve is the Spanish word for snow, by the way), we're ready to start learning how to talk about the things we find in our classrooms in Spanish! ¿Qué hay en la clase? What is in the classroom? Get started on saying and understanding the question and enjoy a sneak preview here:
Welcome back! Now that Claxton students have mastered colors, days of the week, and counting, we're introducing months and weather. El mes es enero. The month is January.
¿Que tiempo hace hoy? What is the weather today? Hace frío. It is cold.
And who wouldn't want to sing about the weather with the Muppets? In this song, hace calor. It's hot!
We couldn't resist sharing these pictures of our Language Leaders having their own Las Posadas in the Media Center this week!
Las Posadas is a tradition observed in Mexico and many other Spanish-speaking nations in which neighbors act out the trials of Joseph and Mary looking for a room at the inn. They walk from house to house singing a song about seeking shelter, and at house after house they are turned away. Finally, at the last house, they are welcomed in and everyone celebrates together. While the tradition has religious roots, everyone in our Language Leaders group enjoyed it as a secular story about kindness and caring for people in need.
Here are our Joseph and Mary asking for shelter:
And here are our innkeepers waiting to turn them away:
Until, at the end, they are invited in!
Our intrepid Language Leaders sang a difficult song in Spanish with gusto through every stage of the journey—and were rewarded with yummy churros, a traditional treat similar to a donut.
Here's what the song sounds like:
And in case you missed it, a really great, fun explanation of Las Posadas:
¿Que colores estan en un arco iris? What colors are in a rainbow? As we come to the end of an amazing semester of Spanish learning, we celebrate how well Claxton students have mastered the Spanish words for colors by asking them to name the colors of the rainbow. And they can do it!: rojo red naranja orange amarillo yellow verde green azul blue morado purple Way to go, Claxton students! Test your knowledge of the Spanish words for colors with this video:
Our Language Leaders have been learning about Las Posadas, an important Mexican tradition for this time of year—and we wanted to share it with you! This video is a terrific and fun way to share a little bit of information about Las Posadas with your Claxton student and to spread the cheer and fun of the tradition:
And be sure to keep your ears open for the fourth graders singing a song celebrating Las Posadas at the Winter Concert on December 15!
