Weekend Links: Hispanic Heritage to Frogs

Hispanic Heritage Begins Tomorrow ~ Lessons for Kids :: Boca Beth

Resources to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Your Kids :: Modern Mami

School Week 4 :: Montessori Spanish

Back to School with a New Perspective :: Spanglish Baby

Using Cartoons to Teach Greetings :: Language Journeys

Multiplicación con regleta :: ORCA

Frog Unit :: My Bilingual Boys


Also, mi amiga, Carrie, over at the Tiki Tiki is running a series of essays this week on parenting. Marta Darby's (you remember her, don't you?) article ran on Monday, Tracy López from Latina-ish wrote a beautiful essay that ran on Wednesday, and I have a little something that runs today. I hope you will stop by and show us un poquito de cariño...

Spanish Multimedia Offers Huge Selection of Videos, Music and More

Spanish Multimedia is an on-line store filled with a number of videos for Spanish learners. In business for over 17 years, it carries over 5,000 videos, cd's and other supplies for Spanish-speaking families or Spanish learners.

If you look through the Juvenile Teaching Aids, you'll find a number of workbooks and music sets, like the Aprendamos series (shown at right), which focuses on language arts and other basic skills.

Their Children's Book section has what looks to be like a fantastic series of early readers in Spanish. These Lightning Readers feature a controlled word count to give readers practice with essential sight words. There are over 30 titles in this series, so this may be a really great resource for those of you teaching your children to read in Spanish. I'm ordering a few, so I'll get back to you on this one. There's also many other titles and series in this section, so be sure to go through it carefully.

Now possibly the best part of this site is their video section, specifically their Children's videos. There are a number of English programs in Spanish, like Animalia and Los Osos Berenstain, but there's also some Spanish shows like the Cantinflas Show (Jajaja! Stop drooling, Mama!) and Cri-Cri (Okay, Mama, go ahead.)


I am mentioning the products for children available on the site, but there is plenty for adults as well. So sneak over there and take a peak at all of the fantastic riches this site offers and then stop back by and let me know what you think...

Con mucho cariño...

Lesson Plans and Activities for Hispanic Heritage Month

 

Today marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month. What a wonderful opportunity for us as parents to discuss the contributions that Latinos have made in our history. It is also a great time to talk about the diversity of Latino cultures. My kids and I will be talking about the different Spanish speaking countries in the Americas over the next few weeks and looking for activities, books, and lessons that help them appreciate and learn about their heritage.

To help those of you who are interested in supplementing your children's or students' education and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, here are a few of my favorite sites and pages for parents and teachers:

Hispanic Heritage Lesson Plans for Elementary

• 15 Fun Hispanic Heritage Month Activities to Delight and Teach Preschoolers :: Twinkl
  
  
• Preschool: Hispanic Heritage Month :: Tons of activity ideas on Pinterest
  
  
• Pre-K School Activities With a Hispanic Heritage Theme :: SeattlePi
  
  
• Hispanic Heritage Month Kindergarten :: Do a search on TpT that includes the terms "Hispanic Heritage Month" plus the grade you are looking for, like this one!
  
  
• Hispanic Heritage Month Activities for Kids: Celebrating Latino Culture with Our Children! :: ModernMami (A great list of craft ideas)
  
  
• Hispanic Heritage Month :: NEA has a good list of K - 5 resources
  
  

Other Sites & Posts that Teach About Hispanic Heritage  

Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources :: Smithsonian Education

This might be my favorite site for information and activities. Specifically, you might take a look at their sections "From Vaquero to Cowboy" and "Latino Family Stories" and "Música del Pueblo".


A Kid's Guide to Latino History by Valerie Petrillo

The best book on the market covering the history of Latinos in the Americas. Filled with fun activities and recipes for all ages. Click here for a complete review.


Primary & Secondary Education :: Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC)

A VERY comprehensive list of resources for educators and parents. I especially love the sections on lesson plans and resources for children.


Hispanic History :: Teaching with Historic Places

This site has some really good lesson plans for older children in both English and Spanish.


