Winter has arrived both in Brookline and on our friend Pedro's magnet-board farm! In autumn, Pedro's garden was full of fall vegetables and the tree branches decorated with multi-colored leaves, but now, theleaves are gone and all is covered with snow! Pepito and his sister Lucía have bundled up and ventured out to play with the animals.
Pedro's farm is an important instructional tool, especially for students in grades K-1. A simple scene and a few magnets and finger puppets provide a wealth of opportunities to use Spanish to discuss Pedro's world
and our own. As students view and play with the pieces, we are able to discuss a range of topics, including animals, pets, family members, colors, shapes, sizes, physical descriptions, and climate. To see a full list of vocabulary for each of these topics at each grade level, please visit the Curriculum Guides page and scroll to the K-2 section. Here is a starter list with some of the key vocabulary we use when discussing the farm:
Pedro's farm is an important instructional tool, especially for students in grades K-1. A simple scene and a few magnets and finger puppets provide a wealth of opportunities to use Spanish to discuss Pedro's world
and our own. As students view and play with the pieces, we are able to discuss a range of topics, including animals, pets, family members, colors, shapes, sizes, physical descriptions, and climate. To see a full list of vocabulary for each of these topics at each grade level, please visit the Curriculum Guides page and scroll to the K-2 section. Here is a starter list with some of the key vocabulary we use when discussing the farm:
la granja - farm la nieve - snow el árbol - tree el establo - stable/barn el perro - dog el gato - cat el cerdo - pig la vaca - cow la cabra - goat la oveja - sheep el caballo - horse el pato - duck el pájaro - bird | el muñeco de nieve - snowman el hermano - brother la hermana - sister rojo - red anaranjado - orange amarillo - yellow verde - green azul - blue morado - purple rosado - pink café/marrón - brown gris - gray blanco - white negro - black |
One of our favorite games to play in Kindergarten and first grade is Veo, veo, a Spanish version of "I Spy". As we look at the farm, I announce the color of the secret item by saying "Yo veo algo... (color)" (I see something...). Students then take turns guessing the item. At this point, many of our students are independent enough to take my place in leading the game. This quick and easy game can easily be played at home, using real-life objects or illustrations in a book. To practice color words, take a look at the videos posted here (scroll down to find color videos).