Maiz Teacher Guide Maíz: The Story of Corn
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Topic: Spanish Culture
Grade: Kindergarten
Lesson Overview
"How did this vegetable turn into this flat bread?"
This lesson introduces students to el maíz (corn) as a fundamental ingredient in Latin American culture. Students will transition from observing the raw ingredient to understanding the process of creating tortillas . This sensory-rich workshop emphasizes tactile learning and sequencing.
Key Vocabulary
El Maíz (Corn)
La Masa (Dough)
La Tortilla (Tortilla)
Aplastar (To flatten)
The Hook (5 Minutes)
Hold up a fresh or dried corn cob in one hand and a soft corn tortilla in the other. Ask the class: "How did this bumpy, hard vegetable turn into this soft, flat bread?" Allow students to share their creative guesses.
Activity Steps
1
Sensory Discovery
Pass around containers of dried corn kernels and bowls of masa-harina (corn flour). Let students feel the difference between the hard grain and the soft, powdery flour.
2
Making the Masa
Mix water into the flour to create a dough. Give each student a small ball of masa . Encourage them to smell it and feel its squishy texture.
3
Aplastar! (Flatten)
Show students how to roll the ball and then aplastar (flatten) it with their palms or a heavy book (or a tortilla press if available) to make their own pretend tortilla.
Teacher Prep Checklist
Corn cob (fresh or dried)
Corn tortillas (to show and taste)
Masa harina (corn flour)
Small bowls and water
Maiz Story Slides EL MAÍZ
The Story of Corn
The Big Mystery!
🌽
The Cob
🫓
The Tortilla
How did it happen?
EL MAÍZ
Spanish Name
It grows from the ground!
It is a grain that people in Mexico and Central America have used for thousands of years!
It can be yellow , white , or even purple !
Step 1: La Harina
1
Dried corn is ground up into a very fine powder.
This is called harina (flour).
Step 2: La Masa
We add water to the flour and mix it together.
It becomes a squishy dough called masa !
2
Step 3: Aplastar!
🫓
Flatten it!
🔥
Cook it!
¡Tortilla!
Maiz Process Worksheet Nombre: _________________________
Fecha: _________________________
¡EL MAÍZ! 🌽
How do we make a Tortilla?
Draw a picture in each box to show the steps we learned today!
1
EL MAÍZ
2
LA HARINA
3
LA MASA
4
LA TORTILLA
Color the corn kernels!
Chocolate Teacher Guide Bean to Bar: The History of Chocolate
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Topic: Spanish Culture
Lesson 2 of 5
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students explore the ancient origins of chocolate in Mexico. They will learn that chocolate comes from the cacao bean and was once a bitter, spicy drink enjoyed by kings and rulers, rather than the sweet candy bar we know today.
Key Vocabulary
El Cacao (Cocoa)
El Chocolate (Chocolate)
Amargo (Bitter)
Dulce (Sweet)
Blind Smell Test (5-8 Minutes)
Prepare three opaque cups.Cup A: Cinnamon. Cup B: Cocoa Powder. Cup C: Vanilla."Which one smells like something you eat as a treat?" Reveal that Cup B is the secret ingredient for chocolate!
Inquiry & Discovery
1
The Cacao Bean
Show images or a real cacao pod. Explain it grows on trees in hot, tropical places in Mexico and Latin America. It looks like a giant nut!
2
Amargo vs. Dulce
Let students taste a tiny bit of unsweetened cocoa powder (amargo ) and then a small piece of milk chocolate (dulce ). Discuss the difference. Explain that ancient people liked the amargo taste!
3
The Royal Drink
Explain that kings (Aztecs and Mayans) drank chocolate from fancy cups. It wasn't a bar; it was a foamy, spicy drink!
Teacher Supplies
✓ Unsweetened cocoa powder
✓ Cinnamon and vanilla extract
✓ Milk chocolate pieces
✓ Opaque cups for smelling
Chocolate History Slides EL CHOCOLATE
From Ancient Bean to Sweet Treat
Where does it come from?
🇲🇽
MEXICO
Long ago, the people of Mexico were the first to find the secret of chocolate!
