¡hace frío afuera!

It’s cold outside!

This month, we’re talking about the sights and sounds of winter - el invierno.

• We look at our weather chart and sing ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? (to the tune of ‘London Bridge is falling down’) …What’s the weather like today?

• We look at our clothing chart to decide what we might wear…

  • Me pongo mi abrigo / mi bufanda / mis botas / mis guantes / mi gorro / mi suéter / mis pantalones

  • NO me pongo mis sandalias / mi camiseta / mis pantalones cortos

• We tell a story about our muñeco de nieve (snowman), how he’s feeling, what he’s wearing…and what happens when the sun comes out!

CUENTOS / stories

tengo un muñeco de nieve….i have a snowman (class story, contact me for info)

el chocolate de abuelita….Grandma’s chocolate, by Mara Price

CANCIONES / songs

hace frío…it’s cold, by the Okee Dokee Brothers (unavailable for purchase currently…watch this space and come sing in class with me in the meantime!)

soy un muñeco de nieve…i’m a snowman, by Super Simple espanol

copo de nieve…snowflake, by Super Simple español

VIDEOS

veo, veo….i spy [winter themed]

soy un muñeco de nieve …i’m a snowman

copo de nieve…snowflake, by Super Simple español

CULTURA

I love to encourage my students to reflect on how things like the weather, the landscape, ways of life and clothing in other places might look similar and different to our own.

This authentic cultural exploration is the perfect context for to learning language and, we hope, cultivates a curiosity for and understanding of how much we all have in common, but also our many unique differences!

…Bolivia y los Andes

…In January we visited La Paz in Bolivia and met the little figurine el ekeko which is traditionally bought and gifted for new year’s luck at the festival of Las Alasitas in January.

…We discovered that it’s not winter in Bolivia - it is summer in countries south of the equator! Climate in this part of South America varies dramatically depending on whether you’re in the tropical north, the plains, the marine west coast or high in the Andes. We see this also in our own continent.

…We observed el gorro andino (el chullo): the traditional Andean hat made of llama, alpaca or vicuña wool. How does it compare to the woolen gorros that you wear when it’s cold out?

…Explore the sights and sounds of the Andes Mountain region in South America.

…España/Spain

…Move over tooth fairy! Meet el ratón Pérez…Perez the mouse! Children in Spain and some Latin American countries leave their teeth under the pillow, for Perez, who brings them a coin in return!

…una gorila famosa: meet copita de nieve, (Snowflake) - the much loved, rare albino gorilla who lived for many years in Barcelona Zoo

…el flamenco: the legendary, passionate dance born in southern Spain. What do you hear? See? Feel?