Las Posadas Activities for Kids

Finding Las Posadas activities for kids can be difficult. So I thought it would be a great idea to put together one post that lists crafts and other activities for children of different ages. I've included craft tutorials, as well as a short list of printables that are available for parents and educators. For additional educational ideas, be sure to check out my post on Las Posadas Lesson Plans, Crafts, Activities, and Music

Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

Las Posadas Crafts for Kids

Here's a list of hands-on crafts for kids to make as they prepare for Las Posadas.

• Luminarias are one of the main crafts associated with the holiday tradition. They are often made to line the walkways outside the homes where the peregrinos will walk to ask for posada.
  
  
• These Piñata Ornaments are easy to make and fun to fill!
  
  
• Have your children make this Fast & Easy Papel Picado Banner to decorate doorways or other areas inside the home.
  
  
• Redwood City Public Library has this fabulous tutorial for making a piñata craft
  
  
• OCPublicLibraries has this simple video tutorial for making a lovely Paper Poinsettia Craft:

• And here's another poinsettia craft from Red Ted Art.
  
  

Crafts for Older Students

• If you have older children who would like more of a challenge, consider this tutorial from Craft in America in which paper artist Kathleen Trenchard demonstrates how to create a luminaria with scissors.
  
  
• You may also enjoy this tutorial on How to Make Papel Picado with Mario A. Hernandez
  
  
• Don't miss this EXCELLENT tutorial on making your own traveling nacimiento by Sabor a Cajeta.

Materials to have on hand

• Different colored cardstock
• different colored ribbon
• Scissors
• Tape
• Ruler

Printables

• Las Posadas Minibook
  
  
• Las Posadas Bilingual Book of Words
  
  
• Posada Countdown Calendar!
  
  
• Do-It-Yourself Posada Kit

Other Posts on Las Posadas

• 4 Children's Books to Celebrate Las Posadas
  
  
• MommyMaestra's Three Favorite Versions of the Las Posadas Song

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Spring Flowers Pronoun Game in Spanish

For some of us, it feels like spring has already sprung and been squashed by summer. But for most of people, warmer temperatures and blooming gardens are filling the days. Now is a good time to keep up your child's Spanish lessons with this month's freebie from MommyMaestra sponsor, Spanish for You!, a perfect activity for young Spanish learners!

This month's freebie is a game for learning about personal pronouns. Spring Flowers Pronoun Game helps your young student learn the Spanish words for pronouns. This three-page download comes with instructions, a pronoun help sheet, and a game sheet.

Download the printable file here

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Remember! Spanish for You!'s program is geared for middle schoolers and is the perfect choice for homeschoolers and afterschoolers alike because their concepts are carefully divided up into manageable bundles that are available for immediate download from their website.

If this is your first time here, you can find other free samples from Spanish for You! here. There are some fantastic downloads of games and activities for you and your family to enjoy. If you enjoy this activity, be sure to visit the Spanish for You! website where you'll find tons of additional resources for you to help your young Spanish learner!

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• Spring Words Daily Activities in Spanish
  
  
• Spring Fun Spanish Learning Calendar
  
  
• Spring Fun Bilingual Booklet

17 Dinosaur-Themed Crafts for Kids

You guys know that I have a 4-year-old. And he is all about EVERYTHING that is dinosaur related. I'm reminded of the meme from Sheldon Comics that is of a graph showing the time in your life that you know the most about dinosaurs.

So in honor of my kid, I'm sharing this list of 15 dinosaur crafts for kids. We're already working our way through it!

Dinosaur Crafts for Kids

Each of these dinosaur crafts for kids are the perfect way for kids to use their imagination and creativity making their own prehistoric creatures! Whether it’s for a classroom craft, birthday party activity, or just for fun at home, there are so many awesome dinosaur crafts for kids to choose from!

1. DIY Dino Bones Activity
   Do you have a young archaeologist in your house? Then this activity is for them! First, create your own dinosaur bones, teeth, and claws using air-dry clay. Then bury them. Then dig them up and record the data!
   
   
   
   
   
2. DIY Fossil Dig
   This was part of my Summer of Fun series seven years ago! My son was 8 at the time and had a blast creating his own fossil dig. A list of materials is included.
   
   
3. Handprint Dinosaur Card Craft
   Sam at Simple Everyday Mom has this super fun Triceratops handprint card that is pretty easy to put together. (My 4yo was quick to point out that it is not a Stegosaurus as I called it by mistake!)
   