Celebrate Hispanic Heritage :: Scholastic

A good site for information and interactive learning. Lessons are divided according to grade level. Be sure to check out the Teacher's Guide for help preparing and teaching the lessons.

Printables & Digital Activities that Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

• Hispanic Heritage Month Bundle for Elementary - Each of the activities in this bundle may also be purchased separately. Click the link for more information.
  
  
• Hispanic Heritage Month BUNDLE for Middle & High School - These are also sold separately, but they work really well together.
  
  
• A More Complete History: Hispanic Activists (Unit 1) | Teach for Justice - This is a much more thorough and complex unit study of five individuals who impacted history. You can find a sample lesson available for free. The individual lessons are being released starting with Jovita Idár.
  
  
• Hispanics in History BUNDLE - Two of my most popular reading comprehension packets highlight both Latinas and Afro-Latinos in history. 

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Printable Lessons and Activities to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
  
  
• Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 Resources
  
  
• How to Host a Children's Hispanic Heritage Month Party
  
  
• Exploring Spain: A Printable Coloring Page for Hispanic Heritage Month

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Art Lessons

Allowing our children to explore and create is a valuable part of their education. There is a reason that we begin by giving our little toddlers paper and crayons. It helps to develop hand-to-eye coordination and prepares them for writing. But there is something deeply satisfying at seeing your own masterpiece take shape on a blank piece of paper. And if we stop and pay attention, it is fascinating to watch our child's ability to translate to paper what they imagine in their minds.

The benefits that I have discovered from my children's drawing time are many:

Expression of Self

Drawing provides them with an opportunity to reveal dreams, hopes, and secret desires. For whatever reason, sometimes it is difficult for them to put into words those things about which they are thinking. Most of the time, this is a self motivated activity, though I sometimes give them some paper and pencils with directions to "draw something you hope for/dream about".

Fine Motor Development

It is really exciting to watch as their fine motor abilities develop and mature over time. Drawing allows them to master their use of a pencil/crayon so that when it comes time to learn how to write, they are better prepared and therefore, less frustrated.

Comprehension Assessment

Having the children draw the sequence or an alternate ending to a story we've just read, allows me to gauge whether or not they have understood the story and/or the concepts conveyed within. This activity really makes them stop to think about the elements of a story (characters, setting, plot) so that they can accurately depict them in their artistic version.

Focusing the Mind

Occasionally, if my kids seem distracted during an activity, pulling out a journal or paper can help to settle them down and focus on the subject. Today, while doing a science project, my daughter was easily distracted and having trouble with patience. By handing her the science journal and asking her to chart and draw her experiment, I was able to help direct her attention and calm her down.

Point of View

Last week, for the first time, I asked my daughter to examine an object from the top, side, and bottom. Then she was asked to draw what she saw. It was a fabulous way to discuss how things can appear different depending on how you look at them. I feel this concept will serve us well in the future when discussing problem solving.

Having the right tools can also inspire your children to action. My local Michaels currently has several Artist's Tool Boxes on sale for $10. I had been keeping my eye on them for a while, so I snatched up the Drawing Tool Box as soon as I saw them at a more affordable price. It comes with a nice assortment of drawing pencils, erasers, stumps and tortillons, soft pastels, colored pencils, charcoal pencils, sharpener, sketch book, and manakin. And they are all packaged in a small carrying case to help keep things organized in one place.

In order to enjoy these last warm days of summer, we packed up our art equipment and headed to our local park, where we spent the next several hours observing our surroundings and then drawing it on paper. These excursions have actually become some of our favorite moments together. There's nothing like an afternoon spent outdoors, quietly soaking in nature and allowing your creativity to flow. I hope you consider taking some time in the next few weeks to do the same.

To learn more about drawing development in children, check out these sites...

Art Development in Young Children :: eHow

Drawing Development in Children  :: Viktor Lowenfeld

Developmental Art Stages - Art And Your Child :: Artists Helping Children

Art is Important in a Child’s Development :: The Parenting Magazine

Con mucho cariño...