They called it "Xocolatl" (Sho-ko-la-tl)
EL CACAO
It grows on a tree!
The beans are inside a big, colorful pod.
It loves the heat!
These trees grow in warm, tropical rainforests.
The King's Cup
THE ANCIENT DRINK
It was NOT sweet like candy.
It was AMARGO (bitter) and PICANTE (spicy)!
"Only kings and rulers were allowed to drink it from golden cups."
Taste Discovery!
😖
AMARGO
Bitter
😋
DULCE
Sweet
Which one do you like better?
Chocolate Discovery Activity Nombre: _________________________
El Chocolate 🍫
1. The Smell Mystery
Smell the mystery cups. Circle the one that is El Cacao (Chocolate powder)!
A
Cup A
B
Cup B
C
Cup C
2. The Cacao Tree
Draw the cacao beans growing on a tree in the jungle!
3. How does it taste?
😖
AMARGO
Bitter
😋
DULCE
Sweet
Tropical Fruit Teacher Guide Tropical Fruits Market
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Topic: Spanish Culture
Lesson 3 of 5
Lesson Overview
Students explore the vibrant mercados (markets) of Spanish-speaking countries. They identify three key tropical fruits: mango , papaya , and piña (pineapple). The lesson focuses on color identification and counting (1-5) in Spanish through an interactive role-play activity.
Key Vocabulary
El Mango (Mango)
La Papaya (Papaya)
La Piña (Pineapple)
Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Cinco
The Mystery Bag (5 Minutes)
"I went to the mercado today and found something very bumpy and prickly!"
Place a whole pineapple in a mystery bag. Let students reach in and feel the texture without looking. Ask: "How does it feel? Is it smooth or bumpy? Is it soft or hard?"
Market Workshop
1
Color & Fruit Match
Show the tropical fruits. Review the colors: Amarillo (yellow), Naranja (orange), and Verde (green). Ask students to point to the fruit that matches the color.
2
Role-Play: The Mercado
Set up a small table with fruit toys or cut-outs. Act as the vendor. Encourage students to come up and say: "Uno, por favor." (One, please). Practice counting as you hand them the fruit.
3
Counting Practice
Use the fruit tokens to practice counting together as a class. Uno... dos... tres...
Market Prep
✓ A real pineapple (mystery bag)
✓ Toy mangoes, papayas, and pineapples
✓ Baskets or bags for the "customers"
✓ Color cards (yellow, orange, green)
Tropical Fruit Slides EL MERCADO
Tropical Fruit Discovery
🥭 🍍 🥭
🥭
MANGO
Sweet and juicy!
It is AMARILLO (yellow).
🍍
LA PIÑA
Bumpy and prickly!
Pineapple is DULCE (sweet).
🟠
PAPAYA
PAPAYA
Large and soft!
It is NARANJA (orange).
Counting at the Market!
1
UNO
2
DOS
3
TRES
4
CUATRO
5
CINCO
¡Vamos a comprar!
Tropical Fruit Activity Sheet Nombre: _________________________
Mi Mercado 🍎
Color the fruits and practice their Spanish names!
🍍
LA PIÑA
(Pineapple)
🟠
PAPAYA
(Papaya)
🥭
MANGO
(Mango)
Draw your favorite!
MI FAVORITA
(My Favorite)
Can you count to 5 in Spanish?
1 Uno
2 Dos
3 Tres
4 Cuatro
5 Cinco
La Mesa Teacher Guide La Mesa: Manners and Family
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Topic: Spanish Culture
Lesson 4 of 5
Lesson Overview
In Spanish-speaking cultures, la comida (the meal) is a sacred time for family to gather. This lesson focuses on the social aspect of dining, teaching students how to set a table (poner la mesa ) and use essential polite words: por favor and gracias .
Key Vocabulary
La Mesa (Table)
El Plato (Plate)
Por Favor (Please)
Gracias (Thank you)
The Silly Table (5-8 Minutes)
Set a small table in the front of the room with items in the wrong places or silly objects.
Put a shoe on the plate.
