Heidi Sheldon

Mexican food is much more than tacos! This mini-unit explores the history and diversity of authentic food, from mole poblano to flan! As students learn about new and delicious dishes, they will also learn about the origins of foods they eat every day, and how history influenced the availability of certain ingredients. This packet may be used with the Planet Food Mexico Video (which is available for purchase online, and is also a bonus feature included in the Globe Trekker Ultimate Mexico DVD).

Students learning Spanish often tend to confuse "bien" with "bueno," and "muy" with "mucho." These two worksheets provide a brief re-teaching of when to use each, paying attention to parts or speech as well as noun-adjective agreement (making "mucho" and "bueno" agree with the nouns they describe). On each worksheet, there is a practice activity in which students will read a paragraph and circle the correct word, as well as some practice in selecting the correct definite and indefinite articles

This listing includes the digital file to print onto paper or cardstock and cut out 32 domino cards for food vocabulary appropriate to students as early as Spanish 1. This dominoes activity uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó). In this version, students practice their knowledge of Spanish food vocab by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire set from beginning to end. This activity is great

In this unit, students will learn about the unique and fascinating culture and history of Mexico City, while learning related Spanish vocabulary. This packet may be used with the Globe Trekker Ultimate Mexico video. However, only the video viewing notes require the video, and the other materials in the packet could easily be used without the video for teaching a unit on Mexico City. The unit can be used in a Spanish language classroom, but could also be used in for social studies or history. Th

In this scenario, people order various dishes in a restaurant, but the waiter continues to bring the wrong thing! In completing this worksheet, students will practice two common E to I stem-changing "boot" verbs: pedir and servir. Students will also use indirect object pronouns to indicate to whom each item is served. Common food vocabulary is also used in this activity. Example: Mi madre pide la ensalada, pero el mesero le sirve la sopa. After writing a series of guided sentences, student

While the song “Eres tú” by Mocedades is very retro (from 1973), my students have always loved it… they even requested it at a school dance last year and sang along in Spanish! This activity goes well with introduction of the verb “ser,” as it practices the tú form throughout the song. In addition to practicing this verb, the lyrics use a series of similes to compare the speaker’s love interest to other things such as bread, water and fire. This lesson not only reinforces the verb “ser,” but

Duration: 45 minutes To be done by students individual or in small groups of 2 or 3. Requires internet access to explore websites. This activity may be done in class, if you have sufficient devices, or may be assigned as homework if students have internet access at home. In this activity, students will explore the journals of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, which they kept during their expedition to the Pacific coast, exploring the Louisiana Purchase. This interaction with primary documents

This dominoes activity uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó)! In this version, students practice their knowledge of Spanish vocab by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire set from beginning to end. This activity is great as a single’s game or in a small group of up to four students. This file includes domino games on 8 different topics: La Casa / Household Items (32 dominoes) La Comida / Food

The Quinceañera is a treasured part of growing up for many latina girls. This worksheet guides students through three tasks to learn more about quinceañeras and other coming-of-age rituals around the world. It is meant to be used with websites listed on the handout, which students may access themselves (although you may want to post the links on your own class page, as well). In task 1, students will learn about all the work (and money!) that can go into planning a quinceañera celebration. In ta

Music is an effective (and fun!) way to learn language. In this activity, students will learn the pop song “Espacio Sideral,” the debut single by Jesse y Joy, a Mexican-American brother-sister duo. The track is catchy and upbeat, with fun imagery and enough repetition to memorize easily. This song provides practice of the direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns. The song includes a pre-listening task of looking up new vocabulary in the dictionary, then filling in the blanks with

In this activity, students assume the role of an advice columnist to respond to letters from the public. Students will use affirmative and negative commands to answer three letters, giving them advice on health, academic success and social interaction. I use this lesson in the second half of Spanish 1 when we cover commands, although it is a helpful review of commands even at higher levels. This activity also connects very well with programs that focus on whole-student wellness (such as the

This dominoes activity uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó)! In this version, students practice their knowledge of English vocab by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire set from beginning to end. This activity is great as a single’s game or in a small group of up to four students. This file includes domino games on 8 different topics: Household Items (32 dominoes) Food (32) School (30) Natur

This dominoes game uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó)! In this version, students practice their knowledge of English vocab for household items by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire set from beginning to end. This activity is great as a single’s game or in a small group of up to four students. This listing is a PDF which can be printed onto paper or cardstock and cut out (this can be done e

In this activity, students will use food vocabulary and the verb "gustar" to say what they and other students like to eat. In this step-by-step activity, students will first respond to questions to say what they like (focus on reading and writing). Next, they will work in groups of two to ask a classmate what they like (focus on speaking and listening). In step three, students will compile data about how many students in the class like certain foods (focus on listening). Finally, using the verb

This listing includes the digital file to print onto paper or cardstock and cut out 32 domino cards for house-related vocabulary appropriate to students as early as Spanish 1. This dominoes activity uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó). In this version, students practice their knowledge of Spanish household vocab (door, window, various furniture, etc.) by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire

This listing includes the digital file to print onto paper or cardstock and cut out 32 domino cards for food vocabulary appropriate to students as early as Spanish 1. This dominoes activity uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó). In this version, students practice their knowledge of Spanish school supply vocab by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire set from beginning to end. This activity is g

This listing includes the digital file to print onto paper or cardstock and cut out 32 domino cards for nature-related vocabulary appropriate to students as early as Spanish 1. This dominoes activity uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó). In this version, students practice their knowledge of Spanish nature vocab by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire set from beginning to end. This activity i

In Spain, April 23rd is a romantic and literary holiday for not only those in love, but those who love books. The day is celebrated with gifts of roses and books, and is an especially big event in Barcelona. The day marks the anniversary of the deaths of Cervantes and Shakespeare, thus making this alternative to Valentine's Day a celebration of both literature and love. This reading in Spanish explains the history of St. Jordi's Day and how it is celebrated today. It is appropriate for late

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a joyous celebration of loved ones who have passed away. For this project, students create a collage ofrenda, or altar, to honor a famous person who has died. In the process, they learn about the traditional items included in an ofrenda, as well as the ways that these beautiful displays are personalized to reflect the things that the deceased person enjoyed. I have used this assignment in my classroom, and it has provided an opportunity for students

This dominoes game uses the game that is not only familiar to U.S. students, but is also a hugely popular game in Latin America (el dominó)! In this version, students practice their knowledge of English food vocabulary by connecting the word to the picture to connect the entire set from beginning to end. This activity is great as a single’s game or in a small group of up to four students. This listing is a PDF which can be printed onto paper or cardstock and cut out (this can be done easily usin