   
4. Paper Dinosaur Puppet Craft
   These puppets are perfect for story time. All you need is the free template, some construction paper (or colored cardstock), glue, and popsicle sticks. Then you can encourage your child to make up his own story using these puppets. :)
   
   
5. Clothespin Dinosaur Craft
   This was the first craft we put together and my 4yo wanted to copy the color exactly. We didn't paint the clothes pins, though. And we used googly eyes instead of paint, but the joy he had was just as strong as it would have been if we had!
   
   
   
   
   
6. Cupcake Liner Dinosaur Craft
   These are the cutest little cupcake liner dinosaurs! And putting them together is so simple. If you eat a lot of cupcakes at home, then you probably already have all the materials you need.
   
   
7. Movable Dinosaur Craft
   Another great dino craft from Crafts by Amanda. This movable brachiosaurus (?) is 10 times the fun simply because his body parts move!
   
   
8. Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils
   These are crazy fun for little hands to make. And they even get to use their own dinosaur collection! All you need are 3 simple ingredients and then let the fun begin.
   
   
9. Paper Plate Triceratops
   If you aren't afraid of a little paint in your little one's hands, then this step-by-step tutorial and video may be for you!
   
   
10. Dinosaur Handprint Craft
    My 4yo is always asking to make handprint crafts, so this one from Mombrite is PERFECT for him...and maybe your child, too? I like handprint crafts because they let kids practice their tracing and cutting skills. Yay for fine-motor skill development!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. DIY Scratch Art Dinosaur Craft
    Here's another super clever activity from Messy Little Monster. Younger kids may need a little help with this one, but both they and older children with love this craft lesson. It involves creating a dinosaur from cardboard, layering it with media and then scratching it off to reveal the beautiful colors below.
    
    
12. Tape Resist Dinosaur Bone Art
    If you're looking for STEAM activities, this is it! How fun is it to create your own dinosaur "skeleton" drawing using tape-resist paint techniques?
    
    
13. Dinosaur Craft for Kids
    This is cute and fun for little fingers. Mom will have to probably cut out the pieces, though, for younger children. If you make several at a time, though, your kids can have a good time mixing and matching pieces!
    
    
14. T-Rex Dinosaur Craft
    T-Rex is everyone's favorite. So this is an excellent activity for birthday parties or dino-themed classes. The best part is that Jeannie's template includes both a small and big version. :)
    
    
15. DIY Felt Dinosaur Plushie
    Oh my gosh, this one makes me want to squeal. It's adorable! But not a craft for little ones to put together. Older kids or parents can make this easy plushie then give it to the younger kids to play with. Ha!
    
    
    
    
    
16. Dinosaur Night Light
    For older kids who like more of a challenge, this one from Crafts by Amanda is the bomb! Your kids will love making their own night light while letting their imagination run wild.
    
    
17. Bubble Wrap Print Dinosaurs
    Mess at its best! No one can resist bubble wrap - especially when you throw in a little paint!

Books & Printables

And if you have little ones, pairing one of these activities with a book - like this one from Laurie Berkner - is a win/win! I've even included a free download to go with the book. 

And for our bilingual learners, here's a printable set of dinosaur-themed puzzle cards with vocabulary in both English AND Spanish - you choose which language works best for your family.

If you're looking for more art resources, check out these on MommyMaestra:

• 15 Sandía Crafts for Summer!
• Día Craft: DIY Book Tutorial
• How to Make Your Own Peruvian Retablo
• MommyMaestra Summer of Fun: Continuous Line Art
• 5 Ways to Deal with All Your Child's School Art/Paperwork
• The Benefits of Messy Art

Lesson Plans about Artists

• Joan Miró Activities, Crafts, Lesson Plans and More
• Frida Kahlo Lesson Plans, Activities, Coloring Sheets and More
• Pablo Picasso Lesson Plans, Activities, Coloring Pages, and More
• Diego Rivera Lesson Plans, Books, and More

Daylight Savings Activity for Children

Tonight, before we go to bed, most of us will be setting our clocks back. For some, it is a blessed extra hour of sleep...unless you have small children like me. 😭

Have you heard (or participated) in Tinkergarten's Annual Fall Lantern Walk? I just found out about this lovely tradition that is designed to help kids welcome the end of daylight saving time and shed light and positivity on an already challenged year. 