Bilingual Astronomy Book Needs Our Votes

Finding bilingual resources for homeschooling families continues to be a challenge. So of course, I am just so happy when I stumble upon new products or sites that help us on our educational journey. Part of teaching our children is finding ways to make them enjoy the learning process or to spark their interest and imaginations so that they are eager to learn more.

Last week I happened upon this article announcing a new bilingual art book on astronomy for children. Snapshots of the Universe/Instantáneas del universo was created last year by Dark Skies, Bright Kids (DSBK), a program run by volunteer students at the University of Virginia. Their goal is to enhance science education for elementary kids, especially in rural southern Albemarle County elementary schools.

Many of the children attending these rural schools are of Latino heritage, so Kelsey Johnson, the astronomer in charge of the program, and her volunteers have been actively reaching out to these students whose first language is Spanish. In an effort to engage a particularly shy third-grader, Johnson asked one of her team members, Laura Jackson, for help.

Now it so happens that Laura just graduated from the university with a Spanish degree and a minor in astronomy. She also dabbles in art. Excited about the opportunity, Laura began creating paintings of objects found in the universe - el sol/the sun, la luna/the moon, el cohete/the rocket, la Tierra/the Earth - and she labeled them in both English and Spanish. 

The pictures were such a hit with the teachers and (more importantly) with the students, that DSBK decided to develop the idea even further and create a book using the many talents contributed by other university students.  The text was expanded to give more detail, and native speakers from Chile, Mexico, and Spain reviewed it for accuracy.

DSBK is now looking to upload the book to their website by the end of the year and make it available as a free digital download for bilingual families all over the world.

But their most pressing goal is to print up 8,000 copies of Snapshots of the Universe/Instantáneas del universo in order to place them in third grade classrooms throughout Virginia, as well as in every one of the state’s public elementary school libraries.

To do this, DSBK has applied for a $25,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh educational grant program. Because Pepsi allows the public to vote for the applicants, DSBK really needs every vote it can get.

We can help! Everyday between now and the end of September, you can vote for DSBK’s bilingual book project. If you’d like to learn more about the Dark Skies, Bright Kids program, visit their website.

It is SO IMPORTANT for us to support projects like these which serve to further our children's education. Not only does it benefit us, since they are working to make the digital version available to us for free, but it also helps so many children, Latino and non-Latino, to get an opportunity to find the beauty and excitement in learning about science.

I hope you will join me in voting for this most deserving project.



Con mucho cariño...

Weekend Links: Math to Chores

Cubico Math Game :: Homeschool Parent

Tridio :: ORCA

Bookmarks to Make :: The Crafty Crow

Hop Skip and Sing Spanish :: Teaching Español

The Power of Cereal Boxes :: Wanna Jugar with Migo?

Speaking in Tongues :: PBS Video Portal

Homeschool Encouragement: Reflections from a Homeschool Graduate :: Simple Homeschool

Responsibuilders (This sounds like a great tool for families to use to make chore assignments more fun. Too bad it is not available in Spanish. I am thinking about purchasing one for my family.) 

Children's Blog in Spanish: Los Bloguitos

Parents with children whose first language is Spanish will love Los Bloguitos.

Created exclusively for children, this blog is written completely in Spanish. Niños of all ages can benefit from the site as it boosts literacy skills and supports imaginative development through short stories, poems, word searches, comic strips, anecdotes, and fun activities . Small children will enjoy looking at the short videos and illustrations while having the poems and short stories read to them. Older kids can enjoy reading the excerpts for themselves or by contributing works of their own.

Los Bloguitos has an impressive list of contributors starting with its creators René Colato Laínez, Graciela Lecube-Chavez, Christianne Meneses Jacobs, Leticia Pontoni, and Mara Price.  In addition, the blog is enriched by the words and art of a talented group of authors - Isabel Arraiza-Arana, Amy Costales, Edwin Fontanez, Julia del Prado, Maria Gabetta, Maria Perez, Maria Rico, Zoraida Rivera, Sandra Torres - and illustrators - Joan Charles, Steven Corvelo, K. Michale Crawford, Suzy Engelman, Hernan Estrada, Carol Heyer, Sharon Kroner, Laura Lacamara, Yuyi Morales. (Can you say, "Increíble"?)

