This week in Spanish, we read Calavera Abecedario by Jeanette Winter, and talked about the Calaveras (literally, "skulls") and how they are made every year as toys for kids to play with during the holiday of el Día de los Muertos, which is celebrated in Mexico November 1st and 2nd. This holiday is not scary or sad, but a happy one, where there is much dancing done, especially by the fun-loving Calavera puppets.
In fact, here is a dance we are learning:
When the clock strikes one, two, three, four, and five o'clock,
the dancing calaveras (kah-lah-VEH-rahs) do different things. They look at the moon (la luna), eat rice (el arroz), drink tea (el té), tie their shoes (los zapatos), and jump (pegan un brinco).
We are also learning a song counting calabazas (kah-lah-BAH-sahs)- pumpkins.
Sung to the tune of 10 Little Indians:
Uno, dos, tres calabazas,
cuatro, cinco, seis calabazas,
siete, ocho, nueve calabazas,
diez calabazas son.
Here are the number pronunciations if you need them:
1: OO-noh
2: dohs
3: trehs
4: KWAH-troh
5: SEEN-koh
6: sehys
7: SYEH-teh
8: OH-choh
9: NWEH-veh
10: dyehs
Remember language learning goes farthest if you practice at home with your child! Throughout the year, I will be sending home booklets with stories and vocabulary that we will be seeing in class. Hopefully you can read with your child and learn together :)
Ciao!
-Señora Melendez
