Que llueva, que llueva…Let it rain!
¡Llegó la primavera! Spring is here!
We are exploring what we SEE and HEAR in Spring time!
¿Qué veo en la primavera? What do i see in the Spring?
¿Qué hay en la primavera? What is there in the Spring?
We discover how spring animals MOVE using our poem/story and song “Que llueva, Que llueva” (see below)
We discover that animal sounds are perceived differently in other languages and cultures;
We visit Nicaragua to learn about their Spring festival, El Palo de Mayo. We catch a glimpse of the strong Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage in this beautiful Central American country.
We meet a special frog from Puerto Rico!
Scroll down for words & phrases, videos & songs to accompany our unit!
Poema de la primavera / Spring poem*
Que llueva = let it rain
Que llueva = let it rain
Llegó la primavera = Spring is here
Los pajaritos cantan = the birds are singing
Las flores se levantan = the flowers are growing
los conejitos saltan = the rabbits are jumping
las ranitas cantan = the frogs are singing
los patitos nadan = the ducks are swimming
Los animales/the animals
Flashcards… download here
Movements….
nada [NA-da] (swims)
vuela [BWE-la] (flies)
salta [SAL-ta] (jumps)
camina [cam-EE-na] (walks)
repta or se arrastra [REP-ta / seh arr-AS-tra] (crawls)
Libros/Books
‘¿Quién salta?’ (Who hops?) by Katie Davis.
Coquí (¡Hola! Hello!), by Valery Ortiz
Coquí in the City, by Nomar Perez (alternative read aloud here)
Conejito (little bunny) - a folk tale from Panamá, by Margaret Read McDonald
El baile de los cascarones (Dance of the Eggshells), by Carla Aragón
Un recorrido por las estaciones (A skip through the seasons), by Stella Blackstone
Me gusta la lluvia (I like the rain), by Sarah Nelson
Canciones / Songs (all on our playlist, too!)
La primavera, by ABC Spanish in Motion
El coquí by Jose Luis-Orosco
Vuela, vuela (Fly) by 123 Andrés
¡Salta, Salta! (Jump!) by 123 Andrés
El coquí (The frog) by Wee Sing
Puerto Rico, yo te quiero (Puerto Rico, I love you) by Yubá-Iré
Los pollitos (the chicks), Traditional Nursery Rhyme sung by Jose Luis Orosco
Somos como las flores (we are like the flowers) by Charlotte Diamond
La primavera, by Los Pompillos
El conejito blanco, by Spanish Together
Como los animalitos, by el Reino Infantil
Muévete como los animales by PinkFong
*Inspired by the poem ‘Que llueva’ by Carolina Gomez of Fun for Spanish Teachers, and the song ‘La Primavera’ by ABC Spanish in Motion. Both are adaptations of the traditional song ‘Que llueva’ for little learners. Many variations of this song can be found around the Spanish speaking world!
Cultura - Nicaragua
Every May, on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, a colorful Spring festival takes place. El palo de mayo celebrates rain and new life and rich in Afro-Caribbean rhythms and heritage. Families come together to attend parades, dance and have fun.
Watch a Video of a Palo de Mayo parade!
As we explore Nicaragua and Central America, we play a version of a traditional children’s game, using a wooden spinning top, called el trompo. This is a popular game played in Mexico and many Central American countries, with origins dating back centuries.
Puerto Rico - la isla del encanto …the island of enchantment
Cultura - Puerto Rico
This magical Caribbean island with its unique latino identity and indigenous history, is steeped in history and rich in diverse natural wonders and wildlife. Puerto Ricans (las boricuas) are lulled to sleep by the magical sound of the coquí - a tree frog unique to Puerto Rico.
Watch some sights and sounds of Puerto Rico here
Discover the incredible bird life in Puerto Rico here
See and hear el coquí up close here
Puerto Rico / el coquí study materials for elementary-aged kids here and here