This national event is normally held in groups outdoors and led by local Leaders but will be held virtually this year, keeping families safe and allowing anyone to join from anywhere around the world! Kids are asked to create homemade “lanterns” and to make it extra special, add a positive thought or a special memory from this year. Families can sign up to receive this year’s toolkit and join in activities leading up to the event.

On their website, you can watch the how-to video so you can help your child make their own lantern using VERY simple materials.

What a lovely way to help children learn about Daylight Savings and help them adjust to the shorter days.

Activities for Kids Celebrating Halloween at Home

Will your Halloween be different this year? Where I live, the local government is urging people to stay home and avoid trick-or-treating this year. If you've decided to celebrate Halloween at home this year, here is a list of activities for you to consider and most require materials you have at home or can easily find at your local dollar store or Target. 

What about the TREATS?

Instead of trick-or-treating this year, here are two alternatives:

1. Buy bags of your favorite Halloween candy at your local grocery store ahead of time. This is a win-win because you aren't stuck with candy no one likes. :)
2. Start a new tradition and make/bake your own Halloween treats together! Check out this list of recipes:

• Frankenstein Cereal Treats
• 13 Spooky-Good Mummy Recipes 
• 100+ Fun Halloween Recipes For Kids
• Vampire Hot Chocolate
• Easy Mini Pumpkin Spice Donuts
• Betty Crocker Kitchens Easy Halloween Dinners and Desserts

Games

Looking for fun games and activities to distract kids and keep them busy having fun? Check out these...

• Glow-in-the-dark necklace ring toss using pumpkin stems or witches' hats
• Ghost cup stacking game - AND then use the cups for ghost bowling!
• Love and Marriage blog has these super fun 9 Minute-to-Win-It games
• Halloween Ghost Toss Game from Michaels. See their list of DIY materials.
• Free Printable I Spy Halloween
• Mummy Bowling Game
• Make a Candy Catapult
• Play Spider Races!

Books

Read some books! Here are some to consider...

Cascarones Activity for Earth Day

© Can Stock Photo - glenkar

Did you have any cascarones left over from your Easter weekend? Probably not, but just in case, I thought I would share this one activity that is perfect for celebrating Earth Day.

(If you're wondering what cascarones are, check out this post that talks about the history of this creative tradition.)

Either way, growing seedlings inside eggshells is a practical and organic way to garden and welcome spring. It's also fun! I have attached a video below from Miracle Grow (no paid promotion - I just looked up videos and liked this one best!) that gives the simple directions for growing seeds (herbs, perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, vines - you name it!) in an eggshell.

Our chickens lay a lot of eggs and we grow a LOT of seeds. So this is a perfect activity for our family.

Don't waste your money on expensive trays. Just use what you probably have available in your kitchen - eggs and egg trays.

How to make eco-friendly planters from eggshells

The directions are simple:

1. Save your eggshells from your normal meal schedule, being careful to crack the eggs on one end (the big end!) so that most of the egg remains intact. 
2. Wash the eggshell thoroughly. 
3. Use a pin, thumbtack, or small nail to poke a few drainage holes in the opposite end.
4. Fill your eggshell 3/4ths of the way full with potting soil.
5. Drop your seeds inside the egg. (You can do just one seed, but I think two(2) seeds is best so that you have a backup if one doesn't sprout!)
6. Cover lightly with more potting soil being careful to leave a lip of eggshell around the top so that the soil/seed don't wash away when you water it.
7. Place your egg tray full of planted eggs in a sunny windowsill where it will be warm and get plenty of light. 
8. Water every few days depending on how quickly the soil dries out. Those seeds love the moisture, but not a soggy environment!

Once your seeds sprout and are a good two or three inches with at least two leaves, you can transfer your seedlings to a bigger pot. Be sure to gently crack the eggshell apart so that the roots can grow and spread in the new soil and not become root bound in the eggshell.

The great thing, too, is that eggshells can benefit the new plant. They provide calcium carbonate, which the seedling uses to build healthy, strong cell walls.

Other Earth Day Activities

You may also enjoy these other Earth Day activities and printables.

• Earth School
• 5 Simple Ways to Celebrate Earth Day at Home
• Free Earth Day Acrostic Poem Activity
• Free Download: Bilingual Earth Day Puzzle Cards
• Bilingual Earth Day Activities for PreK - 1st
• 5 Latino Children's Books to Celebrate #EarthDay

Happy Earth Day!