I asked one of the creators and mi amigo, René Colato Laínez (who is also a contributor to the LBBC), if there was anything special he wanted me to say about Los Bloguitos. He replied by saying that they are always looking for collaborations (poems, stories, cuentos, teaching ideas) from teachers, writers, and children. All the submissions need to be in Spanish.

So consider this a wonderful opportunity to strengthen your child's writing skills, or think about contributing a short story that you have created for your children or students.

But most of all, take the time to explore Los Bloguitos with your children. It is sure to become one of your favorite sites.

Con mucho cariño...

Teach Your Children the Complete Story: A Kid's Guide to Latino History

This book is such a valuable resource!

A Kid’s Guide to Latino History (aff) by Valerie Petrillo could almost be used as a lesson manual discussing the History of Latinos in the Americas, as well as for geography and cultural awareness. The book is fun and educational, but this one is better suited for older children ages 7 and up. However, many of the activities may be modified for younger children.

The work itself is broken down into 10 categories, beginning with Columbus’ discovery of the New World and working its way through the contributions and history of the various Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. Each chapter offers not only the history of a country or people, but also gives directions for creating a craft or recipe from that country. For example, in chapter four, Petrillo highlights Mexican Americans and offers instructions for playing various games such as Lotería, as well as how to make capirotada, cascarones, pan de muerto, and even farolitos. And this is just a sampling! Some of the other chapters focus on Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, and Central and South Americans.

This awesome book is more of a learning manual full of creative projects to capture your child’s interest and pride in their own heritage. One of the things seriously lacking in most (if not all) homeschooling curricula, is a good text describing our history and the important role that Latinos have played in the formation of the United States.

The back of the book is also full of resources for parents and teachers. Included is a bibliography for children AND adults, a list of Latino museums, a section on Latino movies and videos, websites for kids, and finally, an awesome teacher’s guide, which breaks down the activities by grade level, ways to modify the activities, and suggests extended learning opportunities.

This book is an excellent supplement to ANY child’s education and includes a lot of information that your child more than likely would not learn in any school history class. It is a great addition to any bilingual family’s library, and certainly one that will be used often. If you would like to buy your own copy of A Kid’s Guide to Latino History, please click here:

Print-and-Go Activities for Exploring Latino History

If you are looking for easy downloads that focus on historical figures or different Latin American countries and cultures, perhaps one of these would be a good choice for you.

100 Hispanic in World History Research Packet

Designed for older children, this 79-page unit allows students to choose from a list of 100 Hispanics in world history to research and share. The list is available in two formats:

•    The historical figures are arranged by century starting with the 1400s to the present
• The historical figures are arranged by field of influence, including musicians, artists, activists, scientists, athletes, writers, journalists, actors, leaders & politicians, and other notable figures.

Pages for note-taking, research, and one-page presentations are included, as are additional pages for comparing/contrasting historical figures, word association, and listing new vocabulary.

In addition, date cards and information labels are included for creating a timeline display on a wall.

Country Coloring Activities

This bundle shows 4, but I have activity packs available for six countries: Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Spain, Peru, and Venezuela. More countries are on the way, so just check back. Each one introduces children to the country with a printable map for them to color in and fact page with facts numbered to match the images on the map. 

Hispanics in History Fandex

These fact files may be used as individual bookmarks or a fandex. It features 36 historical figures. Directions for fandex assembly and use, as well as individual worksheets, cut-outs and answer key included.

Hispanic in History Character Crowns

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by playing "Who Am I?" with this set of character crowns featuring 30 influential Hispanics in History.

Each crown comes with a fact sheet and extension strips for making the crown. Directions for assembly and instructions on different ways to play the game, as well as different ways to use the crowns are included. Available in English AND Spanish.

