Los más pequeños is a fantastic book for Spanish world language or bilingual classrooms! Colombian singer and writer, Nathalia Palis takes us on an beautiful journey to discover the world’s tiniest animals and the valuable lessons they offer.
The book has colorful illustrations that are perfect for simple picture talks. For instance, when reading the first pages, you might ask your students, “¿Qué otros insectos pequeños conocen?” (What other small insects do you know?). This invites them to share their ideas in Spanish or learn new insect names in Spanish. You can engage your students by asking about the colors they see in the illustrations and incorporating TPR (Total Physical Response) to make the lesson more interactive. For example, ask whether the insect walks or flies, and let students mimic the movements of the insects. You can also play with the language by using diminutives and augmentatives. For example, “una abejita” and “una abejota.”
Additionally, the book is a great tool for practicing vocabulary related to nature. After reading about different creatures, have students create a chart listing the animals they learned, along with their Spanish names. This can turn into a collaborative group activity. You can also invite your students to create new creatures by combining some of the insects from the book. For example, combining the words oruga and araña to come up with a new animal, “oruña.” You can also have a sing-along in your classes with this beautiful song!
And there’s still more exciting news! Visit Nathalia’s page to participate in the fantastic giveaway! You have the chance to win a copy of the book this week, along with a special Zoom visit with Nathalia for for your Spanish classes.
This is a wonderful opportunity for your students to engage with the author, ask questions, and gain insights into the story behind the book. The giveaway ends on October 7th, 2024, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time. Head over to Nathalia’s page now to enter!
