Discovering Colombia's Celebrations: An English Adventure Through the Months

In this engaging English lesson, second-grade students will explore the vibrant celebrations that happen throughout the months of the year in Colombia. Through inquiry-based learning, students will formulate questions, investigate traditions, and build vocabulary related to holidays and festivities. This plan connects English language learning with cultural awareness, making the content relevant and exciting by linking it to students’ own experiences and community events. By the end of the session, students will be able to recognize and describe key Colombian celebrations in English, enhancing both their language skills and cultural understanding. This approach promotes curiosity, critical thinking, and active participation, all essential for young learners developing their communication skills in a meaningful context.

• Identify and name important Colombian celebrations by month using simple English vocabulary.
• Formulate questions about celebrations to investigate and share information collaboratively.
• Create a simple presentation or poster describing a chosen celebration using English phrases.
• Use new vocabulary related to months, celebrations, and festive activities in oral and written forms.
• Demonstrate understanding of Colombian cultural traditions through collaborative inquiry and discussion.

• Large printed calendar of the year with months labeled in English and Spanish
• Picture cards showing Colombian celebrations (e.g., Carnival of Barranquilla, Independence Day, Christmas, Day of the Little Candles)
• Markers, colored pencils, scissors, glue sticks
• Chart paper or poster boards for group work
• Audio recordings or short videos (2-3 minutes) about Colombian celebrations (pre-selected and age-appropriate)
• Flashcards with celebration-related vocabulary (e.g., balloons, parade, music, dance)
• Interactive whiteboard or projector (optional)
• Worksheets with simple question prompts in English

• Basic knowledge of English months (January to December)
• Familiarity with simple question words in English (What, When, Where)
• Prior experience with working in pairs or small groups
• Ability to listen to short stories or videos and answer simple questions

Fase de Inicio

Tiempo estimado: 20 minutos

Propósito de la sesión:

Docente: “Today, we will become explorers and discover the celebrations that happen in Colombia during the different months. We will learn new words in English and ask questions to find out more about these special days!”

Estudiantes: Listen and get ready to explore Colombian celebrations in English.

Activación de conocimientos previos:

• Docente: Show the printed calendar and ask, “Can you tell me the names of some months in English? What celebrations do you know?”
• Estudiantes: Share any known months and celebrations in English or Spanish.
• Docente: Play a quick matching game with flashcards of months and simple celebration images to recall vocabulary.
• Estudiantes: Participate actively, naming months and recognizing pictures.

Motivación y enganche:

Docente: “Did you know that in Colombia, people celebrate with colorful parades, music, and dancing almost every month? Let's find out which celebrations happen when!”

Estudiantes: Show excitement and curiosity, answering “Wow!” or “Tell us more!”

Contextualización:

Docente: “These celebrations are part of your culture and your family traditions. Learning about them in English will help you share your culture with friends and practice new words.”

Estudiantes: Understand the connection between their lives and today’s lesson.

Fase de Desarrollo

Tiempo estimado: 75 minutos

Presentación del contenido:

Docente: Presents several picture cards of Colombian celebrations organized by month on the board or wall. Models asking and answering simple questions in English:

• “What celebration is this?”
• “When is it?”
• “What do people do?”

Estudiantes: Listen, observe images, and repeat key vocabulary aloud.

Actividad 1: Celebration Inquiry Circles

• Objetivo: Formulate questions and gather information about Colombian celebrations (Objetivo 2)
• Instrucciones:
  • Docente: Divide students into groups of 3-4. Give each group a different celebration card and worksheet with question prompts in English (e.g., “What is the celebration? When is it? What do people do?”).
  • Estudiantes: Discuss in groups using the cards and worksheet to answer the questions.
  • Docente: Circulate, listen, and guide with questions like “Can you say when this celebration is in English?” or “What activities do people do?”
• Organización: Grupos de 3-4
• Producto: Completed worksheet with simple answers in English
• Tiempo: 25 minutos

Actividad 2: Celebration Poster Creation

• Objetivo: Create a simple visual presentation describing a Colombian celebration (Objetivo 3 y 4)
• Instrucciones:
  • Docente: Provide each group with poster materials. Ask them to draw or paste pictures representing their celebration and write simple English phrases like “In March, we celebrate Carnival. People dance and wear masks.”
  • Estudiantes: Collaborate to create the poster using English vocabulary from the inquiry activity.
  • Docente: Support spelling and sentence structure gently, encouraging use of new words.
• Organización: Grupos de 3-4
• Producto: Celebration poster with drawings and simple text in English
• Tiempo: 30 minutos

Actividad 3: Sharing and Question Time

• Objetivo: Use oral English to present and ask questions about celebrations (Objetivo 1 y 5)
• Instrucciones:
  • Docente: Invite each group to present their poster to the class, describing the celebration in English and answering simple questions from classmates.
  • Estudiantes: Present in English and ask at least one question to another group, e.g., “When is your celebration?” or “What do people do?”
  • Docente: Encourage supportive peer interaction, provide vocabulary prompts as needed.
• Organización: Plenaria
• Producto: Oral presentations and peer questions
• Tiempo: 20 minutos

Diferenciación:

• Para estudiantes que terminan antes: Create a mini-booklet with drawings and English sentences about their favorite celebration using provided templates.
• Para estudiantes con más apoyo: Work with the teacher or assistant to practice vocabulary and sentence frames before group activities.

Transiciones:

After finishing the inquiry activity, the teacher summarizes: “Great job! Now, let's use what we learned to make colorful posters that tell the story of these celebrations.” Transition smoothly into the poster activity. Before presentations, the teacher models sentence starters and question forms to prepare students.

Fase de Cierre

Tiempo estimado: 25 minutos

Síntesis:

Docente: Leads a collective “Celebration Map” on chart paper, where each group places their poster under the correct month. Then asks students to share one new word or fact they learned using a “ticket out the door” format: “Say one celebration and one activity in English.”

Estudiantes: Contribute to the map and say their sentence aloud before leaving.

Reflexión metacognitiva:

• “What new English words did you learn today about celebrations?”
• “How did asking questions help you learn more about the celebrations?”
• “Can you tell me one celebration you would like to celebrate with your family?”

Retroalimentación:

Docente: Provides immediate positive feedback emphasizing effort and use of English, e.g., “I loved how you asked questions and worked together in English!”

Transferencia:

Docente: Encourages students to talk with their families about these celebrations in English or Spanish and to notice celebrations they see in the community during the year.

Tarea o reto:

Docente: Assigns a simple take-home activity: draw your family celebrating one Colombian holiday and label it with 3-5 English words learned today. Bring it to share next class.

Tipo de evaluación:

• Diagnóstica: Al inicio, al revisar conocimientos previos de meses y celebraciones.
• Formativa: Durante las actividades de indagación, creación de póster y presentaciones orales.
• Sumativa: En la fase de cierre, mediante la síntesis en el mapa de celebraciones y el “ticket out the door”.

Criterios de evaluación:

• Identifica correctamente meses y celebraciones en inglés (Objetivo 1).
• Formula y responde preguntas sencillas en inglés sobre las celebraciones (Objetivo 2).
• Produce un póster con información básica usando frases en inglés (Objetivo 3).
• Utiliza vocabulario relacionado con las celebraciones en contextos orales y escritos (Objetivo 4).
• Participa activamente en presentaciones y discusiones sobre cultura colombiana (Objetivo 5).

Instrumentos sugeridos:

• Lista de cotejo para observar participación y uso de vocabulario en actividades en grupo y presentaciones.
• Rúbrica sencilla para evaluar póster (contenido, vocabulario, colaboración).
• Observación directa durante preguntas y respuestas orales.
• Autoevaluación simple con preguntas guiadas durante el cierre.

Evidencias de aprendizaje:

• Respuestas escritas en la hoja de preguntas durante la indagación.
• Pósters de grupo con información en inglés.
• Presentaciones orales y participación en preguntas.
• Contribuciones en la actividad colectiva del mapa y “ticket out the door”.
• Trabajo de tarea opcional con dibujos y etiquetas en inglés.