10 Latinas in History Reading Comprehension Passages

One-page reading passages about the following 10 famous Latinas:

1. Ellen Ochoa
2. Isabel Allende
3. Dara Torres
4. Frida Kahlo
5. Linda Ronstadt
6. Dolores Huerta
7. Sonia Sotomayor
8. Carolina Herrera
9. Rita Moreno
10. Sor Juana de la Cruz

I've also included reading comprehension worksheets that focus on facts and vocabulary from the passages, a matching activity, dictionary reference, and complete the sentence. Answer key included. ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

Afro-Latinos in History Reading Comprehension Passages

A set of one-page reading passages about the following seven famous Afro-Latinos:

• Celia Cruz
• Sammy Davis, Jr.
• Soledad O'Brien
• Roberto Clemente
• Martina Arroyo
• Pelé
• Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

Reading comprehension questions for each reading passage are included. I've also added reading comprehension worksheets that focus on vocabulary from the passages, a matching activity, true or false, describing words, and a Venn diagram for comparing characters. Answer key included. The reading passages are available in full color or black and white.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• A Mini-Lesson on Bill Meléndez
• Dolores Huerta Lesson Plans, Activities, Coloring Sheets and More
• Frida Kahlo Lesson Plans, Activities, Coloring Sheets and More
• Hispanic Poets: One-Page Reading Passages
• Las Adelitas for Kids & Young Adults
• Arturo Alfonso Schomburg Reading Passage
• 3 Hispanic Women Who Rocked World History

Con mucho cariño...

Taking It Outside: Having Class Time Outdoors

One of the best things about homeschooling is that your child can learn any time, any where.

We've been fortunate the last few days to have the most beautiful weather imaginable. El otoño is right around the corner, so to celebrate, we cut short the amount of time we spent studying indoors, and took our classroom outside. In fact, moving school outside has some definite advantages.

Messy or big projects are nothing to worry about when you have a yard full of grass or a nice big patio to move around. It's so nice to break free from the confinement of a desk or table every once in a while. And little spills don't create major problems, like stains on the floor!

We generally take one or two breaks during the course of our morning. Sometimes I send the kids out to play and other times I keep toys around for imaginative play. But outside there's time for a quick game of tag, soccer, swinging, tree climbing, bike riding, exploring...the list is endless. And getting the kids back in focus is easier when they don't have to actually go back inside, thereby leaving the beauty of their natural setting.

In addition, I find the outdoor class time to be more inspiring for my daughter. Her observations of our natural world spark her curiosity. For example, when discussing the scientific method, she's much more likely to come up with questions about the world around her than she is when she is sitting at the dining room table or her desk. Story time is also more elaborate. I don't know if it is the fresh air, the sunlight, the movement of wildlife around her, or a combination of it all. But her eyes sparkle and she seems more focused when we spend time learning outdoors.

Changing the setting also helps to make class time a teensy bit more fun. And their involvement becomes more enthusiastic as a result of their happiness to break free from the "normal" routine.

So to liven up your classroom a bit, consider some of the following:

• Spend your reading time snuggled up in the rocker on your front porch.

• Spice up math time by allowing your child to solve addition problems under the big oak tree in your yard... using acorns as counters.

• Explore the concepts of standard and non-standard measurement by letting your son practice measuring steps, flowerbeds, plants, or patio furniture.

• Discuss the idea of an aerial, or "bird's eye," view by having your child draw a map of your yard that includes landscape features.

• Use a hopscotch grid to learn about even and odd numbers.

• Allow your child to lay on a blanket for however long it takes to write a story or poem about whatever comes to their mind.

¿Qué dices? You live in an apartment on the 47th floor? No worries. Get out the backpack and make a field trip to your local park. Your child will love the adventure of it all - especially if you include a picnic lunch!

Winter will be here in the blink of an eye. Take advantage of the time you have now to foster in your child a love of the outdoors. Not only does it awaken the scientist within, but it also paves the road for a healthy lifestyle that embraces physical activity.

Con mucho cariño...

