Los Cardenales estudian la granja / The Cardinals study The Farm

A goal of the Spanish language program is to connect target language instruction to existing classroom studies, making the learning more relevant, including to our youngest learners. My focus is on using the target language to communicate something related to the current theme, rather than repeating words in isolation with no connection to the classroom or the child.

In the Cardinals’ classroom, the students have taken on a “Farm Study.” Therefore, it made perfect sense to integrate their inquiry in their Spanish class experience. To start, los Cardenales watched a Capstone Press interactive video, “Una visita a La granja / A Visit to The Farm”, in español and ingles. This short film introduced the students to some basic vocabulary including some for farm animals. Afterwards, using storybooks, picture cards, games, song and movement los Cardenales practiced saying these words.

granja - farm

establo - barn

carretilla – wheelbarrow

tractor - tractor

cosenchadora - harvester

horca – pitchfork

pala – shovel

heno – hay

gallo - rooster

burro- donkey

pavo - turkey

In learning about their granja (farm) in their classroom and the animales de la granja paintings that adorn the walls, the Cardinals got the chance to learn additional Spanish words.  The students were provided with the opportunity to boost literacy skills by having fun reading and writing the names for some farm mamá animals and their bebes.

gallina (chicken) – pollito (chick)

oveja (sheep) – cordero (lamb)

cabra (goat) – cabrito (kid)

cerdo (pig) – cerdito (piglet)

vaca (cow) – ternero (calf)

caballo (horse) – potro (foal)

Stay tuned, as our study will lead us to learning the Spanish names for foods grown in a farm.