My third grade students love to study about Spain!
I focus first on the royal family. Go to the following sites for background info and photos of both the family and the royal palace:
We learn their full names and their birthdays as well as family roles (la madre, el padre, la hermana, el hermano). The children compare their birthdays to find out if someone has one on the same date as a royal family member (It happened twice already -- what a thrill!!) We make a royal family tree to understand family relationships.
The fact that they live in a castle leads to even more interest. I just happened upon a fine recording of the traditional (and very catchy) Spanish song Matarile, rile, rile about someone who has a castle but loses the keys and finds that they are at the bottom of the ocean. The person then seeks help to recover the keys. This hero/heroine is crowned king or queen at the end. We act out this song with props (old-fashioned large keys from a hardware store, a large picture of a castle, ocean waves for the sea, a scuba mask and fins for the diver, and two crowns labeled El rey de España or La reina de España for the hero/heroine to wear). At the end of the song, we have an elaborate crowning ceremony, complete with a soft pillow to rest the yellow oaktag "crown" upon. The girls curtsy and the boys bow and both say, "Su Majestad." The rest of the class waves mini-Spanish flags. We learn the song verse by verse. It takes a while with third graders, but well worth the time spent.
Geography is also important. The children learn about el océano Atlántico, el mar Mediteráneo, las montañas y el desierto of Spain. And don't forget that a study of Spain would not be complete without mentioning and exploring the subject of Cristóbal Colón.
I use the study of Spain to reinforce the study of continents also. We find out where Spanish is spoken (Equatorial Guinea in África, Spain in Europe, North America, and South America). The rest of the continents are also cognates so I am reinforcing the current third grade curriculum. I also emphasize that even though Spanish is spoken in Central America, it is still part of North America and not South America. The children and teachers are astounded when I mention that Spain is the approximate size of California.
The children also enjoy reviewing in a different way the colors, alphabet, numbers to 31 and classroom objects (previously introduced in second grade) using Castilian pronunciation i.e. azul, el lápiz, cinco, diez, la pizarra. If there are children with names that would be pronounced differently in Spain, I highlight those as well. (i.e. Celiana, Zacarías).
Our continued study of fruits (tropical and non-tropical) also leads us to find out vocabulary differences in Spain: el plátano = la banana, el melocotón = el durazno and to where the different types of fruit grown in Spain (norte, sur, este u oeste). I try to bring in cartons of real clementinas in December when the price is right and they are very fresh. I go to several supermarkets and try to find ones with Spanish words on the wooden cartons. The children beg to be given the empty cartons to take home.
The Spanish flag itself is very beautiful and dramatic with its castle, the lions, and crowns -- and of much interest with children. See this website for excellent downloadable flags:
We made a Spanish flag out of a large piece of posterboard and used non-fading construction paper. I copied the logo on the flag from that website. The children then made a Spanish flag windsock to play with outdoors.
Using the work of the Spanish painters as means to learn Spanish is a great idea! I would suggest concentrating on the basic vocabulary you wish the appropriate grade level to learn i.e. colors, persons (el hombre, la mujer, la niña, el niño, la abuela, el abuelo), numbers, objects, as well as exercises to find shapes (el triángulo, el cuadrado, el rectángulo, la estrella, el círculo, el óvalo). Children are also more interested in painting
when they can see a portrait of the artist. Visit this website for specific ideas:
CYBERSPAIN COLOR ME UP
great works of Spanish artists are downloadable for coloring
link to the Prado Museum provides paintings of the real masterpieces
ENCHANTED LEARNING: SPANISH ART AND ARTISTS
focus on Picasso, Miró, and Goya
At my school, as an outdoor spring activity in May, we honor Spain. The children dress in as much red and yellow as possible or as lions. There are small premios for the winners in each grade. The Spanish flag hangs outside with lots or red and yellow crepe paper and smaller flags of the autonomous communities.
We play with a pelele (a very large puppet man made out of cloth) and toss him up and down on a blanket. I got the idea from the famous painting by Goya:
(As a link to Earth Day in April, the second, third, and fourth graders brought in styrofoam "peanuts" to recycle and stuff our new friend. This activity got them psyched for the actual El pelele en la primavera day to honor Spain. I play typical music played during ferias (fairs) in Spain to provide the right atmosphere.
Lastly, related materials (poems, songs, stories, things to make) about lions, castles, and kings and queens appeal to very young children.
See this site for a lesson planning wherein children construct a simple castle out of construction paper:
See this site for viewing authentic castles in Spain:
