The teacher will only speak in Spanish for the duration of this class for a more immersive language learning experience.

Materials needed: A Very Hungry Caterpillar (Parmesan cheese container is depicted in pictures), Ten of the same manipulatives to be counted (Count blocks, papers, sticks, toys, etc), Pictures of the fruit found in the book, La Oruga Muy Hambrienta by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is made out of a Parmesan cheese container and painted to be green and red in this lesson. However, a puppet of the Caterpillar is often available in libraries and can be used as a substitute. The Caterpillar needs to be able to be “fed” by the students so there must be a “mouth” opening in whatever is used.

This lesson works best with two teachers.

Workshop Activities:

Vocabulary and Reading

1) The teacher will introduce the number vocabulary using choral repetition by counting out loud using the manipulatives. The teacher will show the students one manipulative and saying “uno!” and cup her ear to hear the students repeat the word. This will continue for all of the numbers to 10. 

Tip: Students will often mimic the manner in which a word is being presented to them so try whispering, yelling, cheering, etc the vocabulary to get learners more engaged!

Vocabulario:

Números (1-10) - 1 = uno, 2 = dos, 3 = tres, 4 = cuatro, 5 = cinco, 6 = seis, 7 = siete, 8 = ocho, 9 = nueve, 10 = diez 

La Oruga muy Hambrienta (The Very Hungry Caterpillar)- Ciruela (plum), Chiquitito (very small), Fresa (strawberry), Hambrienta (hungry), Hoja (leaf), Luna (moon), Manzana (apple), Mariposa (butterfly), Naranja (orange), Oruga (caterpillar), Pera (pear), Sol (sun)

2) Teacher will read the book La Oruga muy Hambrienta by Eric Carle to the class. 

Practice Counting with The Very Hungry Caterpillar

1) Students will be given pictures of the fruits in the book in the amounts they are given in the book. (One apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries, and five oranges). While handing the pictures out the teacher will state the number and the name of the fruit out loud to the student using choral repetition (Ex. Tres Cirulas!).

2) One teacher will read the book, La Oruga muy Hambrienta again while the other goes around the room with the Very Hungry Caterpillar. When the one teacher reads the page with the specific fruit, they should pause reading, and the other teacher should go around finding the student with the correct fruit. That student should “feed” the fruit to the Caterpillar, counting the amount in Spanish (with help from the teacher if needed). This should continue for all of the fruit until the book is finished. 

Review

Numbers Review

1) The teacher will take all of the fruit out of the caterpillar and count it all using choral repetition. 

2) The teacher will then lay out varying amounts of the manipulatives and cup her hand to her ear for the students to respond with the correct number. If the students are hesitant to respond they should not be forced to respond and the teacher should state the correct number to the class for them to repeat. 

Libros:

For more language practice at home check out the following books from the library’s Spanish collection. 

Mis primeros números by Angela Wilkes, Mis números by Rebecca Emberley, Los números by Clare Beaton, Mis primeros conocimientos by Nadine Piette, De colores by José Luis Orozco, La oruga muy hambrienta and La mariquita malhumorada by Eric Carle, Cerditos by Don and Audrey Wood, My First Spanish and English Dictionary by Passport Books, Mi primer diccionario ilustrado by Editorial Cordillera.

Citation:

Farnsworth, May, Isabelle Girolamo, and Carolina Travalia, “Los Números (Numbers),” Spanish and Hispanic Studies Digital Gallery at HWS, July 2024, https://galeriahispana.omeka.net/exhibits/show/spanish-for-children/vocabulary-numbers-numeros.