Quick, No-Prep Day of the Dead Printables for Kids

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is only a few days away! Are you looking for quick, no-prep printables to introduce the holiday to your kids or students and to keep them busy? MommyMaestra has you COVERED!

Take a look at just some of the fabulous printables I have available (ALL of them in English AND Spanish!). The links below are to my TpT store, but you can also find them in my MommyMaestra shop. (Psst! If you buy directly from my shop, use the discount code DOD18 to get 25% off all Day of the Dead printables!)

Día de los Muertos Reading Passage

This is a one-page history on the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. From where it is celebrated to the significance of the items closely associated with the holiday, this informational text is written for students in 4th - 8th grade. Includes an 8-question comprehension quiz plus answer key. 

Día de los Muertos Pre-K Activity Pack

Introduce your young students to the Día de los Muertos holiday with this fun activity pack! Available in English and Spanish with answer keys.

This pack includes:

- Number recognition (1-10)

- Find the difference

- Bigger vs. smaller

- Montessori nomenclature cards (English & Spanish)

- Book List of Day of the Dead Picture Books (Bilingual)

- Maze

- Tracing sheet

- Shadow match

- Vocabulary

- Writing sheets

Día de los Muertos Booklets

Celebrate and educate with this set of Day of the Dead booklets! This packet features three different styles of books: a flip book, an accordion book, and a booklet. Just choose the one that best suits your needs. 

All three are available... 

• in black-and-white or full color, 

• with descriptive text or blank to allow students to write inside, 

• and in English or Spanish.

Great for ESL, dual immersion, or Spanish learners. 

Write Your Own Calavera Poems

Teach your students about Calavera Poetry by having them create their own calavera poems! This activity includes a brief description of calavera poems, directions and graphic organizer for writing your own poem, sample calavera poems, and various Día de los Muertos writing pages. The directions and sample poems are in English only. The writing pages may be used in any language.

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda Labels

Is your class setting up an ofrenda this year? These labels help to explain to observers the various elements in the display. They may be used as framed posters or pinned to a display board.

In this packet, you’ll also find a set of small free-standing labels for each student to fill one out and place it next to the framed photograph(s) of their deceased loved one(s). These labels have space for the student to write the name, relationship, and likes/hobbies of the person being remembered.

Día de los Muertos Minibook

This minibook is an introduction to the Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This book includes coloring pages of items most closely associated with the holiday, as well as brief descriptions in English and Spanish that are easy for young children to understand.

This file contains THREE books: 

• a bilingual book (English & Spanish)

• an English only (for ESL)

• a Spanish only (for Spanish learners)

Día de los Muertos Bilingual Puzzle Cards

For younger students, this set of bilingual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)-themed puzzle cards is a simple way to introduce new vocabulary. 

The 7 cards feature items associated with Day of the Dead...in English and Spanish.

Just print, cut, shuffle, and have your students piece them back together. This activity it good for language learners and preschoolers. You can laminate them for added durability.

Día de los Muertos Ten Frames

Incorporate a little culture and have fun with math! This set of ten frames comes with Day of the Dead images, such as pan de muerto, papel picado, cempasuchitl, and more. Includes blank frames for additional ten frame activities. 

Día de los Muertos Triptychs

Teach your students about Day of the Dead - Día de los Muertos - with my triptychs.

For younger students: these triptych coloring pages can be used as stand-alone triptychs or as templates for aluminum crafts. This kit comes with three printable triptych designs.

For older students: the triptychs include an informational passage that talks about the tradition and some of the elements associated with it.

Day of the Dead - Día de los Muertos - Activity BUNDLE

Save! When you purchase this activity bundle for Día de los Muertos. Best suited for elementary students, first-year Spanish students, ESL, and bilingual or immersion students. 

This packet includes five of my Day of the Dead activities.

DIY Dino Bones Activity

I'm delighted to partner with Education.com to bring you this fun DIY dinosaur bones activity. If you've never visited their site, you don't know what you're missing. The ad-free, online learning program is for students in Pre-K through the 5th grade. It's designed to help boost your child's math and reading skills. Today's activity is for those of you with young dinosaur lovers at home.

Enjoy...

Find the Dino Bones!

