Paletas Por Favor

In Erin Overstreet’s World Language class, Kindergarten students are building their vocabulary and practicing polite conversation. For the first half of the year, Kindergarteners study Spanish, and this week they practiced their pronunciation of colors and learned how to ask for items with good manners. Then they put these skills into practice while enjoying a special classroom treat. 

Erin introduced colors to her students with the vibrant example of paletas, frozen crushed fruit pops that are popular in Mexico and Mexican-American communities. She read What Can You Do With a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla, a bilingual book that she read in a mixture of Spanish and English. She also shared a video featuring author-musician Lucky Diaz and his daughter Indy, making paletas from fresh fruit, sugar, and lime. As an educational (and delicious) treat, Erin brought in popsicles in red, purple, and orange. Students had to make their request for the color they wanted using their new vocabulary and good manners, asking politely in Spanish, “anaranjada por favor” or “morada por favor”  and remembering to say gracias. 

While enjoying their popsicles, students reflected on themes from the book, imagining playful ways to use a paleta, such as making art, sharing with a friend, or melting them into “popsicle soup.”