The Latin American market was a huge success. The older kids sold delicious treats, created amazing crafts and practiced their Spanish. Everyone enjoyed the festive atmosphere and cultural experience. The fifth grade skit set the tone for the market and sharpened their language skills. Students’ Spanish pronunciations and fluency was impressive. Thanks to parents for their encouragement, support and help enabling students to participate in this fun learning opportunity.
Students enjoyed learning about Day of the Dead and making name skeletons and calaveras.
Preschoolers pretend to be trees dropping their leaves in fall!
Older kids are busy preparing their crafts for the Latin American market on Thursday, November 19th. The entire school will visit the ‘mercado’ shopping with pesos. This is a great opportunity for students to practice their Spanish conversational skills. Fifth and sixth graders will be presenting a skit in Spanish on Wednesday, November 18th. This event is a highlight at Rivendell.
Middle and Older kids made bird ornaments to celebrate the holiday season. All students compared and contrasted various winter fiestas. They discovered a common theme of lights, family and food. Literature, songs and crafts helped students to explore the many customs and traditions. 
The middle and older kids created bird ornaments to celebrate the season. They compared and contrasted traditions and customs for various winter fiestas. They found a common theme in lights, food and families. Literature, songs and crafts helped students explore the holiday.
The Latin American market was a great success again this year. Older kids created handmade bracelets, poppers, rock pets, cookies, cupcakes, Mexican hot chocolate, and more to sell at the mercado. Everyone had a fabulous time speaking Spanish and enjoying the atmosphere in our own commons.
The fifth graders presented a Spanish skit about a family shopping in a mercado for sombreros. Their pronunciations were outstanding and they demonstrated fluency and expression. Great job! I am proud of their hard work.
Preschooler Maddox pretends to be a tree in fall.
The Latin American market was a wonderful experience for the entire school. The older kids prepared beautiful rainbow bracelets, poppers, surprise bags, acorn animals, paper hats, cookies, cupcakes and more. Their creativity and hard work was impressive. They did a great job speaking Spanish in the market and demonstrated excellent pronunciations during the 5th grade skit.
We have had a wonderful time exploring the ancient Maya, Aztec and Inca civilizations and their connection to the Spanish language and culture. We will continue to work on our Spanish conversational skills as we prepare for the Latin American Market in November. Older kids should prepare 25 – 30 crafts to sell at el mercado on Thursday, November 21 from 9:00 – 11:00. The 5th graders will also present a skit in Spanish on Tuesday, November 19. All students will receive ‘pesos’ to spend at the market and enjoy the language and cultural experience.
The younger and middle kids have enjoyed exploring the culture and customs of España. They learned about Don Quixote, bull fighting, the flamenco and geographical aspects of the country. They also practiced dialogue through Spanish conversations. The middle kids concluded their study by writing an acrostic poem about Spain. Here are two examples:
S alsa on chips S kiing is popular
P aella is a popular dish P layas are beautiful
A lot of architecture A mazing castillos
I nteresting I nteresting music
N iños take a siesta N iños
by Jake Coester by Nicolas Goyen