Does your child love learning about dinosaurs? Does he like digging around in search of hidden treasures? This fun activity combines these two popular pastimes. Even better, it will give your young dino lover math practice measuring and creating a record of events at the same time.

What You Need:

• Old newspaper
• Clay or cardboard
• Soil
• Large pail
• Spoon
• Paper (several sheets)
• Ruler
• Pencil

What You Do: 

1. Cover your work space with old newspaper to keep the area clean.
2. Remove the clay from its container or packaging and divide the material into several smaller pieces.
3. Form each of the pieces of clay into bone shapes of varying lengths then allow them to dry until the material is hard. Check the instructions on the packaging for the optimal drying time.
4. If you do not have clay you can use cardboard instead. Use a pencil to draw out several bones in varying lengths on the cardboard. Carefully cut the shapes out using the scissors.
5. Complete this step without your child watching: Spoon your soil into the large pail, burying each of the bones as you fill the container. Ensure that all of the bones are completely hidden.
6. Have your child use the spoon (or his bare hands!) to dig through the soil to find each of the hidden bones.
7. As each bone is removed, have your child place it carefully on a sheet of paper just like an anthropologist would.
8. Once all of the bones have been found and placed on the paper, have your child measure each of them and then record the results on a separate piece of paper.
9. Finally, have him place all of the bones in order from largest to smallest.
10. Be sure to take pictures as you go so you have a record of the "dig." Show them to your child once the activity is complete.

Nurture Your Little Scientist with the Magic School Bus Science Club!

This post may contain affiliate links. 

One of my kids' favorite book series has been The Magic School Bus. They used to pour through the books, reading about everything from the bottom of the ocean to dinosaurs. Sometimes I would read them aloud and sometimes they'd read to themselves. We'd imagine ourselves shrinking, shrinking, shrinking down in size until we were small enough to drive around the inside of our own bodies with Ms. Frizzle and our fictional classmates. 

I'll forever have the memory of sitting on the couch with my kids reading the books. And I'll remember that moment when I check the mailbox and let out a little squeal because our Magic Tree House Kit of the Amazing Human Body has arrived and I can't wait to use it in our homeschool lessons.  

So I have to tell you about this opportunity from Educents to give your kids an AMAZING , HANDS-ON, YEAR-LONG SCIENCE JOURNEY!

For All the Kids Who Love to Ask “Why?"

The Magic School Bus Science Club is a 12-month science kit subscription based on the award-winning series, The Magic School Bus. If you haven't heard about the series before, each of the stories center on the antics of a frizzy-red haired fictional elementary school teacher, Ms. Frizzle, and her class, who board a “magic school bus” to take them on field trips to impossible locations, like the solar system, clouds, the past, and inside the human body. This story-based learning took the science scene by storm in the 90's.

But it's the 2000s!!

The kit subscription takes it to the next level with HANDS-ON learning that all ties into the stories! It's also HALF OFF FOR 10 MORE DAYS! This is a great choice for families with multiple children, kinesthetic, and visual learners - and just a fun, educational activity for a rainy day! The kits include experiments related to Volcanoes, Weather, Water, Fossils, Bacteria and Fungi, Star and Planets, and the weather. One experiment your kids will be really excited to try is the Volcano Kit! The kit comes with a small volcanic rock, a pumice stone, sheets of paper, black paint, paint brush, a magnifying glass all to build a volcano. Check out the video below to see the fun experiment and explosive result (this one is from Educents)...
  
And there are so many more experiments! Think of a sibling science club coming to life in your home - or friends bonding over making volcanoes explode, and learning all about how the human body works! Getting kids excited about STEM learning is exciting stuff. And it's especially exciting because it's HALF OFF FOR 10 MORE DAYS. 

Here's the run down:



The 12 Magic School Bus themed science experiments sent to your doorstep, monthly include:

• Detailed, extensive 12-page colorful manual that is full of experiments and topic information
• Each manual was based on the award-winning Magic School Bus Book (and TV) series
• A handy dandy cheat sheet for adults, so you can lead the way with no background in science (shhh.. I always preferred reading...)
• Tools and instructions for a at least 7 interactive experiments per month
• Online Clubhouse for further exploration on each package topic (take advantage of this!!)
• Certificate of Completion - a great way to reinforce learning and accomplishments

The Price: Package is for $119.00 currently (50% off deal for only ten days). You do have to pay it at once, but it comes out to $10/month over the course of the year. For me, that's a solid investment!