Weekend Links: Flags to Spelling

• Making Spelling A Lot More Fun :: The Homeschool Classroom (These are GREAT ideas that I can't wait to try out!) :: Montessori Spanish

• Flags of the World :: Montessori Spanish

• La mejor escuela :: Orca

• Montessori Monday :: Mi Escuelita Montessori

• Symmetry Sketches :: Jimmie's Collage (This activity can be easily adapted for kids of any age.)

• Repurposed Boxes: Notebook Fun :: Family Economics

• 8 Back-to-School Breakfast Ideas & Recipes :: Simple Bites (I really LOVE this post!)

• Whenever I Can, I Use “Positive Parenting” :: Modern Familia

On-line Educational Videos in English and Spanish

Do you already know about Brain POP? I just found out about this amazing site and was even happier to see that it is available in Spanish (for those of you who are teaching exclusively in Spanish). This website presents animated, curriculum-based videos, games, activities, and lesson plans for a wide range of subjects. Their collection of Spanish science movies alone is incredible.

You might also check out their newsletters, which are archived on the site (at least back through March of 2008).

Brain POP is not free, but they are so confident that you will love their content, that they offer a free 5 day trial period for you to explore the sites on your own. It is a little pricey ($80/yr) but they do offer a monthly payment plan ($7.95) if you choose the "Family" subscription plan instead of the "Homeschool" plan. (It is a $1 extra for BrainPop Español.) I think that if you would actually use it on a weekly, if not daily, basis, then the price may be worth it. If not, be sure to at least stop by and look at the free videos and stuff that they offer.

Here's a breakdown of the sites:

Brain Pop is for middle- to upper-school students.

Brain Pop Español is a Spanish-only learning site.

Brain POP Jr is geared for children in grades K- 3.

Brain POP ESL is good for those of you beginning to teach your students/kids English as a second langage. (Man, I wish they had a site for those learning Spanish as a second language!)


Con mucho cariño...

Teacher Resource: The International Children’s Digital Library

Since I discovered this site, I have been so excited to share it with everyone! The International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL Foundation) is rich with a diverse collection of multicultural children’s literature. In this mobile society, ICDL believes that it is every child’s (and family’s) right to have access to books of their native culture “regardless of where they live.” They quote on their website, a 2005 paper published by UNESCO, which states that "Denial to access to information in one's mother tongue is equivalent to a denial of a human right." (YES!!)

Why is it that so many feel that to acknowledge one culture is to deny another? Why can we not embrace both the richness of our heritage AND the beauty of our present society? Why is it wrong to excel at more than one language? Surely this is something to be celebrated rather than punished. Well, apparently the wonderful staff at ICDL feel the same way.

So to provide children around the world with the opportunity to connect with their mother tongue, ICDL is working to create an extraordinary collection of literature from around the world. Currently, the collection has grown to include 4431 books in 54 languages.

They describe their mission as being “to support the world's children in becoming effective members of the global community - who exhibit tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas -- by making the best in children's literature available online free of charge. The Foundation pursues its vision by building a digital library of outstanding children's books from around the world and supporting communities of children and adults in exploring and using this literature through innovative technology designed in close partnership with children for children.”

Bravo!

So, let’s get you started! This website is a pleasure to explore, full of hidden treasures that will thrill any child or parent. You may begin using their Simple Search interface and simply click on a button to refine your search. You can search by age, language, country, fiction/non-fiction, length, characters, picture vs. chapter books, author, award winning, or collection. They also have special exhibitions that focus on themes and have accompanying activities. (Check out “Strong Women and Girls Make the World Go Round”.)

Now, like I said, the site has books available in almost ANY language, but for our purposes, here is the link to their books in Spanish for children ages three to five. There are 77 books currently available, like El caballito de palo. What a fantastic source of multicultural children’s literature this has turned out to be!

I would strongly recommend the International Children’s Digital Library for ALL families (obviously) for its diversity of children’s books from around the world. How fortunate for all of us to have such a dynamic tool at our fingertips!

And because I love this site so much, I will be incorporating reviews of their books into our sister site, the Latin Baby Book Club, so I’ll let you know when the first one runs. I hope you all enjoy this resource as much as I do!

Con mucho cariño…