Because the U.S. is the second country in number of Spanish speakers, trailing right behind Mexico, it is crucial that we introduce our students to basic level Spanish vocabulary to help, in the future, engage and interest them in the topic (Lewis, 2014).
According to pandatree.com, learning a second language also has several benefits for child development. Some of these benefits include: improving test scores, boosting empathy, opening more career opportunities, connecting people to their heritage, and encourages cross-cultural understanding.
“But learning a foreign language packs a more powerful punch. Language and culture are so intertwined that learning a foreign language both builds cultural understanding and provides deep insights into how other people see the world… So if getting along really depends on being able to put ourselves in other peoples’ shoes, being able to speak their language helps us more deeply understand how others see the world.”
– pandatree.com
Incorporating Spanish vocabulary also encourages ELL students to participate in class and in Mexican-American culture.
Integrated Curricular Idea: Packing our Suitcases; Second Grade
For the first lesson in our multicultural unit, students will ‘pack a suitcase’ that they will take with them on our ‘trip to Mexico.’ In this project, students will learn Spanish vocabulary for common articles of clothing. This lesson allows students to be creative, while also incorporating a bit of Mexican-American culture and knowledge.
For this project students will need:
Pre-printed clipart pictures of clothes / recycled magazines, two sheets of construction paper, colored pencils, scissors, stickers (optional) and a glue stick.
Step Uno:
Students will begin by folding one of their pieces of construction paper in half to create their suitcase. Students will then cut out wheels and straps for their suitcases and glue them to the top and bottom. Students can decorate the outside of their suitcases or add stickers.
Step Dos:
Students will either color and cut out pre-printed clipart of clothing or cut clothing from recycled magazines. They will then glue the articles of clothing into their suitcases. Teachers should set a requirement for how many articles of clothing students must pack in their suitcases.
Step Tres:
Students will then label each article of clothing in English and Spanish. Teachers can have students use technology to look up translations or have students use an English-Spanish dictionary.
Have students share their finished project with the class!
Using lessons like this to teach elementary level students Spanish promotes Mexican-American culture in our schools, and pushes students to learn more about diverse cultures, and lifestyles. On the other hand, lessons that relate to Mexican-American student, and cover material that they know well, may also make them feel important and comfortable in their learning environment.
Supportive Children’s Books
Teachers can use the book My Friends, by Taro Gomi. This picture book is in both English and Spanish and is repetitive. Although this book is a low reading level, it introduces students to a second language in vocabulary that is familiar to them.
Teachers can use the book From North to South, by Rene Colato Lainez, as a read aloud. This picture book uses some Spanish vocabulary and tells the story of a mother being deported to Mexico. Teacher can use this book for classroom discussion. This book also addresses family separation, which many students may be encountering in their own families.
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, by Kathleen Kull tells the story of Cesar Chavez, who grew up in the Arizona desert then California. This book gives students an inside look at Mexican-American culture and history. This book could also be used by teachers as an introduction to the geographical lesson plan ideas we have included under the tab “Boarding our Plane.”
The picture book I Love Saturdays y Domingos by Alma Flor Ada is a wonderful book that could either be read aloud or shown a video of. The book is about a little girl who visits her European-American grandparents on Saturdays and her Mexican-American grandparents on Domingos (Sundays). The book has beautiful illustrations and is a wonderful introduction to a bilingual book.
If the teacher is unfamiliar with Spanish pronunciation, they could use this video in their lesson plan. Personally, I think the reader is engaging and I love her sound effects as she reads. She also points to the illustrations as she reads in Spanish, so students who are not bilingual can easily follow.
Teachers can use www.readbrightly.com as a resource for finding more books!
Let's Take a Trip to Mexico! 