Explore the Outdoors with PBS KIDS

This morning, I filled my hummingbird feeder for the third time this year. Do you know what that means? It means that despite several late freezes, spring has officially sprung here in North Carolina. We welcome the warmer temperatures with great joy because my kids get so restless being trapped inside during the winter months. The hammocks get shaken out, the bike tires aired up, and the gardening gloves get dirty again.

We look for other ways to enjoy the outdoors as a family, too. A couple of weeks ago, we broke out the kayaks and the fishing poles and headed down to our local swamp. We were lucky to have warm weather and plenty of biting fish! I loved that my family had the opportunity to enjoy such a beautiful setting at the beginning of the season.

And once again, PBS KIDS is celebrating their annual Explore the Outdoors initiative with new programming and fantastic online content for your family. Last week, new episodes of Ready, Jet, Go! aired featuring earth science and astronomy concepts. Maybe your child learned about asteroids, meteors, and meteorites. Or maybe they learned about the northern lights.

My kids are anxiously awaiting the new Wild Kratts episodes coming out next week, including the series' 100th episode! In true creature adventure fashion, my kids have been outside scouting for wildlife. They have been monitoring a dove nest in our carport for the last several weeks and the two babies finally fledged a few days ago.

This thing actually works!

The first butterflies showed up a few weeks ago. In fact, this weekend, my two kids went out and caught a tiger swallowtail and set it up in a butterfly habitat for an hour or two for observation before letting it go.

But you don't have to have a fancy butterfly house for your kids to enjoy nature. There are fun activities available at pbsparents.org/outdoors that you can download for your children. From making planters out of tin cans to making your own Wild Kratts nature journal, you'll find easy to follow directions and engaging printables.

Also next week, you'll see new episodes of Nature Cat. Your little ones might learn different ways they can help the environment or about nocturnal animals. So be sure you don't miss out!

Martin Luther King Jr. Bilingual Writing Activity

Parents and teachers! Use this bilingual Martin Luther King Jr. writing activity to help students in 3rd - 6th grades reflect on equality, peace, and building a better world.

This simple yet impactful activity is an age-appropriate resource to help children reflect on Dr. King’s vision, words, and life. It's perfect for both classrooms and at-home learning. 

On MLK Day, our nation celebrates the values of equality and peace with a national holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an opportunity for us to discuss the actions of this historic civil rights leader, and how they affect us today. One way to do this in the classroom is with my Martin Luther King Jr. bilingual writing activity.

Martin Luther King Jr. Bilingual Writing Activity

If you're looking for a fun little activity to do with your children, check out my bilingual writing activity on TeachersPayTeachers. It only takes 20 - 30 minutes to complete and helps students to think about the question: What would make the world a better place? My kids enjoyed doing this activity this morning.

The activity is available in English and Spanish.

How it Works

Begin by printing the writing page of your choice. Ask your students to think about the question: What would make the world a better place? Then ask them to write their answers in the lined space provided. Encourage them to use a complete sentence.

Next, print the cover flaps. Have students color in the original writing page and the cover flaps, then cut out the signs. Make sure the do one vertical cut down the middle to make the flaps. Apply glue to the back edges as indicated on the page and attach the flaps over their writing section on the original writing page. 

Allow to dry and it's done!

Supplemental Activities and Resources

For picture books to share with your children before or after the writing assignment, take a look at my list of 5 Books to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. There are tons on the market, but these five books approach the subject from different perspectives focusing on the man and/or his message.

You can also find more ideas and resources on my Martin Luther King Jr. Pinterest board.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Martin Luther King Jr. Glossary for Families
  
  
• Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Triptych Activity
  
  
• 5+ Videos for Kids on How to Draw Martin Luther King Jr.
  
  
• Racial Justice & Equity Glossary Packet
  
  
• Susan B. Anthony Glossary for Families
  
  
• Teach for Justice Lesson Plans
  
  

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Hispanics in History Fandex

I have to admit it: Hispanic Heritage Month always inspires me. Every year, I discover new people or learn fascinating facts about the ones I already know, and their stories are remarkable. But they should be shared all year long, not just one month out of the year.

So I was motivated to create a new activity that can be used at any time. The Hispanics in History Fandex is my new favorite printable.

