Celebrate Las Posadas - Celebramos Las Posadas: A Bilingual Book in English and Spanish
Around the World by Magic Spells for Teachers LLC Series
on Goodreads (5)
What’s inside...
Celebrate Las Posadas - Celebramos Las Posadas! Learn all about Las Posadas with this bilingual children's book which highlights the customs and traditions of this festive holiday. The festivities are described in brief, easy-to-read text, presented in both English and Spanish. Continue the celebration with 10 extra pages for children to color! In Mexico, Guatemala, and even in some parts of the United States, the time between December 16 and December 24 is called Las Posadas. For nine nights, families re-enact Mary and Joseph's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the birth of baby Jesus. The holiday season is full of wonderful festivities! Each year there are big celebrations! Homes are decorated with nativity scenes and streets are lit with twinkling luminaries to light the way. The celebrations include parades, songs, piñatas, and delicious foods! This book is great for learning about Christmas around the world!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-12
Length
30 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Las Posadas represents for the people celebrating it?
How do the characters in the book feel during the celebration? Can you describe their emotions?
What are some of the traditions shown in the book you'd like to learn more about or experience?
Why do you think it's important to learn about celebrations from different cultures?
How do you think celebrating Las Posadas helps bring people together?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book’s illustrations and story, highlighting their favorite parts.
Relate the story to your child’s experiences by asking if they have ever attended or seen similar celebrations and what they enjoyed about it.
Discuss the significance of culture and traditions, and explore with your child any cultural heritage aspects present in your family.
Recognize and validate your child's emotions and thoughts as they relate to the story to foster empathy and understanding of diverse cultures.
Propose creating a small family celebration inspired by Las Posadas, involving your child in the planning and preparation to make the learning experience active and memorable.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Cultural Awareness
Explanation: The book showcases the traditional Mexican celebration of Las Posadas, providing insight into the customs, music, and food associated with this festival.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and respect cultural diversity, fostering a sense of global citizenship and openness towards different cultural practices they encounter.
Example Lesson: Importance of Community
Explanation: Through the communal celebration depicted in the story, children see the value of coming together with neighbors and friends to celebrate important events.
Real-World Application: This lesson can encourage children to participate in local community events and understand the importance of building strong, supportive relationships within their community.
Example Lesson: Bilingual Language Skills
Explanation: The bilingual presentation of the text in both English and Spanish allows children to develop language skills in two languages simultaneously.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these language skills in school and social settings, enhancing their communication abilities and potentially sparking interest in learning additional languages.
Example Lesson: Historical Knowledge
Explanation: The story introduces the background and the significance of Las Posadas, which has historical roots going back over 400 years in Mexico.
Real-World Application: Understanding historical context helps children connect past events with current traditions, enhancing their comprehension of history and its impact on modern customs.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Inclusion
Explanation: As the story follows different characters preparing and celebrating Las Posadas, it highlights themes of empathy and inclusion.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of including everyone in celebrations and the positive effects of showing empathy towards others' roles and contributions in a community event.