Hola!

We're taking a little break from Story of the World right now to do a little mini unit on Mexico. Later this month we're taking a family trip to Cancun so we thought it would be fun to learn some things about Mexico before we went. Last year when we took a trip to Hawaii, I was really prepared and did a lot of research regarding our unit on Hawaii... this year, I'm not so organized. Thankfully I had some things on hand that are helping bring things together very quickly.

The key element? La Clase Divertida (specifically Level 1)....
I had bought this a couple of years ago at a homeschool conference. We worked our way through it for a while, but we moved back here to Chicago mid-year and Spanish got lost in the shuffle. The kids really enjoyed it but I just wasn't sure how to get back into it... so it sat in a cabinet for the past couple of years.

I decided to bring it out now because what is so fabulous about this program is that it is not just a foreign language program but it is a cultural program as well. This level is specifically about Mexico. Yesterday we watched the first language lesson which the kids really enjoyed (and seemed to enjoy it more now that they're a little older than they did when we tried it a couple of years ago). That lesson was followed with a puppet show segment on the story and meaning behind the elements on the Mexican flag. The kit includes all of the craft supplies for two kids, but since we had started this program a couple of years ago, we had used up the flag making supplies. I went online and found a coloring sheet to print out for them to color while they watched the story.

Here's Alex's flag...
and here is Clara's...
I'm excited to be using this program again! This time I'm able to really see its value as cultural study program as well as a foreign language program. I can't wait to do more! (and the kids can't wait either!)