Once printed and cut out, these fact files may be used as individual bookmarks or a fandex. As bookmarks, your students can choose one and take turns presenting their figure to the class, or write a report. The fandex is awesome for literacy centers. Students can flip through it and select three figures they enjoyed learning about and use the worksheet to share what they've learned.

Download the sample file for ideas on more activities

These fact files feature 36 historical figures:

Cesar Chavez
Dolores Huerta
Sonia Sotomayor
Ellen Ochoa
Pablo Picasso
Tito Puente
Celia Cruz
Roberto Clemente
Rita Moreno
Frida Kahlo
Dara Torres
Mario José Molina
Diego Rivera
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Soledad O'Brien
Sylvia Mendez
Martina Arroyo
Pelé
Salvador Dalí
Pura Belpré
Linda Ronstadt
Carolina Herrera
Isabel Allende
Miguel de Cervantes
Carlos Santana
Sammy Sosa
Tomás Rivera
Plácido Domingo
Rafael Nadal
Sandra Cisneros
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz
Narcís Monturiol
Bernardo de Galvéz
Helen Rodríguez Trías
Sonia Manzano

And the best part? It is available in English, Spanish, or both!!

A Game to Boost Spanish Skills at Home

The following is a guest post by children's author and Latina mami of three, Mariana Llanos.

Keep your children hooked on Spanish throughout the school year with meaningful games that’ll strengthen their communication skills. It’s often said that as children start school they’re more likely to stop speaking in Spanish. This in fact, was happening to my own daughter who just started Pre-K. One of the first days of school when we were walking back home, she said, “Mom, I don’t speak in Spanish. I speak en Inglés.” I looked at her, and told her calmly, “You speak in both, and you know why? Because you’re super smart!”

I knew right at that moment that I had to act, and I came up with a plan to make our Spanish language journey happier and more consistent. Although I don’t ‘make’ her speak in Spanish after school, I make a point to talk to her only in Spanish as soon as I pick her up. So the questions, “How was your day?” “Who did you play with?” “What was your favorite thing to do at school?” are only spoken in Spanish. At first she answers in English (I repeat in Spanish), and little by little she begins to switch code. Since we walk home from school, I point at the color of the trees, I talk about the weather, and we count acorns or whatever other treasure we find. Her Spanish of course isn’t fluent. But neither is her English yet. She has the ability to understand both perfectly. I certainly don’t want Spanish to feel like a chore. I want it to feel fun and good. I want it to be the language of family, laughter, and memories.

I’ve developed a game with the help of my children. It’s fun and easy to play, and it’s a great excuse to get together and speak in Español. I hope you join us on this Búsqueda de Tesoros.

Scavenger Hunt/ Búsqueda de Tesoros

Things you’ll need:

A smart phone/instructions/a pencil. Go to a park or take a walk around your neighborhood while you give the instructions. Take pictures as you find the objects.

1. Encuentra algo amarillo, rojo, blanco y verde.
2. Encuentra algo redondo
3. Encuentra una semilla
4. Busca dos hojas diferentes
5. Encuentra un árbol grande
6. Encuentra un árbol pequeño
7. Encuentra la letra A
8. Encuentra el número 6 
9. Encuentra un animal. ¿Qué animal es?
10. Encuentra una piedra.
11. Encuentra un insecto. ¿Qué insecto es?
12. Encuentra una flor. ¿De qué color es?
13. Da doce (12) pasos (cuéntalos en voz alta) y toma una foto de lo que está adelante tuyo.
14. Ahora voltea y toma una foto a lo que está atrás tuyo.
15. Encuentra algo que vuele.
16. Encuentra una sonrisa.

Take all your pictures and uploaded them in your social media with legend of what you found. If your child is old enough, let her type the object herself.

This game can be expanded and adapted to different age levels. You can also change the objects every week and you’ll have a brand new game. Also, if you prefer not to upload to social media, you may print your photos and paste them on a poster board. Then have your child write the names of the things you found together.

I hope this activity helps you keep Spanish alive at home. Also don’t forget to READ and sing in Spanish, habits as important as learning your uno, dos, tres.

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Mariana Llanos is a Peruvian born writer of children’s books in English and Spanish. She lives in Oklahoma with her family. To find her books go to: www.marianallanos.com or www.amazon.com/author/marianallanos. Connect with Mariana’s page on Facebook.