Taco Salad

FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES:

VOCABULARY

• tortilla
• taco
• avocado
• pit
• jalapeno
• hot
• spicy

MATH

• Bean Counting to 100: Groups of 10
• Using dried beans, have children count 10 beans
• Put them in a cup
• Repeat this 10 times; 10 groups of 10 = 100
• Dump the beans out
• Have the children count by tens; 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100

• What’s Missing? Addition/Subtraction/Number Families
• Supply a numbered plate (EXAMPLE: the number 5)
• Have children count out number of beans to match the numeral
• Have the children close their eyes as you remove some beans (EXAMPLE: 2 beans)
• They will open their eyes and see only 3 beans left
• Children have to figure out how many beans are in your hand
• You can help them count up with their fingers, claps or just verbally “…4, 5”
• Repeat with different combinations

SCIENCE

• Grow/Plant An Avocado
• Clean and dry an avocado seed
• Pierce with toothpicks around the middle of the seed
• Suspend it (pointed end up) over a glass or jar of water
• Add water as it evaporates

• Another method is to cut about ¼ inch off the pointed end
• Plant in soil with just the tip of the cut end exposed

• Plant Dried Beans
• Soak beans overnight
• Place beans in wet paper towel in a sealed ziplock bag
• Hang near a window
• You should be able to observe the roots and shoots grow
• Once it is big enough, plant in soil by burying roots

• Make Your Own Tortillas
• Have children mix Masa De Harina (traditional corn flour) and some warm water
• Knead, roll into balls and flatten
• (ADULTS ONLY) Cook it on a hot grill

LANGUAGE ARTS

• Introduce Spanish Numbers
• SONG: 0 Amigos / 10 Friends (sung to the tune 10 Little Indians)
  
• "Uno, dos, tres amigos" (Hold up 1, 2, 3 fingers)
  
• "Cuatro, cinco, seis amigos" (Hold up 4, 5, 6 fingers)
  
• "Siete, ocho, nueve amigos" (Hold up 7, 8, 9 fingers)
  
• "Diez amigos son" (Hold up 10 fingers)

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Tortillas derive from Mexico
• Take this opportunity to introduce Mexican culture
• Show children pictures or bring in objects that they might be familiar with that are traditionally from Mexico
• EXAMPLE
• Sombrero
• Piñata, etc.

GROSS / FINE MOTOR SKILLS

• Dried Bean Beanbag

• After comparing dried beans to cooked canned beans in the recipe, use the dried beans and old socks to make homemade beanbags
• Using clean, colorful socks, cut the sock four inches from the toe
• Fill with beans
• Fold over and sew closed
• Children can sew them with large plastic needles and yarn