Put the fork inside a hat.
Put the plate on the floor.
Ask: "Oh no! Is our table ready for a family dinner? What's wrong?" Let students help you "fix" the table.
Simulation & Manners
1
Poner la Mesa (Set the Table)
Practice placing a plate, fork, and spoon. Use the Spanish words as you place them. "El plato va aquí." (The plate goes here).
2
The Magic Words
Pass around a toy piece of bread or fruit. To receive it, the student must say "Por favor." Once they have it, they must say "Gracias!"
3
Family Circle
Have students sit in a circle. Explain that in many Spanish-speaking families, dinner is a long time where everyone talks and laughs together.
Teacher Checklist
✓ Small table or tablecloth
✓ Plastic plates, forks, spoons
✓ Silly objects for the hook (shoe, hat)
✓ Toy food items
La Mesa Slides LA MESA
Family and Manners
LA COMIDA
In Spanish culture, eating together is very important!
"It is a time to talk, laugh, and share with our family and friends."
🥘
🥗
👨👩-👧
🥖
Poner la Mesa
EL PLATO
EL TENEDOR
EL VASO
Magic Words
POR FAVOR
(Please)
GRACIAS
(Thank you)
🗣️
Let's Practice!
Turn to a partner. Pretend to hand them a delicious piece of fruit.
La Mesa Activity Sheet Nombre: _________________________
La Mesa 🍽️
Can you help set the table?
Draw el plato (plate), el tenedor (fork), and el vaso (cup) on the table!
PONER LA MESA
When we ask for something:
POR FAVOR
When we receive something:
GRACIAS
Salsa Teacher Guide Making a Pretend Salsa
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Topic: Spanish Culture
Final Lesson (5 of 5)
Lesson Overview
In this final lesson, students synthesize their learning by "cooking" a pretend salsa. They will identify the ingredients (tomatoes, cilantro, onion), sequence the steps of the process (lavar, cortar, mezclar), and describe imaginary flavors. This activity reinforces vocabulary and process thinking.
Key Vocabulary
Salsa (Sauce)
Lavar (To wash)
Cortar (To cut)
Mezclar (To mix)
The Chef's Entrance (5 Minutes)
Put on a chef’s hat and apron.
Invite the students into your "kitchen." "¡Hola, chefs! Today we are going to make a special treat to share with our families. We are making salsa!" Reveal a big mixing bowl and a wooden spoon.
Kitchen Workshop
1
Ingredient Identification
Show paper cut-outs or toy versions of ingredients: Tomate (red), Cilantro (green), Cebolla (white). Practice saying the names and colors.
2
The Process Song
Create simple motions for each step.Lavar: Rub hands.Cortar: Hand chop motion.Mezclar: Stirring motion. Do these together while saying the Spanish words.
3
Salsa Assembly
Each student gets a paper "bowl." They glue or place their "chopped" ingredients into the bowl and "stir" them with their fingers.
Chef Supplies
✓ Chef's hat and apron
✓ Large bowl and wooden spoon
✓ Paper ingredient cut-outs (Red circle, green leaf, white circle)
✓ Glue sticks and paper bowls
Pretend Salsa Slides ¡LA SALSA!
Let's Cook Together
🍅 🥣 🌿
LOS INGREDIENTES
🍅
TOMATE
ROJO
🌿
CILANTRO
VERDE
🧅
CEBOLLA
BLANCO
STEP 1
LAVAR
Wash the vegetables!
STEP 2
CORTAR
Chop them up!
STEP 3
MEZCLAR
Mix it all together!
¡BUEN PROVECHO!
🥣
Our salsa is ready to share with our family!PICANTE (spicy) or DULCE (sweet)?
Salsa Activity Sheet Nombre: _________________________
Mi Salsa 🥣
What goes in the bowl?
Color the ingredients for your salsa! Practice saying the names.
🍅
TOMATE
🌿
CILANTRO
🧅
CEBOLLA
Process Steps
1
LAVAR
2
CORTAR
3
MEZCLAR
My Salsa Bowl
Draw your chopped ingredients in the bowl!
